UPDATED SEPT. 5

After a summer of lifting, practices and a scrimmage, it was game time.

Under the stadium lights at Echo Park Aug. 29 at 7 p.m., the Jags faced the Chaparral Wolverines, after a face-off the previous year resulting in a victory 28-0 W. 

The only difference was this time they were visitors—no home-field advantage. 

The Jags came out strong in the first quarter with two touchdowns almost instantly,running back Noah Jadd ‘26 ran in for the first score followed by a receiving touchdown by wide receiver Kai Ingrassia ‘26 from quarterback Evan Diebold ‘26. Two field goals by Kicker Avery Vasquez ‘27 jumped the score to 20-0 going into the second quarter

“My highlight of the game was our team scoring the first touchdown because of all the excitement on the sideline and in the crowd,” Vasquez said. 

A pick-six by the Wolverines caused a shift in momentum and led to Chap putting up 15 points in the second quarter.

The score at halftime was 28-15. 

After the break, the Jags came out fighting to reclaim the momentum, shutting out the Wolverines for the rest of the game, including more touchdowns from running back Mason Mills ‘26.

“We definitely took a step in the right direction and set the tone for the season, but that game is over now our only focus is the next game,” Mills said.

With eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the score was 49-15–Jags remained in the lead, surpassing last year’s final score, with new Head Coach Nick Artinger.

“It was pretty awesome. It was our first game with the new head coach. I’m really glad we won. I mean, we killed them. It was really fun. Today we played a full game,” Long Snapper Brodie Lyle ‘26 said. 

The final score of the game was 52-15. 

They gathered in the endzone after the game to celebrate their first win of the season in the pouring rain. 

Tonight the Jags will face Fossil Ridge High School in the home opener at Echo Park at 7 p.m.

Gallery • 7 Photos

media by Quinn Barton

After a 52-15 win over the Chaparral Wolverines in the season opener, running back Mason Mills ‘26 and tight end Levi Shield ‘26 celebrate a touchdown at Echo Park Stadium, Aug. 29. For the second year in a row, the Jags defeated the Wolverines in the season opener in the year prior the ending score was 28-0W and this year it was 52-15W. “It’s good to get a win. It feels great to win as a team. You know we came out here knowing what we had to do, and it's good to get it done,” Quarterback Evan Diebold ‘26 said. “There are always things you can improve on. Personally, I need to clean a few things up, but you know, we’ll do it and come back next week.” The Jags' next game is the home opener vs Fossil Ridge High School (FRHS) at Echo Park Stadium at 7 p.m. Sept 5.