Latest / Desert Valley Blitz / EP#35-Relegation And New Coaches Will Redraw The DEL-2026 DEL & DCA Preview with Andrew John of the Desert Sun

Transcript

EP#35-Relegation And New Coaches Will Redraw The DEL-2026 DEL & DCA Preview with Andrew John of the Desert Sun · Desert Valley Blitz

0:24
SPEAKER_03: Welcome to Desert Valley Blitz.
0:26
SPEAKER_03: We are super excited today because the season is just around the corner and we're going to be doing a DEL preview episode.
0:34
SPEAKER_03: And we got a real expert in the house today, a special guest.
0:38
SPEAKER_03: He you've read his columns every week.
0:41
SPEAKER_03: He's an authority on high school football here in the Coachella Valley.
0:44
SPEAKER_03: I know I've stolen a lot of things from him, so I'm happy he's here.
0:47
SPEAKER_03: Mr.
0:48
SPEAKER_03: Andrew John from the Desert Sun.
0:49
SPEAKER_03: Thank you for coming in and joining the show.
0:51
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I'm super excited to be here.
0:52
SPEAKER_02: Malcolm, how how did you get started in journalism?
0:54
SPEAKER_02: Oh man, I I, you know, grew up as an athlete when I was young, like you know, a lot of a lot of guys, and I knew that that wasn't gonna be sustainable beyond high school.
1:04
SPEAKER_02: So um I thought about how could I stay involved with sports and just thought it would be fun to you know write about sports and be able to share opinions.
1:14
SPEAKER_02: And so I I grew up actually in the DC area uh in northern Virginia.
1:19
SPEAKER_02: High school football is huge there.
1:21
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:21
SPEAKER_02: And um then went to college at Syracuse.
1:24
SPEAKER_02: Uh-huh.
1:25
SPEAKER_02: Orangeman.
1:26
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Orangeman, yeah.
1:27
SPEAKER_02: So, you know, a lot of people say, you know, that's kind of the one of the better sports journalism programs in the country.
1:32
SPEAKER_02: And so I went there and and learned everything I could, just nonstop uh learned about journalism, uh, was working at like the student paper when I was not in class.
1:44
SPEAKER_02: So I was like never home.
1:45
SPEAKER_02: That was it was kind of my life there, and you know, covered the football and basketball team there, traveling to road games while still being a student.
1:53
SPEAKER_02: Oh, it's fun.
1:54
SPEAKER_02: It was it was crazy.
1:55
SPEAKER_02: Uh, and then what brought me out here uh to the desert was I actually got a job at the LA Times after college and then wanted to you know get to a little bit more of like a chill spot, and I knew Palm Springs was a really cool spot, had been out here a bunch, and uh that there happened to be a job opening, so I applied for it and happened to get it and rest is kind of history there.
2:18
SPEAKER_02: Awesome.
2:19
SPEAKER_02: How how long ago was that?
2:20
SPEAKER_02: Was that it's 2013?
2:21
SPEAKER_02: So you're native, you're a native native, yeah.
2:24
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I feel like I'm definitely a desert rat now.
2:26
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, gets oh it gets under 70 and you're cold now.
2:29
SPEAKER_03: Oh, absolutely, without question, yeah.
2:31
SPEAKER_03: Well, you are the man at the Desert Sun.
2:33
SPEAKER_03: I know you have a partner, Shad, but you you guys do some some pretty consequential lists, and right now we're going through the Elite 11 that you guys produce every year.
2:42
SPEAKER_03: And I know you've probably gotten some flack over the years of people not being on that list.
2:46
SPEAKER_03: So I wanted to kind of get your guys' perspective on how you how what's the what's the methodology behind that?
2:52
SPEAKER_03: I know you guys are not just pulling those names out of thin air.
2:54
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, it's I love the opportunity to do lists like this because you not only are you highlighting the kids, uh, but it gets people genuinely excited about the season.
3:04
SPEAKER_02: And that's one of the real reasons why we do it.
3:07
SPEAKER_02: Like last year, you guys remember we had like our top 100 players from the last 25 years.
3:12
SPEAKER_02: Oh yeah.
3:13
SPEAKER_03: We heard on a lot about that list too.
3:14
SPEAKER_03: And they're still here about it.
3:16
SPEAKER_02: There's controversy.
3:17
SPEAKER_02: Uh, but that it's okay.
3:19
SPEAKER_02: Like, we don't, we never want to do anything just for controversy.
3:23
SPEAKER_02: I think some people believe that we might.
3:25
SPEAKER_02: Uh, oh, you purposely didn't put that guy because you know, you want people to have like rage bait or whatever.
3:30
SPEAKER_02: But the truth is, we just try to do the best job we can.
3:33
SPEAKER_02: And with that, whether it was with that list, which was really fun because it was right before the season, and again, it got everyone like super pumped for the season and it created discussion.
3:42
SPEAKER_02: And I think that's one of the great things you can do in journalism is do good work that generates discussion, gets people talking.
3:49
SPEAKER_02: Right.
3:49
SPEAKER_02: So with the Elite 11, we try to kind of follow that same pattern where we do the best job we can, but we know it's going to create discussion, and some people are gonna feel slighted, and we're okay with that.
4:01
SPEAKER_02: We don't want to slight anyone, but I always I've always said if you're slided, that's a good thing because you go into the season motivated.
4:08
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, you know, it could work both ways, right?
4:10
SPEAKER_02: And we've had guys who on who are like top of the list, and I wouldn't say there's some sort of gene because I don't really believe in that, but I feel like guys have actually told me, like, man, I was high on the list and I kind of went in the season with a target on my back because all the guys in the valley are like that guy was number one, I'm I'm targeting him, you know.
4:29
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so the the method really is what we do, we actually start in like end of May, early June, kind of when school's getting out.
4:38
SPEAKER_02: Because we want to hit do all of our videos and photos before everyone goes on dead period and goes on vacation.
4:44
SPEAKER_02: Like years ago.
4:45
SPEAKER_02: That makes sense.
4:45
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, years ago, we used to try and do it right before the season.
4:48
SPEAKER_02: It was really hard because if you're still in the dead period, then people are on vacation.
4:53
SPEAKER_02: And then once practice starts, it's like I don't really have time to do this.
4:56
SPEAKER_02: Right.
4:57
SPEAKER_02: I'm kind of locked in on the season.
4:59
SPEAKER_02: So the sweet spot for us was early June.
5:01
SPEAKER_02: And what we would do is we what we'll do is we'll reach out to, you know, pretty much every coach in the valley, even though we have an idea of who's gonna be on the list, I like to talk to the coaches just to get their take.
5:13
SPEAKER_02: Because honestly, if a coach isn't like pushing for you, that makes me wonder are you really one of the top guys?
5:20
SPEAKER_02: Right if a if your own coach isn't really pushing for you.
5:23
SPEAKER_02: And uh, I will say for the most part, the the guys that we have on our tentative list, their coaches do really push for them.
5:31
SPEAKER_02: Uh and if you're if you're kind of two guys who we see as equal players, but maybe one's a sophomore and one's a senior, the senior's always gonna kind of get it.
5:40
SPEAKER_02: That makes sense.
5:41
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, just because we know for the most part, not all it's not guaranteed, but we know the sophomore, we got a chance to highlight him maybe next year.
5:49
SPEAKER_02: Right.
5:49
SPEAKER_02: And it also gives the sophomore another year to kind of prove it, whereas the seniors already kind of done that.
5:54
SPEAKER_02: Right.
5:55
SPEAKER_02: Um, so the so really the methodology is talk to the coaches and then uh kind of discuss the list amongst ourselves in our office and figure out what you know what our own list looks like based on those discussions.
6:08
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
6:09
SPEAKER_01: And you you gotta just go by the the year before, right?
6:12
SPEAKER_01: That's all the data you have.
6:14
SPEAKER_01: You can't.
6:14
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely so that's actually a really good question because it's not just on what they do.
6:20
SPEAKER_02: Obviously, what they did last season plays a big role, but like um, you know, if a guy was good last year, but we know that he's going to take a big step, he's gonna step into like a big leadership role for like one of the top teams.
6:34
SPEAKER_02: Um, we actually kind of looked at that like uh this isn't really revealing anything, but you know, Tank from Palm Springs is a guy on our list this year.
6:42
SPEAKER_02: He wasn't like a star last year, but as a freshman, he was very good.
6:47
SPEAKER_02: Amazing, especially special.
6:49
SPEAKER_02: And we know that you take a special freshman who, you know, had a solid but maybe not spectacular freshman year, but you know he's gonna be one of the guys.
6:59
SPEAKER_02: That's an easy call for us.
7:00
SPEAKER_02: Right.
7:01
SPEAKER_02: So you look at what they're moving into, maybe a guy's situation, yeah, like the situation that the guy's playing into.
7:07
SPEAKER_02: Maybe he's a quarterback for a program that has always produced really good quarterbacks and he's shown us something.
7:13
SPEAKER_02: So we know you're kind of also taking a chance on a kid, knowing that it's not just that they what they did last year, but what we kind of think they can do this year.
7:21
SPEAKER_02: Right.
7:21
SPEAKER_02: That makes sense.
7:22
SPEAKER_02: You're almost co-signing for that that big year coming, right?
7:25
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and and so and we kind of are putting our neck out there a little bit with that because I think it makes it more interesting.
7:32
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, well, some people are like, oh man, that guy hasn't really proven it yet.
7:35
SPEAKER_02: How is he on the list?
7:36
SPEAKER_02: And it's like, well, we just think that he's going to make us look good.
7:39
SPEAKER_02: We've kind of had it both ways where some guys were like, we're solid about this guy, and he maybe doesn't have a great year, and we and then there's inevitably one or two guys who we didn't have on the list that was kind of falling out.
7:53
SPEAKER_01: I had a couple of receivers I was coaching on the Gita that didn't make the list, but if by the end of the season they were up there, and I was like, Yes.
7:59
SPEAKER_02: It's like yeah, so we one of the things I always say is like you want to be on the end of the year Desert Sun, all Desert Sun team.
8:06
SPEAKER_02: That means that should mean so much more than the preseason list.
8:10
SPEAKER_02: Because the preseason list, there's like the hype involved.
8:13
SPEAKER_02: You got to really live up to it.
8:14
SPEAKER_02: But uh the end of the year list is the is the real bad reality, I think.
8:18
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
8:19
SPEAKER_03: Well, I mean, you guys got a tough job because there's a lot of talent in this valley.
8:22
SPEAKER_03: You know, you got to sort through numerous names, numerous coaches.
8:26
SPEAKER_03: I mean, I commend the job you guys do, and it's and it's fun for us, you know, old guys to talk about.
8:30
SPEAKER_03: I love it.
8:31
SPEAKER_01: It's content, I get to read it every day.
8:32
SPEAKER_01: So I appreciate it.
8:34
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, so like I said, I mean, we know we do the best job we can, but we know we're not gonna make everyone happy.
8:40
SPEAKER_02: And I think being in journalism this long, I've gotten comfortable with that.
