- After winning their first bowl game in 2025, the Gauchos believe they can push for the playoffs in 2026.
- Coach Xavier Ramirez begins his third season as Head Coach after going 10-11 the past two seasons.
As the season approaches for the El Capitan football team, the Gauchos are preparing for what they hope is their first playoff berth in the school’s brief thirteen-year history. The team has been practicing all summer, bright and early, putting in the work for the start of the 2026 season. With many seniors taking the lead, the Gauchos enter the season with an appetite hungry for a successful season.
Head coach Xavier Ramirez emphasized the consistency and brotherhood that the team is building. “Coach X” noted that “The seniors are taking charge of the team this year, but I have to give credit to the juniors and younger guys for buying into that.” He also stressed the importance of accountability: “The biggest thing is coming together as a team right now.” Ramirez pointed to leaders like quarterback Jesse Morgan and seniors Konnor Garcia and Alberto Torres as examples of players stepping up. Senior Elias Hernandez, who earned Second Team honors last year, has become someone teammates look to for intensity.
Quarterback Jesse Morgan feels confident and ready for the upcoming season, saying the grind continues even on weekends to get better. Morgan describes embracing a bigger leadership role as quarterback this year and enjoying the culture where the players vibe off of each other. He stated the team’s target is the playoffs and stressed that they are more motivated this year. “It’s not the same old Gauchos. We’re coming revamped and ready to go.”
Looking ahead, the Gauchos program is very excited to begin play in their new stadium. Since the school opened in 2013, El Capitan has bounced around between Veterans Field at Golden Valley High and Stadium ‘76 at Merced College for their home games. Now, the Gauchos will finally have a place to call home (field) at their school. Assistant Coach Brandon Johnson (Coach BJ) shared how special it is to play under the lights without having to travel to the junior college field. “It’s right in our backyard,” he said, and the sense of home-field excitement “feels like the perfect bridge into the season.” Coach BJ also emphasized the leadership and togetherness that the team is building heading into the season. He pointed out seniors are leading well and noted that the rest of the team is getting closer.
Senior linebacker Alberto Torres has quickly made an impact on the Gauchos’ defense. Coming from Atwater High, he says that adapting to a new system not only helped him as a player but also as a person. “I adapted really well, and with this team, I could tell we have a really good brotherhood together.” He points to his teammates’ persistence through adversity as his motivation. Looking ahead, he believes that his team can finish near the top of the CCC. Torres says that leaning on one another as teammates will help carry them through the season.
The Gauchos will partially break in their new stadium with a scrimmage against Livingston High on Friday, August 21st, before they have their first game of the season on August 28th, against Grace Davis High in Modesto. The Gauchos will host Central Valley High on September 4th for their first official home game in their new stadium. After months of early morning practices, preparation, and building team chemistry, the Gauchos finally have the opportunity to showcase their work.
