Latest / Desert Valley Blitz / EP#48-The Desert Football Playoff Picture Comes Down To One Night

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EP#48-The Desert Football Playoff Picture Comes Down To One Night · Desert Valley Blitz

• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz week nine wrap-up.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: We're almost here to the end, coach.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: I cannot believe it.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: It's been one heck of a ride.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Playoffs coming up.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: And this week is super important.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: We have an expert in the house, Andrew Johnson, the Desert Sun, a friend of the show coming in to explain all the chaos to us.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: But we'll get to that in the next uh the next segment.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna start with the week nine wrap.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: So we're gonna start with uh our only uh team in the valley, the only undefeated team in the valley, and the team that's not in a local league, Desert Christian Academy 47, Santa Rosa Academy 3.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: So the Conkers go out on the road, do what they've been doing all year, kind of setting themselves up for a pretty high playoff seed.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_03: What do we think of the effort for by the Conkers this week?
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_03: I'm doing doing Desert Christian stuff, man.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_03: They just keep rolling.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_03: Um can't say enough.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_03: Was it 23 now?
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_03: 23 wins in a row?
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_03: 27.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_03: 27?
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, 27 regular season wins in a row.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_03: Just keep it going, man, because that's gonna be a streak that's not gonna be beaten a long time.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we might be seeing history here.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_03: It's gonna take another team to go on a run like that.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_03: I don't know if there is gonna be a team.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I don't I don't think that's happening anymore.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_03: Right, 27.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_03: That's almost three years.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_03: So keep it up, man.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_03: That's that's amazing.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_03: I know they got a tough one this week, right?
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_03: We'll talk about that, but um just just a huge congrats to that that program and and such an achievement.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_03: Just 27s, that's crazy.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um what are your thoughts on the Conquerors run here?
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, uh really impressive.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: I don't think uh any team in the valley's ever done that.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: Even those amazing La Quinta teams in the early 2000s uh were really close to doing that.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_01: But but yeah, to go to well, I I guess I should say having two seasons back to back where you could be unbeaten in the regular season.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: Just uh incredible accomplishment.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, even if you even if the schedule hasn't been as tough as maybe some of the other teams in the league, that's still really tough to do.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: And they wrapped up the league title as well.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: So they're already they're already the number one seed coming out of there.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, new league, new title.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, what more can they do, right?
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I know everybody talks about their schedule, but I we can say as coaches, is even go taking the team out on the road against a lesser opponent, it's not easy to always come out there with a victory.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, shout out to the conquerors.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: They're they're a machine at this point.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: I think Coach Johnson's just got it dialed in like that.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, they have a tough one coming up.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: The streak is a little bit in jeopardy, but I don't know how much.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, this team is a is a known commodity coming in here.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: It will be the best team they've seen all year.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: So it'll be a pretty interesting game.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: But um, yeah, shout out to the Conquerors keeping keeping it rolling.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna move on to the SVL.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: So wow, an impressive week in the SVL.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: We'll start with uh 29 palms 43, Desert Mirage 20.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: So 29 palms, as as your colleague Shad Powers had kind of predicted here, is taking that SVL by storm.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: 2-0 in league.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Pretty impressive win against Desert Mirage at home.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: They take care of business.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: What are you what are you thinking about the Wildcats these days?
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: Really surprised, uh, to be honest.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_01: Shad, you're right, has kind of uh predicted that they would turn things around by league.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_01: I was skeptical because of how handily Yucca Valley beat them.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, we've seen uh 29 Palms really just kind of coming on late.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_01: This is not something that I I expected at all.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: Seems like they completely turned their season around.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_03: I I they got on my map when they beat Big Bear, and it just seems like since then they've just been uh going up and up and up.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_03: And I know as a coach, like you're constantly scratching or turning, trying to find the right recipe.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_03: And it sounds like whatever they've done, um, whether it's you know changing some stuff on defense or are or finding a new running back, something's something's clicking over there, and they just gotta keep going.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, and uh they basically wrapped up uh a playoff spot at this point.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: They're 2-0 in the league.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so they've guaranteed a playoff spot.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and of course they can win the league with you know by winning this week.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: But either even if they don't win this week, they're still a top two team in that league, which guarantees them a playoff spot.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so shout out to the Wildcats, man.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Pretty amazing story.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: I remember watching them in the scrimmage, and before week zero, they had like 22 guys on the whole program.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: So it's pretty amazing what they've done up there.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: That's pretty shout out to that coach and staff keeping them together.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: That's an amazing job.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: Speaking of an amazing job, this is probably my favorite scorer, even though it's against my Alma Matter, so it's not that great.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: But Cathedral City 24 Indio 12.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: So Cathedral City Lions, man, they haven't won a game since week two of the season.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: Come into Indio and get a league victory and keep their season in the hopes of making the playoffs alive.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: What do we think about the what do we think about the Lions, man?
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_03: Well, if you're gonna get hot, this is the time to do it right now.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_03: So um it sounds, you know, I love Coach Lee.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_03: He he does a good job over there, and it sounds like they're um getting that run game going and playing good defense and um to be Indio, you know, Coach Doc's got a ton of energy in that program right now.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_03: They it looked like they were on trajectory to maybe win league, and um that's a that's a good solid win for Coach Lee.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_03: So yeah, hats off to him.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, big fan of Coach Lee here as well.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um and I think that it's really exciting that they're going into the final week of the season with a chance to make the playoffs, which if they were if they're able to win and get in the playoffs, it'd be the first time since 2021.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: So that's a pretty big deal for those guys, and really just excited that they're they're in it.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know, they're they're going in with something to play for in the final week of the season.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: It's really cool.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_00: And I mean, talk about a turnaround.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: What a what a job by that coach and staff keeping those kids together throughout all this.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: And this is kind of the beauty of the new league, right?