8:44
SPEAKER_02: I wasn't comfortable in the early years, like someone would give us criticism, and I'd be like, uh, that person doesn't know what they're talking about.
8:51
SPEAKER_02: You know, and now I'm like, hey, you may have a point.
8:53
SPEAKER_02: We may have gotten this wrong, but that doesn't take away from the belief that we did the best job we can.
8:59
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and you can only work with what the information you've got.
9:02
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because obviously they might be a dad or a coach at their school, they have more information than you have.
9:07
SPEAKER_01: So it yeah.
9:09
SPEAKER_02: But I also think that like people, the outside chatter mostly comes from people who are biased.
9:16
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I'm not gonna say we don't have our little bias in the media, but the truth is if you're if you're an LQ guy and you're like, oh man, this LQ kid got left off, I'm like, well, of course you're gonna say that because this is your squad.
9:29
SPEAKER_02: Um I we hear that from literally like every every I say like all the main big teams, the teams that are always winning.
9:37
SPEAKER_02: We hear that from people all the time.
9:39
SPEAKER_02: And so it's like, I can't, I can't make this team happy and this team happy.
9:45
SPEAKER_02: And like just not that's just possible impossible to make everyone happy and highlight truly everyone who deserves to be highlighted.
9:53
SPEAKER_02: We just do what we can, you know?
9:54
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I love it.
9:56
SPEAKER_03: I love it too.
9:57
SPEAKER_03: We're right in the middle of it, by the way.
9:58
SPEAKER_03: So go check out Desert Sun Elite 11.
10:00
SPEAKER_03: It's online.
10:01
SPEAKER_03: Everybody go subscribe, go check it out because it's fun.
10:04
SPEAKER_03: And it does, it does give us something to kind of follow throughout the year.
10:07
SPEAKER_03: You know, did these guys get it right?
10:08
SPEAKER_03: Did they maybe forget somebody?
10:10
SPEAKER_03: It's it's kind of fun and it's fun for us to talk about.
10:13
SPEAKER_03: So we really respect the job that you did.
10:15
SPEAKER_03: I I kind of want to turn the page to that hundred list, just a couple questions about that because that we we're old guys, so we hear it.
10:21
SPEAKER_03: You know, we we got friends that are on that list, guys.
10:24
SPEAKER_03: We didn't really play, we didn't really play with them, right?
10:26
SPEAKER_03: We're a little too old for them.
10:27
SPEAKER_03: Oh, I coached a couple of them.
10:28
SPEAKER_03: We coached a couple of them.
10:29
SPEAKER_03: Um, what an endeavor.
10:31
SPEAKER_03: How how did you guys even go?
10:32
SPEAKER_03: Because you're going all the way back to 2000.
10:34
SPEAKER_03: I mean, you're dusting out VHS tapes to see these guys play.
10:38
SPEAKER_03: How did you how what was how how did you even take on that endeavor?
10:41
SPEAKER_03: What an endeavor.
10:42
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so like I said, I've only been here since 2013, so I only actually saw half of those guys play, really.
10:48
SPEAKER_02: I saw, you know, uh, there's a ton of guys I didn't see play.
10:53
SPEAKER_02: And so what we really did was um we knew what the I had been actually eyeing this project for a couple of years.
10:59
SPEAKER_02: I was like, when we get to 2025, okay, I want to we try, you know, a lot of the places try and do I I like to pride myself on like the projects.
11:08
SPEAKER_02: That's like my favorite type of work that I do, is I'll undertake like a project that's gonna take me a few weeks or a few months.
11:14
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
11:15
SPEAKER_02: And uh and then it's something that people can like really spend a lot of time reading about.
11:20
SPEAKER_04: Right.
11:21
SPEAKER_02: And so uh, like I said, I've been eyeing it for a couple years, and then when we got here, I s you we have like an online uh archive system for the Desert Sun that's available to employees.
11:32
SPEAKER_02: Uh so we can go on and we can look back.
11:34
SPEAKER_02: The problem is the archive doesn't go all the way back, it just goes up to like 1998.
11:39
SPEAKER_03: Ah, see, that's why we were left off.
11:42
SPEAKER_03: So I told you.
11:43
SPEAKER_03: I told you.
11:44
SPEAKER_02: So there you go.
11:44
SPEAKER_02: So so I was like, okay, so that's perfect because I then I can get all the guys from 2000 to 2025, and I can do the you know, top hundred of the last 25 years.
11:54
SPEAKER_02: And so uh I was basically asking coaches that I know from Dan Armstrong, Pat Blackburn to basically all the coaches, you know, I've developed relationships with all these guys over the years.
12:06
SPEAKER_02: So I know them and I'm texting them and I'm like, hey, I'm gonna send you guys a list of tentative guys who we're thinking about for this list.
12:14
SPEAKER_02: And you tell me it did I leave guys off?
12:18
SPEAKER_02: You know, maybe this guy doesn't deserve to be on the list.
12:21
SPEAKER_02: You tell me, you know.
12:22
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so I work the coaches were very helpful in that.
12:25
SPEAKER_02: But then also with the archive system, I was able to go back and research the guys I never actually saw play and get their their numbers and all their read about.
12:36
SPEAKER_02: Basically, in the archive system, you can plug some guy's name in and it pulls up every article that we ever wrote about them.
12:41
SPEAKER_02: How cool is that?
12:42
SPEAKER_02: Super cool.
12:42
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so you get guys like Frederick Collins, he's all about archives, you can read 30 stories about it and more, and it gives you all his stats from individual games to end of the year.
12:53
SPEAKER_02: So I would look, I'd go each year, I'd go like our all desert sun team for every year.
12:59
SPEAKER_02: I would just search that in the archive, and then I'd look at all the guys who made the list and it would have all their stats.
13:04
SPEAKER_02: And so I would then go and ask coaches that I know from that era, like who you know, was this guy really that great?
13:13
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
13:13
SPEAKER_02: And they would give me a lot of feedback.
13:15
SPEAKER_02: Because it was interesting because there's there's like a lot of guys who went D1 that didn't make top 100.
13:21
SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
13:22
SPEAKER_02: And it and it wasn't that they weren't great, of course they were great, but what we tried to do is like you, it really had nothing to do with what you did in college or if you went pro or whatever.
13:35
SPEAKER_02: It was just how good of a high school football player were you?
13:38
SPEAKER_02: And so unfortunately, there's a lot of hard decisions that had to be made, and some guys were left off.
13:43
SPEAKER_02: And but we felt ultimately we felt really good about the group that we had.
13:46
SPEAKER_03: So what an endeavor though.
13:48
SPEAKER_03: I mean, what a what a great but what a great thing too for all everybody that was kind of upset about where their spot was.
13:54
SPEAKER_03: And just appreciate the fact that somebody actually took the time to go through the archives and even mention, you know, your playing career.
14:01
SPEAKER_03: I wish they would have gone back to the 90s without a chance, you know.
14:05
SPEAKER_03: But uh, you know, just appreciate the fact that you did all that research and you talked to coaches.
14:08
SPEAKER_03: I mean, it wasn't just like you were throwing stuff against the.
14:11
SPEAKER_02: So I will say, like, some people were a little caught up on like, how did you determine this guy being ahead of this guy on the list?
14:18
SPEAKER_02: You know, that's kind of crazy.
14:20
SPEAKER_02: And the truth is, like, there was a few factors, like we tr we tend, I tend to I'm a guy who, if you play two ways, if you're like a two-way star, right?
14:31
SPEAKER_02: That to me is more impressive than a guy who was just a great player on offense or just defense.
14:36
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
14:36
SPEAKER_02: Because I I just think that's really hard.
14:38
SPEAKER_02: It's hard to sustain.
14:39
SPEAKER_02: It's really hard.
14:40
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
14:40
SPEAKER_02: And so so those guys got some really good love.
14:44
SPEAKER_02: And then if you were a four-year starter, like all league guy, that tend to uh reflect a little higher on you than if you were maybe just a guy who had like one awesome year.
14:57
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
14:57
SPEAKER_02: So what about CIF championships?
14:59
SPEAKER_02: That definitely played a role as well.
15:01
SPEAKER_02: If you look at like our top 10 list, for example, I think all but maybe one guy was uh a CIF champion.
15:07
SPEAKER_02: Oh wow.
15:07
SPEAKER_02: Okay, that would tilted the scale a little bit too.
15:09
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, you're a champion.
15:10
SPEAKER_02: I mean, so should, right?
15:12
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so that definitely meant a lot.
15:13
SPEAKER_02: Maybe, maybe all 10, I can't remember, but I think it was maybe nine out of ten of the of the top ten guys.
15:18
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, CIF champions, that definitely carried some weight.
15:21
SPEAKER_02: If you were like um, you know, uh a key player on a championship team, all the more, you know.
15:27
SPEAKER_02: It's like, so yeah, all there's quite a few things that we preferred in the list that when you're reading online, you may have been like, Well, how did you get to this point?
15:38
SPEAKER_02: But that's ultimately, like I said, four years.
15:40
SPEAKER_02: If you played the more years you played in high school, the better the chance.
15:44
SPEAKER_02: The better the yeah, the the higher your stock was, and whether the multiple positions really helped, and then also contributing to winning was a big deal as well.
15:53
SPEAKER_01: So what do you think was the most controversial?
15:56
SPEAKER_01: Um what do I think?
15:57
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, what uh placement on that.
16:00
SPEAKER_03: Uh well, now that he explains it, I I get it because my whole thing was uh Webb.
16:04
SPEAKER_03: Jeff Webb was a real good friend of mine too.
16:06
SPEAKER_03: I mean, he had a great pro career.
16:08
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, so I was thinking he's gotta be one or two.
16:10
SPEAKER_03: But if you now as he explained it's just high school, then I think back to his high school days.
16:14
SPEAKER_03: I'm like, And they they ran the ball a lot when it makes sense.
16:17
SPEAKER_03: I mean, it yeah, he really developed in college too.
16:20
SPEAKER_03: Like that's where he really took off.
16:21
SPEAKER_02: And yeah, and and I thought Jeff was a great, I actually do know Jeff too, and and I had some conversation with him after the I'm sure you did.
16:30
SPEAKER_02: Um but the truth is it was all it was all it was all friendly.
16:33
SPEAKER_02: Uh, because the truth is, and what I explained to Jeff, and you know, this isn't to single him out, this is about really anyone who may have had an issue with where they were on the list.
16:42
SPEAKER_02: It was like again, Jeff was a one really kind of a one-way guy, didn't really play two ways.
16:47
SPEAKER_02: And again, he really bought as good as he was, he was exceptional in high school by all accounts.
16:53
SPEAKER_02: Uh, he really did seem to blossom even more once he got beyond high school.
16:57
SPEAKER_02: And so I think that's what you have to consider as well, you know.
17:01
SPEAKER_02: Um and and we definitely did consider a lot of that.
17:05
SPEAKER_02: So but if you look at the top ten, multiple two a lot of two-way players, a lot of CIA champs, you know, guys who uh were four-year or three or four-year starters or something, you know.
