Jaguars resurging under Rodriguez

By Ramon Scott
Updated: August 28, 2026

2026 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

2026 SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

No. 16 Southwestern returns 1,000-yard threat Blocker, East County defenders

EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA — Two years after Southwestern College hired Oscar Rodriguez to revive its football program, the Jaguars enter a season with expectations extending well beyond simple improvement.

Southwestern opens Saturday at College of the Canyons as the only ranked community-college team in San Diego County.

The Jaguars are No. 16 in the JC Athletic Bureau/California Community College Football Coaches Association preseason state poll after finishing 8-3 and defeating Moorpark, 31-7, in the Coaches Against Cancer Patriotic Bowl.

Southwestern also appears just outside the JCGridiron national Dirty 30.

The recognition represents another step in a rapid rise under Rodriguez, whose first Southwestern team went 2-8 before improving by six victories last fall. The Jaguars began 2025 with six consecutive wins and climbed as high as No. 4 in California and No. 13 nationally before a three-game losing streak removed them from playoff contention.

They recovered by defeating Chaffey and then overwhelming Moorpark in the bowl game.

Rodriguez brought a substantial résumé to Chula Vista. He was Akron’s interim head coach for the final three games of the 2021 season and spent 2022 and 2023 as a defensive analyst at Kansas. His previous stops included Chattanooga, La Verne, Garden City, Emporia State, Hutchinson and Washburn.

He also played at Coffeyville Community College, giving him firsthand familiarity with the developmental role of junior-college football.

Now beginning his third season at Southwestern, Rodriguez has built a program capable of attracting players from throughout the country while retaining several of San Diego County’s most productive prospects.

Blocker anchors rebuilt offense

Southwestern must replace quarterbacks Brayten Silbor and Ty McCutcheon, who combined for 2,737 passing yards and 27 touchdowns last season.

The Jaguars also lost their four leading receivers, including Clint Thomas Jr., who caught 47 passes for 824 yards and eight touchdowns.

Their most proven offensive player returns, however.

Sophomore running back Caleb Blocker rushed 142 times for 965 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. He also caught 17 passes for 173 yards and another score, giving him 1,138 yards from scrimmage.

Sophomore Jamar Johnson also returns after rushing for 148 yards and one touchdown in eight games.

The quarterback competition includes sophomore Braxton Scott and freshmen Dominic Duran, Dickie Engel, Vanden Dugger, Brandt Barker and Jayden Fuentes.

Barker, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound El Capitan graduate, gives Southwestern an East County prospect at the position.

East County experience on defense

Southwestern returns several of last season’s most productive defenders, including Christian High graduate Brady Eads.

Eads recorded 48 tackles in 10 games, including 36 solo stops and two tackles for loss. The sophomore linebacker was a certified baller with the Patriots.

Former Lincoln linebacker Niko Ta’a contributed 34 tackles, 3½ tackles for loss, 1½ sacks, one interception and a forced fumble.

The defensive front returns Carson Curtis, who led Southwestern with six sacks and 11½ tackles for loss while making 42 tackles. Dax Monestime added 25 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks.

The Jaguars also added several East County freshmen, including:

Braydon “Boogie” Wells, linebacker, Granite Hills
Brandt Barker, quarterback, El Capitan
Damarrion White, defensive lineman, Granite Hills
Lukas Garcia, linebacker, El Capitan
Marlon Ames, defensive lineman, El Capitan
Jaydin Lewis, defensive lineman, Helix
Max Brodbeck, long snapper, Steele Canyon
Braelin Dally, kicker, Christian
Hunter Hamilton, defensive lineman, Granite Hills

Southwestern prepared for the season with an Aug. 20 binational scrimmage against CETYS University of Mexicali at DeVore Stadium, the second consecutive year the programs met. Ames returned a forced fumble for a touchdown during the scrimmage.

Immediate rematch

Saturday’s opener is a rematch of Southwestern’s 26-24 victory over Canyons in last season’s opener.

The Jaguars return to DeVore Stadium on Sept. 5 for a noon matchup against Grossmont, beginning a home stretch that also includes Long Beach and San Diego Mesa.

Southwestern averaged 34.9 points and 434.3 yards per game last season. Its defense produced 27 sacks, forced 13 fumbles and held opponents to 141.8 rushing yards per contest.

With Blocker back, experienced playmakers on defense and another large group of newcomers, Rodriguez’s program is no longer attempting merely to escape the lean years.

The next step is turning last season’s resurgence into a playoff berth.

2026 Southwestern schedule

Aug. 29: at Canyons
Sept. 5: Grossmont, noon
Sept. 12: Long Beach, 2 p.m.
Sept. 19: at Mt. San Jacinto, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26: San Diego Mesa, noon
Oct. 8: Palomar, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17: at Riverside, 2 p.m.
Oct. 24: at El Camino, 6 p.m.
Oct. 31: Saddleback, noon
Nov. 7: at Chaffey, 2 p.m.

EastCountySports.com

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