Over a decade ago, the Fulton Jaguars were a dominant 8-man football team that had nothing left to prove at that level and made the jump into 11-man battle. After two difficult seasons with a combined record of 3-15, the Jaguars were back in 8-man. The 2024 Fulton Jaguars made the jump back into full-field football, and this time showed that they belonged, with a run to the CIF City Section D3 Quarterfinals.

The foundation for the return was set after COVID. By the fall of 2022, Fulton was once again an 8-person powerhouse. They stormed their way through the season and won the 8-man CIF City Section Championship. The Jaguars made their way back to the title game in 2023, but little did the general public know that plans were already in place for a return to 11-man football.

“We knew over the years, once I took over, it was time to make that transition,” said outgoing Jaguars head coach Randy Luna. “We were going to make that transition after the championship, but I requested (that we) allow these kids to run it back and see where we are at.”

The goal to go out as repeat champs fell short as Animo Jackie Robinson avenged their 50-28 loss earlier in the season with a 22-14 win. Still, Luna had laid the groundwork for Fulton’s leap back to the big stage.

The Foundation

The return to full-field football saw Fulton led by someone who knew the area well. Luna had played high school ball just a mile and a half away at Van Nuys High School before serving a decade in the Marine Corps. He came to Fulton after completing his degree, initially as an assistant coach, and eventually was named head coach — even coaching his son, Gabriel, during his senior year.

“After I took over, it was just a blessing to be here with a bunch of guys who were here about the kids,” Luna said. “How to show them responsibility and accountability — all those great traits and morals that you need as young men in this world to succeed.”

That theme became the core of Luna’s tenure: building men first, players second. His leadership brought stability, championships, and eventually, the courage to take on 11-man football once more. But after years of grinding, Luna decided it was time to spend more of his life with his own family — and the program he had revived needed a new caretaker.

The Successor

Enter Luis Zamora — better known as Coach Z. His path began across town at Sun Valley Poly, where he felt the sting of losing a Division III championship as a player but never lost his love for the game. While earning a kinesiology degree at CSUN, Zamora started coaching JV football, where fate connected him with Luna.

The two bonded over their shared passion and soon shared the sideline at Fulton — Luna calling the offense, Zamora commanding the defense. Together, they guided Fulton through some of its strongest pre-pandemic seasons.

Then came COVID. Zamora took a detour to Pueblo, Colorado, through Teach for America, teaching science and coaching basketball. Yet the pull of football — and of Fulton — brought him back. When Luna finally stepped aside, he knew there was only one person he entrusted to take the reigns — Zamora.

“This is the house Luna built,” Zamora said. “But I’m part of that foundation.”

The Present: Building on the Foundation

This season, Fulton returns 11 players, six of whom logged heavy minutes last year. For a program its size, that continuity is a luxury.

“Our goal is simple,” Zamora said. “Whether it’s win or lose, they’re going to feel us. We may be inexperienced, but we won’t just roll over. We’ll put our heads down and give everything we’ve got.”

The shift to 11-man football wasn’t just about numbers — it was a statement of identity. “The kids understand,” Zamora said. “Eight-man isn’t an option anymore. Respect to those programs, but we’re building here. The foundation is there.”

The Bigger Picture

High school football often mirrors the communities it represents. For Fulton — a small school in the San Fernando Valley — the program’s growth is more than wins and losses. It’s proof that overlooked kids and underdog schools can build something lasting.

Zamora is in it for the long haul, not remotely affected by the allure of bigger schools when asked about how he viewed his coaching future. “Fulton welcomed me with open arms from day one. I’m sticking here as long as they’ll keep me.”

Closing: Bricks in the House

The Fulton story isn’t finished. Luna may have rebuilt the house, but it’s Zamora — and the players grinding every week — who are adding the bricks.

From eight-man obscurity to championship rings and now big dreams in 11-man football, Fulton isn’t just surviving anymore. They’re growing. They’re building.

And as Coach Z promises: “You’re going to feel us.”

*All photos by VST Senior Photographer Benjamin Becher