17:18
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it makes sense.
17:20
SPEAKER_01: I agree with Frederick being one.
17:21
SPEAKER_01: I guess the employee is the best football player I've ever seen.
17:23
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, he was pretty special, dude.
17:25
SPEAKER_03: Pretty special dude with the football.
17:27
SPEAKER_01: Shout out to Fred, where we got, bud.
17:28
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, man.
17:29
SPEAKER_03: Um, so come you know, thank you for doing that list.
17:33
SPEAKER_03: You know, that's a that's a quite an endeavor to kind of do.
17:36
SPEAKER_03: You know, what a project.
17:37
SPEAKER_03: And when you're shining the light on the old guys that, you know, yeah, you'll be able to show their grandkids.
17:41
SPEAKER_03: Hey, look at this list.
17:42
SPEAKER_03: Look at grandpa could play back in the day, you know.
17:45
SPEAKER_03: So we we uh respect and we love the work that you did.
17:47
SPEAKER_01: So any any plans to go a little farther back?
17:50
SPEAKER_01: Uh 99.
17:51
SPEAKER_01: Well, Josh, it's uh we're bad.
17:53
SPEAKER_03: We're 97 graduates, so if you could go to like 96, we'd be no that you probably have to dust off.
17:58
SPEAKER_03: The 90s or something.
17:59
SPEAKER_02: That might be hard uh based on our archives and stuff.
18:02
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, one last thing about that is I will say that um, yeah, we just had uh so much good feedback on that.
18:08
SPEAKER_02: And I will say the the vast majority of people who I did talk to, one other thing I didn't mention uh is that when we came up with the top 100 list, I actually made an effort to reach out to all 100.
18:19
SPEAKER_02: But the problem is I just didn't, I couldn't contact every everyone.
18:23
SPEAKER_02: Right.
18:24
SPEAKER_02: I didn't have their information.
18:25
SPEAKER_02: I tried to get their information from coaches, but I actually made an effort to contact everyone because I wanted to know what they were up to now and learn a little bit more about their career that I didn't probably already have, whatever other information.
18:36
SPEAKER_02: And so there were because I had reached out to a lot of guys, there were a lot of guys reaching back out after the list.
18:41
SPEAKER_02: And while there was there was some friendly pushback from some, I will say that the vast majority of people were guys that you were explaining who they're playing careers of you know uh past years ago, and they were just really excited that they could show their current kids or you know, hey, I was pretty good.
19:02
SPEAKER_02: And that was so cool for a lot of these guys to all these years later be still be give given some love um and and recognize for their their their careers.
19:11
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
19:12
SPEAKER_03: That's a great job, man.
19:13
SPEAKER_03: It was a great job.
19:14
SPEAKER_03: I mean, I loved it.
19:15
SPEAKER_03: The the the concept to the execution, great, phenomenal job.
19:18
SPEAKER_03: We're lucky to have you doing that stuff for us here in the valley.
19:22
SPEAKER_03: Um, kind of moving forward now to 2026.
19:25
SPEAKER_03: It's here, it's here, man.
19:26
SPEAKER_03: We're a couple days away from kickoff.
19:28
SPEAKER_03: Um, new super league this year.
19:30
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
19:30
SPEAKER_03: What what are your thoughts on how that's gonna change things?
19:33
SPEAKER_03: What are your what are some of the thoughts on on the new uh new super league coming?
19:37
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'm very excited because it just gives us the competitive equity we we want, right?
19:42
SPEAKER_02: Because we want the teams that are maybe not the best in the valley to not they they want to be competitive, they want to play competitive football week in, week out.
19:52
SPEAKER_02: They want a chance to make the playoffs.
19:53
SPEAKER_02: I think that's great for them.
19:54
SPEAKER_02: But then also the better, the better teams that we see year in and year out, they're getting I think one of the things I love about football is the schedules where you're playing someone every it's kind of like Big Ten SEC football.
20:08
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, there's never really a week off, and you're getting that with with both leagues, whether it's whether you're playing in kind of the lesser league or the the DEL, um you know, you're getting competition that is equal to you most of the time.
20:22
SPEAKER_03: It's competitive, yeah.
20:23
SPEAKER_03: And two of those teams in those lower divisions are gonna make the playoffs, which I mean you look at the Sun Valley League.
20:29
SPEAKER_03: I mean, you're talking about Cat City, MBO, Mirage.
20:31
SPEAKER_03: 29 was the last time some of those guys made the playoffs.
20:34
SPEAKER_01: And then DVL, they all made the playoffs, right?
20:36
SPEAKER_03: DVL last year, they all made the playoffs.
20:38
SPEAKER_03: That may not be the case this year.
20:39
SPEAKER_03: So um, I think it's a great thing.
20:42
SPEAKER_01: I think so.
20:42
SPEAKER_01: It's it's awesome for competition.
20:44
SPEAKER_01: No one wants to see 50-zero games.
20:46
SPEAKER_01: Like let's give these guys some good memories of some competitive games.
20:50
SPEAKER_03: League game should be tough.
20:52
SPEAKER_03: It should be comparable competition.
20:53
SPEAKER_02: And I love the the extra incentive that you don't want to finish last in the league because then you get relegated.
21:00
SPEAKER_03: We're like a soccer English premier team, we get put down.
21:03
SPEAKER_03: That first EL team that gets dropped down is gonna be tough.
21:07
SPEAKER_03: That's gonna be the other the one thing I will say that the the criticism I have heard though from the coaches is that it kind of is a scheduling nightmare if you get moved around, especially if you're moving from one that has six teams to four teams.
21:20
SPEAKER_03: You know, that that could be that could be a problem like in terms of scheduling, but I'm sure they'll figure it out, hopefully.
21:25
SPEAKER_03: But it that that could be that's one of the the pushbacks I have heard from coaches.
21:29
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because uh mostly teams are like you said, scheduling based on the size of their league, current league, and that could change for some teams uh during the offseason.
21:37
SPEAKER_03: So yeah, so they'll have some open, they may have some open days that they have to fill quickly, but hey, I think overall the the the competition is worth it.
21:46
SPEAKER_03: I think that's gonna be a good thing.
21:48
SPEAKER_03: Um kind of moving forward to 2026.
21:51
SPEAKER_03: What are some of you know you know you talked to all these coaches, you know all these players.
21:54
SPEAKER_03: What are some of the storylines you'll be kind of following and kind of looking for this coming up season?
22:00
SPEAKER_02: I mean, if we if we want to maybe go league by league, I would say like for me, DEL, I really am interested in seeing the the new first year coaches at Shadow Hill, Xavier.
22:10
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, 100%.
22:12
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
22:12
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I really want to see if they can uh what you know what they got for the first year.
22:16
SPEAKER_02: That first year can always be tough for coaches, especially when you're playing in a competitive league.
22:21
SPEAKER_02: Right.
22:22
SPEAKER_02: Uh, but I think both of those teams have some really good players.
22:25
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
22:26
SPEAKER_02: And so I think there's a chance that they could be in the playoff picture for sure in that year, that first year for those coaches.
22:31
SPEAKER_02: They both might have the best quarterback in the league, both teams.
22:35
SPEAKER_02: It could be, yeah.
22:36
SPEAKER_02: I mean, that's that's a good thing to have as a new coach.
22:39
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
22:39
SPEAKER_02: And so I think that's a great situation for those coaches to walk into.
22:42
SPEAKER_02: And I just uh yeah, so I'm really excited about that.
22:45
SPEAKER_02: I would say that that's probably really number one for me in that league.
22:50
SPEAKER_02: But I also am interested in seeing kind of like with Palm Springs, for example, they were so good last year, but they lost so much.
22:57
SPEAKER_02: So can they stay in the hunt or they bounce back to the bottom like they were a couple years ago?
23:03
SPEAKER_02: I mean, that's an interesting story for me as well.
23:05
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, a lot of a lot of variables going on there.
23:07
SPEAKER_02: Gotta find some new faces.
23:08
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
23:09
SPEAKER_02: I think Rancho Mirage is poised to bounce back, even though they're they're young.
23:13
SPEAKER_02: But from what I've seen of them, they really athletic young guys think they could be good.
23:19
SPEAKER_02: Um, PD and LQ, I think will be good as as they usually are.
23:23
SPEAKER_02: Right.
23:24
SPEAKER_02: And so uh I think that'll be really fun to watch.
23:27
SPEAKER_02: And then uh, you know, if we move on, I think for me the most interesting part of the season is DVL because as we talked about, all four of those teams made the playoffs.
23:37
SPEAKER_02: Right.
23:38
SPEAKER_01: Might be the most competitive league right now.
23:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, going into the season.
23:41
SPEAKER_02: Going into the season because I mean you look at Banning gets their quarterback and receiver who were awesome last year, yeah.
23:50
SPEAKER_02: CV lost some stuff, but they they're always competitive and Yucca Valley as well.
23:55
SPEAKER_02: And then I I will say uh Desert Hot Springs for me, from what I've seen, I I think they got a real good chance in that league.
24:03
SPEAKER_02: They're my dark horse.
24:04
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
24:05
SPEAKER_02: I think that up front they're gonna be special.
24:07
SPEAKER_02: And I think from yeah, uh for me, where you how how good you are on the line says a lot, and they're gonna be solid on the line.
24:16
SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, hopefully they can stay healthy there.
24:18
SPEAKER_02: Because if they can stay healthy and they get their their guys, uh they're gonna be tough.
24:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they got a great coach, those kids have bought in and they play hard every game.
24:28
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they so that that's can't we can't underestimate those guys at all.
24:31
SPEAKER_02: Right.
24:32
SPEAKER_02: You go get some value, I think that's really fun just because all those teams that haven't made the playoffs in a few years get their chance.
24:39
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you know, and I think that while, you know, we uh for me, I actually probably feel like I'd know less about those teams than maybe some of the the teams that have traditionally been the powerhouses in the valley.
24:51
SPEAKER_02: Uh what I do know is those teams, you know, they're hungry to get back at the playoffs.
24:54
SPEAKER_02: And so it'd be really interesting to see which ones rise to the top in that league.
24:59
SPEAKER_02: Right.
24:59
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that one's gonna be competitive.
25:01
SPEAKER_03: That one's gonna be competitive too.
25:02
SPEAKER_03: There's scenarios where I could see all four of those teams winning.
25:05
SPEAKER_03: That's something you know, just yeah, it breaks their way.
25:08
SPEAKER_03: Uh India with Doc is a big storyline.
25:10
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
25:10
SPEAKER_03: Number one, yeah.
25:11
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, he's gonna he's gonna bring some energy to that program.
25:13
SPEAKER_03: As an old Raja, I'm like, I got some hope again.
25:16
SPEAKER_02: We'll see how long that lasts.
25:17
SPEAKER_02: But I mean, I will say Indio is super exciting.
25:20
SPEAKER_02: I would expect then to be the favorite in that league just because would not surprise me at all.
25:25
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, well, I mean, if you look, I was uh I was there um, I guess technically this is spring ball, but it was like June was I was out there and they've got more numbers, which you know you would expect uh because there's more excitement, a little more excitement around the program with Dockery there.
25:39
SPEAKER_02: And then one thing that stood out also is they they like doubled their coaching staff.
25:44
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because Dockery brought so many of his guys around.
25:46
SPEAKER_02: Help so much, yeah.
25:47
SPEAKER_01: And then yeah, absolutely.
25:49
SPEAKER_02: So when you go from maybe like five or six coaches, that's so hard, and you double that to 12 or even more.
25:56
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, there's that's so great for the kids.
25:59
SPEAKER_02: I think um you look at those factors and it just tells me that Indio, they're they're gonna be better this year.
26:05
SPEAKER_02: I don't know how much better, but right there's no question they're gonna be much better.
26:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think so.
26:10
SPEAKER_01: It takes a little bit of time, but I I wouldn't be surprised if they you know springboarded the top of that league.
26:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but I'd like to give them three years.
26:16
SPEAKER_01: I told him that like in person, like just give yourself three years.
26:19
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
26:19
SPEAKER_01: But of course he wants to do it right away, but as all coaches do, right?
26:23
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, but well, I mean, there's hope, and that's all we can ask for as a as a as an alone.
26:28
SPEAKER_03: Let's go, Rajas.
26:28
SPEAKER_03: I gotta I got some hope.
26:30
SPEAKER_03: Um, so we're gonna go ahead and and take a quick break here and talk to our sponsors.
26:34
SPEAKER_03: We got the expert here, so we're gonna come back and preview the DEL and Desert Christian Academy right after this word from our sponsors.
26:42
SPEAKER_03: Looking to upgrade your home?
26:44
SPEAKER_03: Tile Designs by Fina is your one-stop destination for beautiful flooring, hard surfaces, and countertops.
26:49
SPEAKER_03: From timeless design, modern styles, they've got the perfect look for every room.
26:54
SPEAKER_03: Stop by today and transform your space with Tile Designs by Fina.
26:58
SPEAKER_03: Let's design together.
26:59
SPEAKER_03: Tired of payroll headaches?
27:01
SPEAKER_03: iPay Solutions is your local payroll and HR partner right here in the Coachella Valley.
27:06
SPEAKER_03: From direct deposits to compliance, we handle the details so you can focus on growing your business.
27:11
SPEAKER_03: iPay Solutions, local, reliable, and built for your success.
27:16
SPEAKER_00: Got dirty carpets, tile, or furniture?
27:18
SPEAKER_00: Trust the carpet and tile care company, your family-run experts.
27:21
SPEAKER_00: We bring Sparkle back to your home with top-notch cleaning services, reliable, affordable, and eco-friendly.
27:26
SPEAKER_00: Call us today.
27:27
SPEAKER_00: We can be reached at carpetcarat.co.
27:30
SPEAKER_00: Phone number 760-773-5882.
27:34
SPEAKER_03: Welcome back, everybody, to see to Desert Valley Blitz.
27:37
SPEAKER_03: We're going to go into our DEL prediction uh episode now here with the expert from the Desert Sun.
27:45
SPEAKER_03: Mr.
27:45
SPEAKER_03: Andrew Johnson.
27:46
SPEAKER_03: We might get in trouble on this one.
27:47
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, well, we're going to go.
27:48
SPEAKER_03: So let everybody know this is the algorithm.
27:51
SPEAKER_03: This is not us.
27:52
SPEAKER_03: I'm just going to read down where Max Preps has everybody ranked in the preseason, which uh we'll agree or disagree with.
27:59
SPEAKER_03: Number one in the DEL going to Max Preps.
28:03
SPEAKER_03: Palm Springs Indians.
28:06
SPEAKER_03: Pretty, pretty, pretty shocking, I think, right?
28:09
SPEAKER_03: I mean, they had a great considering what they what they're replacing.
28:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's the thing.
28:13
SPEAKER_01: Maybe they don't know how much they lost.
28:15
SPEAKER_01: And we don't know.
28:16
SPEAKER_01: Like who's going to step up, be the quarterback, and a lot of unknowns.
28:20
SPEAKER_01: Uh, how do you replace Cole Rapola?
28:22
SPEAKER_01: I mean, and Bishop Miller.
28:24
SPEAKER_03: And Bill Shi, I mean.
28:25
SPEAKER_03: And Johnson.
28:26
SPEAKER_03: There's a lot of a lot of and their their line was heavy seniors.
28:30
SPEAKER_03: Um, so I you know, I think the algorithm's kind of pulling from last year, correct?
28:34
SPEAKER_02: I think they had like 20-something seniors last year.
28:36
SPEAKER_03: Right.
28:37
SPEAKER_02: So, you know, anytime you lose 20-something seniors, it's gonna be tough to stay on top, I think.
28:43
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
28:44
SPEAKER_03: But uh then again, Palm Springs does have athletes, and they gotta.
28:48
SPEAKER_03: I know they got a crop coming in in their freshmen that they're they're really excited about.
28:52
SPEAKER_03: Great coaches.
28:53
SPEAKER_03: They got Tank coming back.
28:54
SPEAKER_03: He's a he's a special player.
28:56
SPEAKER_03: They got a bunch of uh Mesa, their receivers coming back.
28:59
SPEAKER_03: They've got a bunch of guys in secondary coming back.
29:01
SPEAKER_03: So it's not like the cupboard's completely bare.
29:03
SPEAKER_03: Not at all.
29:04
SPEAKER_03: It's just we just don't know what the replacement is.
29:07
SPEAKER_03: Who's gonna be the quarterback?
29:08
SPEAKER_03: How's he gonna how's he gonna replace Miller?
29:10
SPEAKER_03: There's a lot of things going on.
29:11
SPEAKER_01: I might not have him at one, but I could see him finishing one.
29:14
SPEAKER_01: Who knows?
29:15
SPEAKER_01: You know, you never know though, right?
29:16
SPEAKER_03: That's yeah, this is why high school football is kind of special, right?
29:19
SPEAKER_03: Because we have no idea, you know, no idea.
29:21
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, if I had uh take a guess, I'd say more like middle of the pack for them.
29:26
SPEAKER_02: Um I think that's fair.
29:28
SPEAKER_02: I don't I can't see them dropping all the way to the bottom, but uh you know, repeating as one in a such a competitive league is a tall task, I think, for anyone.
29:37
SPEAKER_01: Especially after losing that many seniors.
29:39
SPEAKER_03: And I just the leadership they lost, right, on both sides.
29:42
SPEAKER_03: I mean, Coa was a special player, Miller was a special player.
29:46
SPEAKER_03: That that's tough to replace.
29:48
SPEAKER_03: I mean, I don't you can have a talented kid back there, but is he gonna be able to rally the troops when you know times are hard?
29:54
SPEAKER_03: That's what Miller and Coa kind of brought you.
29:55
SPEAKER_01: And when you get a guy that plays on both sides of the ball, it's like losing two guys, you know.
29:59
SPEAKER_03: So we'll see, but according to algorithm, they are the favorites, the Indians, and shout out to the Indians, man.
30:04
SPEAKER_03: They're I'm I know Coach Corey's gonna have them ready to go.
30:07
SPEAKER_03: Um, but that's what the algorithm says.
30:09
SPEAKER_03: Number two, Palm Desert Aztecs.
30:12
SPEAKER_03: Number two.
30:13
SPEAKER_03: Another team that's kind of kind of reloading here.
30:17
SPEAKER_03: Um yeah, very similar situation.
30:20
SPEAKER_03: Got to replace a lot of leadership on that team.
30:22
SPEAKER_03: Did they lose both their DNs?
30:24
SPEAKER_03: They lost 19 out of 22 starters.
30:27
unknown: Yeah.
30:28
SPEAKER_03: That's a big reload, too.
30:29
SPEAKER_03: And talking to Coach 40, he's not calling it a rebuild, he's calling it a rebirth.
30:33
SPEAKER_03: Okay.
30:35
SPEAKER_03: Trying to kind of you know tamper expectations.
30:38
SPEAKER_03: But I do know that they had some guys transfer in.
30:40
SPEAKER_03: They've had some guys transfer in.
30:42
SPEAKER_03: I heard that.
30:42
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, they've got some guys coming in uh that are gonna start immediately.
30:45
SPEAKER_03: They have a really good freshman class.
30:47
SPEAKER_03: They got a freshman who you guys will be hearing about, Riker Rushton, who's he's a pretty special talent.
30:52
SPEAKER_03: I've seen him, I've seen him, he's gonna come in and replace block.
30:55
SPEAKER_03: So um they've got and they've got they've had Palm Desert's just a good program, right?
31:00
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they got a good system in place, and now it's just about moving pieces around to see if they can get it going.
31:05
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, Coach Forty is uh just gonna do his thing.
31:08
SPEAKER_03: I think he's gonna plug and play.
31:10
SPEAKER_03: Uh I see the I can easily see them reloading and being pretty, pretty dang good.
31:15
SPEAKER_02: I think Palm Desert has two things that really going for them is I think they have one of the better coaching staffs in the valley.
31:22
SPEAKER_02: Um a lot of great coaches in the valley, by the way.
31:24
SPEAKER_02: Um Palm Desert, I think, has one of the better staffs, and like you guys said, they seem to just get guys coming in in a way that you know the Palm Springs and Lakinta teams typically do too.
31:36
SPEAKER_02: Uh so that's a great benefit when you have consistently good coaching and guys coming cut can you know routinely coming in, replacing the the seniors that you lost.
31:45
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
31:45
SPEAKER_01: When you win games some, you know, year after year, they they want to go to your school, so it helps.
31:50
SPEAKER_01: So they've won a lot of games in the last few years.
31:53
SPEAKER_01: And they do have guys returning.
31:54
SPEAKER_03: Trey Bolden is coming back.
31:56
SPEAKER_03: He's he's a stud receiver, he's gonna be the number one replace, Jonah Tolin.
31:59
SPEAKER_03: Their quarterback, Josh Perez, he's uh he's got playoff experience.
32:03
SPEAKER_03: I know he didn't play the whole year, but he's he did he won a playoff game on the road.
32:07
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I was at that game in the ring, right?
32:09
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and and I thought I was really impressed with how he played.
32:12
SPEAKER_02: Uh I think going in that environment and and uh playing that well, that says a lot about his deal.
32:19
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
32:20
SPEAKER_03: So I think uh Palm Desert will be right there.
32:23
SPEAKER_03: They always uh no, I think top you like that big top three, yeah.
32:28
SPEAKER_01: Top three, all right, all right.
32:29
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I just I have a lot of faith in Coach Fordy and what he's doing over there.
32:32
SPEAKER_03: I think he's gonna get these boys ready to go.
32:34
SPEAKER_03: And I think the talent just they always seem to trickle into Palm Desert, right?
32:37
SPEAKER_03: In every sport, you know.
32:38
SPEAKER_03: So shout out to the Aztecs.
32:40
SPEAKER_03: I think your guys will be uh right there at the end.
32:42
SPEAKER_03: Number three on the list.
32:45
SPEAKER_03: You're Lakinta Blackhawks, number three in the DEL.
32:48
SPEAKER_03: I can see that.
32:49
SPEAKER_03: What do you what are you what's your opinion on that?
32:51
SPEAKER_03: You're the La Quinta whisperer over here.
32:53
SPEAKER_01: Uh they I know they're I know Coach Reese's got those guys uh fired up.
32:57
SPEAKER_01: Uh Colts gonna be running the ball.
32:59
SPEAKER_01: Um Linemen look really good.
33:01
SPEAKER_01: Uh they got I think people are sleeping on the receivers.
33:03
SPEAKER_01: They got some good receivers over there.
33:05
SPEAKER_01: Um we'll see if Mason can step up and lead that squad.
33:08
SPEAKER_01: Uh it'll be his first year's, you know, taking Roman spot.
33:12
SPEAKER_01: Right.
33:12
SPEAKER_01: Um, I think he can do it though.
33:14
SPEAKER_01: He's he's a great kid, he's smart, he's got a uh a good arm.
33:17
SPEAKER_01: Um now he's just gotta go out there and play ball.
33:19
SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
33:21
SPEAKER_01: I could see I can I can see why they got third.
33:23
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
33:23
SPEAKER_01: I'm not gonna argue that, but I wouldn't be surprised if they win it.
33:26
SPEAKER_03: So yeah.
33:27
SPEAKER_03: Uh thoughts on the Quinta?
33:28
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean I I like them a lot.
33:30
SPEAKER_02: I think they actually will be better this year, um, even though losing uh Roman Ansley is obviously a big piece, man.
33:37
SPEAKER_02: So I think it really comes down to uh Mason, right?
33:40
SPEAKER_02: If he can replicate some of what uh Roman was able to do, I think they've got a chance because I agree that their receiver is gonna be better.
33:48
SPEAKER_02: And I think that makes from what I've what Coach Reez has said is that even though you know Colton is a great running back, probably the best in the valley, I think.
33:56
SPEAKER_02: Uh I think that uh they're gonna be more balanced than they were this year because of that receiver, uh, that group of receivers.
34:03
SPEAKER_02: Right.
34:03
SPEAKER_02: And then uh, you know, defensively, they sound like they're in pretty good shape.
34:09
SPEAKER_02: Uh they're usually pretty good defensively.
34:11
SPEAKER_02: So I I do feel like they'll be kind of right in the mix.
34:14
SPEAKER_02: Right.
34:15
SPEAKER_02: Uh I I wouldn't say they're like probably the favorite in the league, but I would say, you know, that two or three spot probably.
34:22
SPEAKER_03: Right.
34:22
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
34:23
SPEAKER_03: Um I know La Quinta has a couple running backs, not just Colton.
34:26
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, they got Mora.
34:28
SPEAKER_03: They got Mora.
34:29
SPEAKER_03: There's whispers about Slim that you may be sure.
34:33
SPEAKER_03: We're we're crossing our fingers that uh Slim makes an appearance, makes a comeback.
34:37
SPEAKER_03: Um, and but my question with La Quinta would be the defensive side.
34:40
SPEAKER_03: I I I last year I saw stuff on defense I'd never seen out of a La Quinta team.
34:45
SPEAKER_03: So I I think that may be just a one-off thing.
34:47
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
34:48
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
34:50
SPEAKER_03: Coach Reese is a defense and run the ball guy.
34:52
SPEAKER_03: So I know he's he's he's been in the lab working on that side.
34:55
SPEAKER_03: Well, I know they're switching some stuff up.
34:57
SPEAKER_01: So I got a little bit, I don't want to spill it, but they're making some changes.
35:02
SPEAKER_01: I'll just say that.
35:03
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and I think if they can, but if that side gets back to traditional La Quinta, I think they may be the favorites in terms of what they got up front.
35:10
SPEAKER_03: I know that they're gonna be pretty good up front.
35:12
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
35:12
SPEAKER_03: And La Quinta already has an identity.
35:15
SPEAKER_03: You know what you're gonna get, um, and they do it well.
35:17
SPEAKER_03: So to me, if if they can get the defensive side just playing a little bit more efficiently, last year they gave up the at least the games I was at is very um untimely, like first downs.
35:27
SPEAKER_03: They give up some big plays when they really need to stop.
35:29
SPEAKER_03: Chunk plays.
35:30
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and that's pretty that's pretty uncharacteristic of Lakinta.
35:33
SPEAKER_03: So if they get to me, if they get that side of the ball together, I would say just with what they got coming back and just the tradition and the numbers they got, they gotta be right there.
35:41
SPEAKER_03: I think they will too.
35:42
SPEAKER_03: I think they gotta be right there.
35:42
SPEAKER_03: They probably are playing Palm Desert at the end for the league title.
35:45
SPEAKER_03: That that could be that could be for the league title, that flag game.
35:48
SPEAKER_03: So um, so yeah, I think uh we'll we'll time will tell, but the quinta's gonna be right there.
35:53
SPEAKER_03: We're gonna find out.
35:54
SPEAKER_03: They're gonna be right there, man.
35:55
SPEAKER_03: Moving on, number four.
35:57
SPEAKER_03: Here's one that surprised me.
35:58
SPEAKER_03: Number four, Xavier Prepp.
36:01
SPEAKER_03: Number four, according to the algorithm.
36:03
SPEAKER_03: New head coach, new staff, uh, ton of talent.
36:08
SPEAKER_03: They got dudes at that Xavier Prep.
36:10
SPEAKER_03: They got a couple guys, they got definitely with D1 guy who already has an offer in Jacob Van, but they also have some other seniors that have that ability and probably will, if they have good years, will get D1 scholarships as well.
36:22
SPEAKER_03: So, what what are you was your take on that?
36:24
SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm impressed by Michael Carls.
36:25
SPEAKER_01: I I coached with him a few years ago at the All-Star game, and I was impressed, but he just has a lot of attention to detail.
36:31
SPEAKER_01: He had uh everything lined up on that offense, and if he can just like um kind of spread that to the defense and special teams, I I think he's gonna have a ton of success.
36:39
SPEAKER_01: Um, very savvy coach.
36:41
SPEAKER_01: So I think he's gonna have those guys ready to go.
36:43
SPEAKER_01: Um first year head coach, so you know, a lot of unknowns it's a hard job.
36:47
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, always the question mark.
36:49
SPEAKER_02: Thoughts on it?
36:50
SPEAKER_02: I think I think Xavier's roster looks maybe even better this year than they had a year ago.
36:56
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so I think there's the potential to be very good.
37:01
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, the there's definitely some unknown variables.
37:04
SPEAKER_02: I I do like, you know, Michael Carl as a head coach.
37:07
SPEAKER_02: I especially like that he was already with the program before.
37:11
SPEAKER_02: You know, I think that gives him a step up on a guy, you know, who may be new to a school and a new program.
37:18
SPEAKER_02: Um so I like I like a lot of things that they have there, and and I'm a big fan of some of the talent that they have.
37:24
SPEAKER_02: So I think there's a lot of potential there.
37:26
unknown: Yeah.
37:26
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, the the top line talent is undeniable.
37:29
SPEAKER_03: It always is at Xavier.
37:31
SPEAKER_03: It's just depth at that school, you know.
37:33
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, sometimes they don't have the numbers.
37:35
SPEAKER_03: So if they stay healthy, um, like having seen them live, they're they're they're as good as anybody.
37:41
SPEAKER_03: They're top, they're top 11.
37:42
SPEAKER_03: Yeah it's just getting getting to those seconds, that's always where they kind of get have issues.
37:46
SPEAKER_03: So if they stay healthy, there's there's a chance they can be very potent on offense.
37:50
SPEAKER_03: They got they got uh King Palum moving from uh quarterback to receiver in DB, which is a really smart move for that kid because he's gonna be recruited at at those two positions.
38:00
SPEAKER_03: So, I mean, and watching him in the preseason, he's looked he looked every bit the part.
38:04
SPEAKER_03: So a lot of stuff to work with over there.
38:06
SPEAKER_03: They got some guys.
38:07
SPEAKER_03: They got that quarterback coming in from Desert Chapel.
38:10
SPEAKER_03: Uh he can sling the ball.
38:11
SPEAKER_03: Not a bad pickup.
38:12
SPEAKER_03: Sam Morris can throw the ball.
38:14
SPEAKER_03: He is a big, strong kid.
38:15
SPEAKER_03: He's got a big arm, fits that office office pretty well.
38:20
SPEAKER_03: And I know uh Carl's that's was one of his like things is he wants to he wants to clean up that offense.
38:25
SPEAKER_03: I think he's an offensive guy.
38:26
SPEAKER_03: Yeah and he's a smart dude.
38:27
SPEAKER_03: I he's gonna kind of go in the coachella mold of that run and shoot.
38:31
SPEAKER_03: And we'll see, you know.
38:32
SPEAKER_03: Um, they definitely have the talent, but like you said, the new coaches, staff, that takes time, you know.
38:36
SPEAKER_03: Does it and you get you get in, and those live bullets are flying, man.
38:40
SPEAKER_03: You gotta know where, you know, you gotta know look to your leadership to kind of lead you through.
38:44
SPEAKER_03: So there may be some growing pains at the beginning, but um, but that was they were kind of high, uh I thought, on on as if it's going off of last year, yeah, last year's list.
38:53
SPEAKER_03: Number five on the list, Shadow Hills.
38:56
SPEAKER_03: Another new head coach.
38:57
SPEAKER_03: Another new head coach.
38:58
SPEAKER_03: Uh Shadow Hills returning a lot of a lot of good talent, and especially on the offensive side.
39:04
SPEAKER_01: I quarterback might be the best in the league.
39:06
SPEAKER_01: I mean, he he is nice.
39:07
SPEAKER_01: I um I got to see Shadow Hills uh in passing league, and what struck me was like how much control um Nick King already had.
39:15
SPEAKER_01: I mean, those kids were following him around.
39:17
SPEAKER_01: Uh he had the quarterback slanging the ball all over the field, uh making impossible throws.
39:22
SPEAKER_01: And I I wouldn't be surprised if they come out, you know, slinging.
39:26
SPEAKER_01: Um same thing.
39:28
SPEAKER_01: We don't, you know, he might be the most unknown head coach.
39:30
SPEAKER_04: I think so.
39:31
SPEAKER_01: Uh Michael Carl was offensive coordinator for a long time.
39:34
SPEAKER_01: Uh, we know Doc, we know, we know his story, but um Nick Nick, you know, we we haven't seen him coach really uh obviously stellar high school career, um, professional baseball, but I I know he knows what it looks like, but it's you know it's tough.
39:47
SPEAKER_01: Head coach is a big job, it's tough.
39:49
SPEAKER_01: So I don't know.
39:50
SPEAKER_01: But he had those guys fired up during the summer, so it looked like he was the man in charge and he was he was leading them in the right way.
39:57
SPEAKER_02: So I I think that uh Nick, like you said, is he he has a chance to be very good coach uh because he knows the game so well from his playing, and then he you know he's been around winning program season as a coach, you know, he coached uh as an assistant at Palm Strings before that.
40:14
SPEAKER_02: So he's uh he he really knows I think what he's doing, but uh the d the thing I do worry about with him is just those first year head coach team things that are just I think it just takes time and reps and uh trial and error that he's probably gonna face, you know.
40:32
SPEAKER_01: I 100% agree with it's not just kids that get reps, coaches get reps out there too.
40:35
SPEAKER_01: And that's true.
40:36
SPEAKER_01: There's sometimes you think as a coach, like, oh, if I was head coach, I would do this, this, and this.
40:40
SPEAKER_01: And then you get there and you try that and it doesn't work, you're like, oh dang.
40:44
SPEAKER_01: So there is those those trial and tribulation.
40:47
SPEAKER_01: So we'll see though.
40:48
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so I think the potential for hit for Nick is really high.
40:51
SPEAKER_02: And and Nick actually told me one of the things that he loves is he's stepping in a situation where he's got an established quarterback who is coming off a great year with a program that you know won a playoff game last year.
41:02
SPEAKER_02: So uh he's he's in a really good situation for a first-year coach.
41:07
SPEAKER_02: Uh it just really just depends on how well he manages that the first year trial and error.
41:12
SPEAKER_03: Right.
41:12
SPEAKER_03: And a lot of talent coming back at Shadow Hills.
41:14
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, they got a lot of offensive power firepower.
41:17
SPEAKER_03: Always tough kids.
41:18
SPEAKER_03: But the quarterback, uh Jesse Rodriguez, he's uh he's an all elite 11 type of player.
41:23
SPEAKER_03: And then he's got Reef at receiver, yeah.
41:25
SPEAKER_03: He's got Woodson, another topic.
41:28
SPEAKER_03: I mean, that they've got potential to be dynamic offensively, just with the talent.
41:31
SPEAKER_03: It's just a matter of do the pieces fall into place and you know what do we look like on the other side of the ball?
41:36
SPEAKER_03: You know, football's such a such a moving, uh moving growing game.
41:40
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, so it just depends on how quickly that all comes together.
41:44
SPEAKER_03: But I will say that Shadow Hills probably has one of the tougher schedules in the DEL looking at their schedule.
41:50
SPEAKER_03: They their non-league is tough.
41:52
SPEAKER_03: They're opening up, um, they're opening up coming swinging.
41:55
SPEAKER_03: We'll kind of go over that on the next segment.
41:58
SPEAKER_03: But they they they have a they'll they'll know by week six.
42:02
SPEAKER_03: They'll know exactly where they are because they're there's no cupcakes on that schedule.
42:05
SPEAKER_03: So but uh but Shadow Hills right now currently predicted to finish uh fifth, and then that leaves uh sixth, which we all know is the only team that we haven't talked about.
42:15
SPEAKER_03: Rancho Mirage, Rattlers, six.
42:18
SPEAKER_03: Now, this is all based off of last year, and last year obviously, to me, I think was the exception, not the rule with uh Rancho Mirage.
42:25
SPEAKER_01: What are you guys' kind of perception?
42:26
SPEAKER_01: Well, I think the the fight kind of took a lot of wind out of their cell last year, and they kind of didn't perform as much, you know, as good as they'd want, so I can see how they'd wind up.
42:35
SPEAKER_01: But Matthew's a great coach, man.
42:37
SPEAKER_01: He's gonna have those guys fired up, right?
42:39
SPEAKER_01: Um, he has got a lot of attention to detail, he knows what it's supposed to look like, and now it's just about finding new new faces.
42:45
SPEAKER_01: And I hear I hear he's got some new faces that are stepping up, so I'm sure we'll hear about them as the season gets going.
42:50
SPEAKER_01: And um it's a tough league, man.
42:53
SPEAKER_01: It's someone's got to be ranked last, it's not fun, but uh and it is preseason.
42:57
SPEAKER_01: It is pretty much it doesn't mean much, and they're going off last year, exactly.
43:01
SPEAKER_02: Um I think they're in a pretty good position.
43:03
SPEAKER_02: Be as well, I know the coaches are loving the fact that they finished last.
43:08
SPEAKER_02: I mean, they don't love that fact, but they love that that they can use that as fuel for this season.
43:13
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so that's a good motivator for the kids.
43:16
SPEAKER_02: Hey, we finished last, you know, you guys don't want to go and five in the league this year, and that's a real motivating thing for uh they have a lot of really good sophomores, guys who played as freshmen last year.
43:25
SPEAKER_02: So I think they're gonna definitely be young, but uh the talent seems to be there, and I think that there's a lot of potential.
43:32
SPEAKER_02: Uh but it doesn't surprise me that they're picked last by the algorithm there because we're just going off of last year, and we don't, you know, a lot of it is unknown.
43:42
SPEAKER_02: Don't know how well some of these guys are gonna step up.
43:45
SPEAKER_02: But I think the there's a chance that they could be pretty good.
43:47
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
43:48
SPEAKER_03: Uh Rancho's uh freshman team was undefeated, and I believe their JV lost one game.
43:54
SPEAKER_03: Last year, their freshman group was probably one of the best groups they've had in a long time.
43:59
SPEAKER_03: They've got a lot.
44:00
SPEAKER_03: Lot of young talent.
44:01
SPEAKER_03: And I know those kids personally because I coach some of them.
44:03
SPEAKER_03: Their sophomore group is pretty special.
44:05
SPEAKER_03: So I think this is the year that they start to show it.
44:08
SPEAKER_03: So I'd be very surprised if that this prediction holds up just because of the coaching staff.
44:14
SPEAKER_03: And I know what they got under the hood.
44:16
SPEAKER_03: They got some young talent.
44:17
SPEAKER_03: By the end of the year, that young talent will be probably full of a couple of years.
44:19
SPEAKER_03: So I'm hearing I'm hearing good things.
44:21
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, they got some guys, um, they got some really good sophomore classes and a couple of juniors.
44:26
SPEAKER_03: So they're gonna be young, but I I would be surprised if that's actually where they end up.
44:30
SPEAKER_03: But we'll see.
44:30
SPEAKER_03: Time will tell.
44:31
SPEAKER_03: You know, it's it's football.
44:32
SPEAKER_03: Anything can happen.
44:33
SPEAKER_01: That's why it's so fun to talk about.
44:34
SPEAKER_01: There's so many unknowns.
44:35
SPEAKER_01: And um, I I just can't wait for the season to start.
44:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's this is why we cover it, right?
44:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
44:41
SPEAKER_01: This is fun.
44:42
SPEAKER_03: This is fun.
44:42
SPEAKER_03: So, okay, well, that's our DEL prediction uh segment.
44:46
SPEAKER_03: Don't yell at us.
44:47
SPEAKER_03: That's the that's the algorithm.
44:48
SPEAKER_03: We didn't come up with this.
44:49
SPEAKER_03: Playing the road.
44:51
SPEAKER_03: We just letting you guys know what the algorithm says.
44:53
SPEAKER_03: Um, we're gonna take a break, hear from our sponsors, and we'll be right back with week zero predictions.
44:59
SPEAKER_03: Tired of payroll headaches?
45:00
SPEAKER_03: iPay Solutions is your local payroll and HR partner right here in the Coachella Valley.
45:05
SPEAKER_03: From direct deposits to compliance, we handle the details so you can focus on growing your business.
45:10
SPEAKER_03: iPay Solutions, local, reliable, and built for your success.
45:13
SPEAKER_03: Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz DEL preview show.
45:18
SPEAKER_03: We're here with Andrew John of the Desert Sun Expert Analysis.
45:22
SPEAKER_03: Um, before we get into the week zero preview for the DEL, we did want to talk about the independent team here in the Valley, the Notre Dame of the Valley at the Christian Academy coming off a stellar 10-0 season.
45:34
SPEAKER_03: Phenomenal.
45:35
SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, what's their kind of outlook for the season that you're seeing?
45:39
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, love that they've got, you know, their quarterback and some of their top receivers back.
45:44
SPEAKER_02: Added a great receiver in uh Javon Garcia from Desert Chapel.
45:49
SPEAKER_02: You know, he's like 6'4, 200 pounds, kind of like a uh, you know, uh unicorn out here.
45:56
SPEAKER_02: We don't really see guys like that uh at receiver.
45:58
SPEAKER_02: So that I think that's awesome.
46:00
SPEAKER_02: Uh I think they're gonna be very, very talented, maybe even better than they were last year, although their schedule does get a little tougher this year.
46:06
SPEAKER_02: I saw that.
46:07
SPEAKER_02: And they're in a new league, so that uh means I think that that league's gonna be tougher.
46:12
SPEAKER_02: So it's uh whether they I don't see them going 10-0 again, but yeah, definitely a playoff team.
46:18
SPEAKER_02: Uh if they can uh maintain uh some good uh pressure on the quarterback uh on defense, and then of course they gotta be able to protect their quarterback with their with their line.
46:28
SPEAKER_02: I'm not quite sure exactly what they've got on the line, but we know at the skill position, they're uh just about as good as anyone in the valley.
46:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I would say so.
46:35
SPEAKER_03: They've got some guys on the line too.
46:37
SPEAKER_03: They got a guy who's uh could be a D1 recruit here in a couple years.
46:40
SPEAKER_03: It's always depth with them, you know.
46:42
SPEAKER_03: They're gonna line up and have top tier talent.
46:44
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, but like me and Josh were talking out for air.
46:46
SPEAKER_03: It's pretty amazing that Desert Christian is in the spot where they're at from like three, four years ago.
46:52
SPEAKER_01: Coming from eight man, and now they're pushing, you know, I would say almost in the middle of the pack of the desert.
46:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
46:57
SPEAKER_01: You can make that argument right now.
46:59
SPEAKER_01: And well, we're gonna find out though.
47:00
SPEAKER_01: They play some some local teams.
47:02
SPEAKER_01: Um, they play Yucca?
47:04
SPEAKER_03: They do.
47:04
SPEAKER_01: That'll be that'll be an exciting game, right?
47:07
SPEAKER_02: That's gonna be yeah, that's gonna be popcorn.
47:08
SPEAKER_02: That's gonna be Yucca Valley's got some good athletes too.
47:10
SPEAKER_02: Oh, yes.
47:11
SPEAKER_01: I can see 50 50 points each.
47:14
SPEAKER_01: Oh yeah, you know, score 50 and still lose.
47:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, not a great feeling.
47:19
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, so Desert Christian Academy, Coach Johnson's doing a phenomenal job over there.
47:23
SPEAKER_03: I mean, just the the journey.
47:24
SPEAKER_03: He's fun.
47:25
SPEAKER_03: It's fun to follow that that school and that journey to to where they're co they're going.
47:29
SPEAKER_03: I mean, it's pretty phenomenal.
47:31
SPEAKER_01: It feels like it's just getting started too.
47:33
SPEAKER_01: You know, it just feels like they're they're starting this this journey of pushing as as high as they can go, and like I said, just eight man just a few years ago to where they're at.
47:41
SPEAKER_01: It's pretty crazy.
47:41
SPEAKER_01: It's fun.
47:42
SPEAKER_01: It's uh sky's the limit for them.
47:44
SPEAKER_01: So crazy.
47:45
SPEAKER_03: So onto the preview.
47:46
SPEAKER_03: Uh for week zero, Desert Christian opens with 29 palms coming into town.
47:52
SPEAKER_03: So what are we what are we thinking about that game?
47:55
SPEAKER_03: I I I don't know, man.
47:58
SPEAKER_03: 29?
47:59
SPEAKER_03: 29 Palms coming to DCA to open the season on Friday.
48:03
SPEAKER_01: I can see them beating 29.
48:05
SPEAKER_03: Uh, they beat him last year.
48:06
SPEAKER_03: I can see it.
48:07
SPEAKER_03: Pretty handily, correct?
48:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
48:08
SPEAKER_02: So you think it's gonna be about the same?
48:10
SPEAKER_02: I I think 29 Palms will be better this year based on you know what the feedback we've been getting uh from up there.
48:17
SPEAKER_02: But at the same time, uh I I do still see Desert uh Christian uh winning that game pretty handily.
48:25
SPEAKER_02: Uh just hard to imagine uh 29 Palms having the athletes that can match up with the guys from Desert uh Christian.
48:32
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, Desert Christian's a track team at this point, man.
48:34
SPEAKER_03: They're gonna put up numbers.
48:35
SPEAKER_03: And 29 Palms does have some some athletes, so I did see them in a scrimmage.
48:40
SPEAKER_03: Um, but it will be a test to slow.
48:42
SPEAKER_03: I think they'll be able to score on DCA, but stopping them is a whole different, whole different ball game.
48:48
SPEAKER_03: So we're expecting uh we're expecting some more for fireworks in that game.
48:52
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
48:52
SPEAKER_03: So but we we expect Desert Christian to kind of come out on top of that.
48:55
SPEAKER_03: Well, who knows though?
48:56
SPEAKER_03: Well, that's why they played.
48:57
SPEAKER_03: That's why they play, man.
48:58
SPEAKER_03: Hey, 29 palms can come down with a couple guys from military transfers, and you never know.
49:03
SPEAKER_03: So we'll be uh we'll be excited to check that out.
49:05
SPEAKER_03: Uh moving on to the week zero preview for the DEL.
49:09
SPEAKER_03: Our Palestine Indians open on Thursday night at Hemet.
49:12
SPEAKER_03: A tough, tough road game to start.
49:15
SPEAKER_03: It's gonna be a nice little test for the Indians.
49:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the Indians coming off a great year last year.
49:20
SPEAKER_01: They're they're gonna reload.
49:22
SPEAKER_01: Um Hemmett's always tough, though, man.
49:24
SPEAKER_01: They're they're they can they can they play uh they run the ball a lot.
49:29
SPEAKER_01: They're they got some great athletes up there.
49:31
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
49:32
SPEAKER_01: I'd like to I'm going for the Indians, but it might be a tough night for them.
49:36
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it might be a tough task.
49:37
SPEAKER_02: I think uh yeah, not knowing really what Hemet has coming back, but the last couple years have been very, very, very tough to get away.
49:44
SPEAKER_02: They play good ball up there, yeah.
49:45
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, usually a really disciplined team.
49:47
SPEAKER_02: Uh so I I think that's kind of a quin flip, quin flip game.
49:51
SPEAKER_02: Just be I mean, we we do know Palm Springs obviously coming off a great season, but uh lot to prove, I think, from this group uh having lost so many guys.
50:00
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
50:00
SPEAKER_03: Lots of new faces for the Indians this year.
50:03
SPEAKER_03: I know they're excited about the young guys.
50:04
SPEAKER_03: New opportunity for the young guys.
50:06
SPEAKER_03: They got some they do have some athletes coming back, I know, at the scale positions, but you know, tough test right out the gate.
50:10
SPEAKER_03: There's no cupcakes, you know.
50:11
SPEAKER_03: Jumping right in.
50:12
SPEAKER_03: Going out to Hemet, which is a tough place to play.
50:15
SPEAKER_03: They do play good big boy football over there.
50:17
SPEAKER_03: So Palm Springs will know very quickly.
50:20
SPEAKER_03: Um, moving on to Friday night, going out to Brawley for the week zero matchup.
50:26
SPEAKER_03: Old school game.
50:27
SPEAKER_03: Old DVL matchup from the 90s coming back to life.
50:31
SPEAKER_03: Brawley is a tough, uh, traditionally just a tough, tough team.
50:34
SPEAKER_03: There's tough kids out there.
50:35
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, they're a bunch of farm kids out there.
50:37
SPEAKER_03: They run the ball, play defense.
50:39
SPEAKER_03: That's gonna be a tough test for this, all these new guys in Palm Desert.
50:42
SPEAKER_03: What do you how do you see that one shaking out?
50:44
SPEAKER_01: I don't know much about Palm or uh Brawley, but just from back when I used to play them, they're just big, tough kids, man.
50:50
SPEAKER_01: They're not gonna be pushovers.
50:52
SPEAKER_01: So we're gonna find out in the trenches real quick if Palm Desert can match up with them.
50:56
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
50:56
SPEAKER_03: So the front seven's gonna have their work cut out for them on the defensive side.
51:00
SPEAKER_01: I think Palm Desert beat them, but it's it's gonna be a tough game.
51:02
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
51:02
SPEAKER_03: No, no easy win, right?
51:04
SPEAKER_03: Week zero.
51:05
SPEAKER_02: No, not at all.
51:06
SPEAKER_02: I mean, uh Palm Desert, yeah.
51:07
SPEAKER_02: I think I just I do like the guys they have coming back.
51:10
SPEAKER_02: I think they'll be ready to go.
51:11
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, Brawley, of all the places to start, that's one of the last places in in this region that I would want to play.
51:18
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely, right?
51:19
SPEAKER_03: That's that's a take, man.
51:20
SPEAKER_03: They play good football out there.
51:22
SPEAKER_01: People sleep on that that that area.
51:24
SPEAKER_03: And they have an identity.
51:25
SPEAKER_03: You know, Brawley's been doing the same thing for 40 years.
51:28
SPEAKER_03: So if you're a new team, I mean talented team, but new team coming together, 19 new starters.
51:34
SPEAKER_03: You're right.
51:34
SPEAKER_03: Brawley's probably not the best spot to go out there and come together as a team, but hey, they'll know pretty quick what they got, right?
51:41
SPEAKER_03: Long bus ride.
51:42
SPEAKER_03: That's a that's a long bus ride, and there is nothing in between here and Brawley.
51:46
SPEAKER_03: Trust me, I've done that before.
51:47
SPEAKER_03: So tough one for the Aztecs.
51:49
SPEAKER_03: I think the Aztecs got enough talent to pull it out, but I don't think it's gonna be easy.
51:53
SPEAKER_03: I think it's gonna be uh they're gonna be on a bar fight about down there.
51:56
SPEAKER_01: That might be uh similar to Central last year.
51:59
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
51:59
SPEAKER_03: Central's pretty similar in real good there.
52:02
SPEAKER_03: Style.
52:02
SPEAKER_03: So tough opener, but let's go Aztecs.
52:05
SPEAKER_03: Let's get out there on the road.
52:06
SPEAKER_03: Let's show these Imperial that they beat us in that all-star game, so we gotta get the the desert gotta get get back on them.
52:11
SPEAKER_03: So you guys are up first.
52:13
SPEAKER_03: Go down there and Aztecs.
52:14
SPEAKER_03: That's right.
52:15
SPEAKER_03: Uh moving another Friday game.
52:17
SPEAKER_03: So Esperanza, which is a big high school in Anaheim, is coming down to Shadow Hills for the opener.
52:24
SPEAKER_03: Shadow Hills has a tough schedule, man.
52:26
SPEAKER_03: Their preseason is, I was looking at their schedule.
52:29
SPEAKER_03: They did not go easy on Coach King, man.
52:31
SPEAKER_03: He's he's he's opening up with some pretty tough teams.
52:33
SPEAKER_03: I don't know much about Esperanza, but the what I what I do know is a big school.
52:37
SPEAKER_03: They play in a big conference.
52:39
SPEAKER_03: They're gonna have probably some some pretty big guys up front.
52:42
SPEAKER_03: Um, what's our take on this game?
52:45
SPEAKER_01: We're gonna find out, man.
52:46
SPEAKER_01: I mean, they're Nick King and the new uh regimes gotta have their hands full, man.
52:52
SPEAKER_01: They got a big school coming in the town, but why not, you know, come out with a W, just beat, you know, knock the big kid out.
53:00
SPEAKER_01: Let's let's go.
53:01
SPEAKER_01: So it's gonna be tough.
53:04
SPEAKER_01: It's gonna be tough, man.
53:04
SPEAKER_01: I wouldn't be tough.
53:06
SPEAKER_01: A lot of unknowns, a lot of knowns, new new coach, new offense, new defense.
53:10
SPEAKER_01: Um we're gonna find out though.
53:13
SPEAKER_03: One advantage we desert the desert teams will have though, that heat.
53:18
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I was just gonna say that.
53:20
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, the second half might be uh might be all bad for Esperanza.
53:24
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, if you haven't practiced in this for three months, you know, that might that might that might play a part in this game.
53:30
SPEAKER_01: If you're not used to it, man, you come out and all of a sudden it's super hot.
53:33
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I was gonna say, I I don't know if Nick King scheduled that game or if it was, you know, probably not.
53:39
SPEAKER_02: I was gonna say who whoever scheduled that has an intimate knowledge of what it's like to play in the desert in August.
53:46
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
53:46
SPEAKER_02: And they knew getting a team from Orange County to come out here, that was that was one they're gonna take, even though it's a tough team.
53:52
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, I mean, that's definitely an advantage.
53:54
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think they do this the schedule every two years.
53:56
SPEAKER_03: Uh yeah, this contract probably signed way before Coach Keene took over.
54:00
SPEAKER_03: So he just inherited the schedule.
54:02
SPEAKER_03: But hey, we'll know the Shadow Hills.
54:04
SPEAKER_03: Well, another team will uh like we're gonna have some answers pretty early this season.
54:07
SPEAKER_03: There's not a lot of cupcakes on the schedule where you don't really know too much about what you're what you're seeing.
54:13
SPEAKER_03: Um, so let's go, Knights.
54:15
SPEAKER_03: Let's go take care of take care of these guys from Orange County.
54:17
SPEAKER_03: They don't know what's coming, they gotta play you and the Heat.
54:19
SPEAKER_03: So, you know, we got to hang in there and then take over the world.
54:22
SPEAKER_03: Second half is ours, man.
54:23
SPEAKER_03: Second half is ours.
54:24
SPEAKER_03: Um, next one on the schedule, Xavier Prep going up the hill to Rim of the World in Lake Arrowhead.
54:30
SPEAKER_01: It's always a tough place to play.
54:32
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
54:33
SPEAKER_01: High altitude.
54:34
SPEAKER_01: Feels like you're like on a different planet up there.
54:36
SPEAKER_01: It's it's really weird, but um, I can see him winning.
54:39
SPEAKER_01: Um Rim of the World was very good last year, didn't make the playoffs.
54:43
SPEAKER_01: It was out.
54:43
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if you guys heard the story.
54:44
SPEAKER_01: They were like, what, nine and two and nine and eighth.
54:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so they're they're gonna probably have that chip on their shoulder still.
54:51
SPEAKER_01: Um but I guess they're both about the same size school, huh?
54:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, Isaac's probably a little bigger than Rim of the World.
54:59
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I'm going for Desert Team.
55:02
SPEAKER_01: I don't care.
55:03
SPEAKER_03: Coin toss game.
55:04
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, because they play good football up there.
55:06
SPEAKER_01: They they run the ball really well, Rim of the World.
55:08
SPEAKER_01: Um, and kind of similar to Brawley, but they're on top of a mountain, they're small little town, football town, and they rally behind their boys too.
55:15
SPEAKER_01: And yeah, uh, they know what it looks like.
55:17
SPEAKER_01: So tough opening, yeah.
55:19
SPEAKER_01: Tough opener.
55:19
SPEAKER_02: I would say if you're Xavier, how do you feel being a desert team and getting this nice cool weather up there in the mountains to start?
55:28
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I don't know, that would feel pretty good.
55:30
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
55:30
SPEAKER_01: Get out of this heat.
55:31
SPEAKER_01: I I do I hear they're going out a day early, just gotta get acclimated a little bit to that altitude.
55:36
SPEAKER_01: They're gonna practice a day before because the altitude does come into effect.
55:40
SPEAKER_01: It does, it does.
55:41
SPEAKER_01: It catches your wind off guard.
55:43
SPEAKER_01: It's weird when you play at a high altitude.
55:44
SPEAKER_01: And um, it's actually a beautiful stadium, it's just driving up down that mountains kind of.
55:49
SPEAKER_02: I remember like, you know, desert teams that used to go up to Big Bear, they would always go up there in like October when it was really cold.
55:57
SPEAKER_02: And uh it feels like going in August would be awesome.
56:00
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because the weather's perfect.
56:02
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, great football weather.
56:04
SPEAKER_03: It's almost like a reward for all the days in camp, you know.
56:07
SPEAKER_03: You get to go play your first one.
56:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, even in the yucca's nice.
56:10
SPEAKER_01: I mean, you go from the lower desert just up to yucca, it's like 15 degrees cooler.
56:14
SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
56:15
SPEAKER_01: That's why Lakinth East always just scrimmage them, you know, just get out of this heat for a little bit.
56:20
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
56:21
SPEAKER_03: Um, the what I do know about Rim of the World, they like to run the ball.
56:24
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and they do it well.
56:25
SPEAKER_03: And they do it well.
56:26
SPEAKER_03: They run power, they run ISO.
56:28
SPEAKER_03: Um, so Xavier Prep does have some top talent.
56:31
SPEAKER_01: Some unbalanced sets, I'd imagine.
56:33
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, their defense does have some guys, though.
56:35
SPEAKER_03: I mean, Jacob Van obviously is one of their one of the top players here in the in the Coachella Valley.
56:39
SPEAKER_03: He's gonna be lining up against that front.
56:41
SPEAKER_03: So um it should be a good game, though.
56:44
SPEAKER_03: I mean, it's gonna be a test.
56:45
SPEAKER_03: You know, Xavier's, you know, they're going on the road up the hill.
56:48
SPEAKER_03: It's gonna be a test.
56:48
SPEAKER_03: Not gonna be easy.
56:49
SPEAKER_03: Good team.
56:49
SPEAKER_03: Another situation, new coach, new staff.
56:51
SPEAKER_03: And that's the X factor to me is that this staff is is new.
56:55
SPEAKER_03: So we're gonna see how they gel too, you know, and what adjustments they make and stuff like that.
56:59
SPEAKER_03: So pretty interesting.
57:00
SPEAKER_03: I think um that that could be a coin flip game, though.
57:04
SPEAKER_03: I think it could go either way.
57:05
SPEAKER_03: Um, but we'll see.
57:06
SPEAKER_03: 100%.
57:06
SPEAKER_03: You know, another another desert team's gonna know pretty early what they got.
57:10
SPEAKER_03: Let's go Saints.
57:11
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, let's get it done though, Xavier.
57:13
SPEAKER_03: Um, lastly, we're moving on to Rancho Mirage.
57:17
SPEAKER_03: Pretty interesting matchup here.
57:18
SPEAKER_03: And I think this is probably the best matchup of the week.
57:20
SPEAKER_03: Rancho Mirage going up the hill in Yucca Valley.
57:24
unknown: Yeah.
57:24
SPEAKER_03: So Rancho Mirage, young team, super talented but young, going up to play one of the better offenses in the region with the best, with the best offensive player in the region.
57:35
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
57:36
SPEAKER_03: Aiden Pope.
57:37
SPEAKER_03: X Factor is.
57:38
SPEAKER_03: What are you thinking about this game?
57:40
SPEAKER_01: Um my heart just says, you know, Rancho's probably gonna get the W, but you can't count it.
57:45
SPEAKER_01: You know, Yucca Valley's just so good.
57:47
SPEAKER_01: Aiden is just he's made some of the most spectacular plays.
57:51
SPEAKER_01: I've been watching football for a long time.
57:52
SPEAKER_01: I I talked about that.
57:53
SPEAKER_01: That that catch he made in C V last year was incredible over the middle, one-handed, almost like this over the head, jumping up in the middle, safety had a beat on him, and he just lands and takes it.
58:03
SPEAKER_01: So how do you bet against that?
58:05
SPEAKER_01: You know, so yeah, the fireworks uh sounds like Rancho Maj has a good crop, but we're gonna find out.
58:11
SPEAKER_01: You know, he got you got some veterans uh at Yucca, and then you got the the new young.
58:18
SPEAKER_01: I I I think Rancho still beats him though.
58:20
SPEAKER_01: I just have this, it's a bigger school, Yucca Valley, but that's my that's my guess.
58:24
SPEAKER_03: So going with the rattlers.
58:26
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, sorry, Aiden, man.
58:28
SPEAKER_03: You know, we'll see.
58:29
SPEAKER_01: Go beat him.
58:30
SPEAKER_03: Let's see.
58:30
SPEAKER_03: Well, that's how we play the games.
58:32
SPEAKER_03: This is this is a game I'm actually going to.
58:33
SPEAKER_03: Oh, this is the one you're coming?
58:34
SPEAKER_02: Okay, so you got some inside information for it.
58:37
SPEAKER_02: I I think it's the 50-50 game, uh, but I'm actually gonna go the opposite way.
58:41
SPEAKER_02: I I'm gonna I just think um I think both teams are are gonna be really good this year, but I think that uh I I'm gonna go with the more senior heavy squad, which is Yucca Valley.
58:53
SPEAKER_02: And like you said, Aiden is an incredible talent.
58:56
SPEAKER_02: They've also got this guy, Ian Jarrett, who ran like a 10-8-100.
59:02
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
59:03
SPEAKER_02: And play running back a little bit.
59:04
SPEAKER_02: So he's he's they're good, they're gonna move Aiden and Ian kind of all over the offense in the slot, out wide, and from the backfield.
59:13
SPEAKER_02: So they got two guys who you could just use as weapons playing all over that offense.
59:17
SPEAKER_02: I think that's gonna be really interesting to see how Ranch Mirage and those young guys can kind of figure that out.
59:23
SPEAKER_02: Right.
59:23
SPEAKER_02: Um, again, kind of a coin flip game.
59:26
SPEAKER_02: It could go either way.
59:27
SPEAKER_02: Uh, if I had a lean, I would I'd probably go the the the more senior heavy.
59:31
SPEAKER_02: I can see it that way too.
59:32
SPEAKER_02: But yeah.
59:33
SPEAKER_03: And I mean, you can't you can't discount the fact that Aiden Pope just takes two defenders right off the field.
59:38
SPEAKER_03: And he's on defense.
59:39
SPEAKER_03: I mean, you've got to bracket that guy, otherwise he's gonna he's a threat to score.
59:42
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, but when you're moving him around and stuff, it's hard to bracket, all of a sudden he's in the backfield.
59:46
SPEAKER_01: That's true.
59:47
SPEAKER_03: It's it's that's true.
59:48
SPEAKER_03: Right.
59:49
SPEAKER_03: But your defense gotta be aware of where he's lining up every play, just because he's he's a threat to score every time he's gonna be.
59:54
SPEAKER_01: Especially on broken plays that that quarterback gets out and scrambles, uh, look for a big, big throw down the field.
1:00:01
SPEAKER_01: I mean, broken play football is real, and uh, they play it pretty good at Yucca.
1:00:04
SPEAKER_02: So I will say one last thing about Yucca Valley that I've learned is that they actually are gonna have uh supposedly a better group of receivers than they had a year ago.
1:00:13
SPEAKER_02: Oh, wow, which is kind of scary.
1:00:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because that also means like it's hard to put too much focus on Aiden because you don't want to get beat somewhere else, you know.
1:00:23
SPEAKER_03: Yep.
1:00:24
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that's I'm glad I'm not a defensive coordinator anymore because that's a nightmare.
1:00:28
SPEAKER_03: Game of the week.
1:00:29
SPEAKER_03: Fantastic week.
1:00:31
SPEAKER_03: Andrew will be up there.
1:00:32
SPEAKER_03: He's gonna he's gonna be covering it.
1:00:34
SPEAKER_03: So everybody check out check out what he's uh what he's telling us about.
1:00:37
SPEAKER_03: Early, some early matchups that are gonna tell us a lot about the season.
1:00:40
SPEAKER_03: So super excited, guys.
1:00:42
SPEAKER_03: Hey, 2026, couple days away.
1:00:44
SPEAKER_03: It's here, it's here.
1:00:45
SPEAKER_03: Boys have been working.
1:00:46
SPEAKER_03: We we're ready, man.
1:00:47
SPEAKER_03: We're ready.
1:00:47
SPEAKER_03: We're gonna be with uh with you guys every step of the way.
1:00:50
SPEAKER_03: Andrew, thanks for coming in, man.
1:00:51
SPEAKER_03: We're gonna have to have you come back.
1:00:53
SPEAKER_03: You're you're uh you're a blessing to have on the show.
1:00:55
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you know your stuff, and uh, we'd like to have you back.
1:00:58
SPEAKER_03: So thanks for coming in today.
1:01:00
SPEAKER_03: Thanks.
1:01:00
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, definitely excited to come back sometime soon.
1:01:03
SPEAKER_03: Awesome, awesome.
1:01:04
SPEAKER_03: All right, guys.
1:01:05
SPEAKER_03: So you know the routine.
1:01:06
SPEAKER_03: If you found some value in today's show, like, subscribe, and follow.
1:01:10
SPEAKER_03: And we'll see you next time on Desert Valley Blitz.