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: They kind of threw everything into chaos in the SVL, and we'll kind of talk more about that in the next segment.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: But still alive.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: Cathedral City in week 10 is still alive to make the playoffs, which is the beauty of the new league.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: So I think we're all big fans of this.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: Let's go lines.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: This next week's gonna be crazy important.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: So moving on to the DVL.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so here's a league that we all kind of agreed in the preseason was gonna be our most competitive league, right?
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: We thought these four teams all made the playoffs last year, all were gonna make make some type of run.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: Well, hey, not so fast, right?
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: Not so fast.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: Our predictions do not hold true in this one.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll start with Yucca Valley 38, Coachella Valley Zero.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: So Yucca Valley handles Coachella Valley on a pretty rainy night up in the high desert.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I was like, I was at this game, and I've never uh we were talking about earlier, but I would I've never seen more rain in a football game.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_03: And I think when you're in a uh a fun rain game where it's kind of going back and forth, it's kind of fun.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_03: You know, ton of fumbles, ton of crazy plays.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_03: The kids are having fun, but this was just like one-sided.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_03: It seemed like Yucca was the only one having fun.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_03: Um, hats off to Aiden Pope, man.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_03: He was making some amazing plays out there, and uh C V just couldn't get the they I thought they were doing pretty good running the ball, but they were still trying to pass in the rain and it just wasn't working.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_03: And um, yeah, I think I think halftime they were looking around.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_03: I know they had some injuries and they were like, you know what, this is let's just pack it up and get out of here.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_03: So it was raining crazy.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_03: I've never seen that much rain before.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_03: So really affected C V's offense for sure, right?
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_03: Heads out to Yucca Valley, man.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_03: They're doing a good job, dude.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_03: Five, five wins in a row.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_03: Five in a row.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so they called the game at halftime.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_00: You spoke to Coach Johnson on that.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_00: I've not seen that happen in the league game before.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: What was what was kind of his comments after the game about that?
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, just uh, you know, they were they were down, they're piling up injuries, it just wasn't wasn't happening.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_01: And that you're right, that's a unique situation.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I I'm sure there might have been more at play there that that I'm unaware of, but yeah, it was just kids getting injured and just not a good situation, so they just said, let's let's just uh call it at this point.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, I I mean that is shocking because Yucca Valley and Coachella Valley have been uh you know rivals and and to be able to kind of determine the league champion with this game in the last few years.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: So really surprising that uh it was so one-sided this week.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and uh yeah, I mean, you're down 40 to nothing at the half, I guess.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: Is it in a downpour?
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it's it might be an easy decision, right?
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: Especially if injuries are starting to happen.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you gotta think about the kids sometimes.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean, probably the right call, but just uh very, very odd to see.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you don't see too many of that in the high school varsity world.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_00: But hey, shout out to the Trojan, man.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: They got red hot at the right time, setting up a pretty, pretty consequential battle coming up this week, which we'll talk about in the next one.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: And speaking of the top of the DVL, Desert Hot Springs 62 banning 15.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: So a game that we all kind of predicted would be for all the marbles in this in this league.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: Turns out to not be not be the case.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Desert Hot Springs is really putting on a show up there this year.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_03: I thought it'd be a little closer.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_03: I thought it would be a little closer in score, but man, I I watched a little bit of the game.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_03: What popped off the screen to me was just how dominant Chief was up front on both sides of the ball.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_03: And um it really affected the banning running game.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_03: They couldn't get that going.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_03: And um, they were the DBs were just sitting back deep for that deep ball, and um kind of kind of frustrated banning for most of the game.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_03: So um, but I thought it would be a little closer.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: Desert Hot Springs was kind of your pick.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, go back to my preseason predictions.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_01: I did have Desert Hot Springs winning the league, and I had Banning finishing last, so that can still happen.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: Though it's looking like you know, Banning will probably beat Coachella Valley.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but I do think that that it's gonna be a great game this week between Yucca Valley and Desert Hot Springs.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yucca Valley is better than I thought that they would be, especially after that 0-4 start.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, credit to Yucca Valley for turning it around after 0-4.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_01: That can be hard to do with you know, the kids can kind of get down on themselves.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_01: But to focus on you know Desert Hot Springs, that those guys this is maybe the most well-balanced offense and defensive team in the valley, in my opinion.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: They might be they might be.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_01: I think with Desert Christian, it's uh you know, solid defense, but really more of an offensive team.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_01: I think you could maybe say the same with La Quinta, no disrespect to their defenses, of course.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_01: But I feel like with Desert Hot Springs, you you can get great offense one game and a great defense uh, you know, maybe in the same game as well.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_01: So very dangerous team in this time of year.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: And Chief just changes the whole dynamic.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: You see some of his highlights, it's just like that guy's a man amongst boys in there sometimes.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: So and remember, when they lost, they didn't have him.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: So they if they have him, they may be looking at an undefeated season.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: I think he's just that much of a game changer up front.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: When you have somebody that dominant up front, it just changes the whole game, the whole game plan.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: And so, you know, shout out to the Desert Hot Springs Eagles, man.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: They they're taking the bull by the horns.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: Next week is gonna be a crazy week uh for them.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: They can lock up their first league title.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: And well, I don't know how when's the last time they've never won.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: That they've never won a league title before.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, which sounds insane, right?
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_01: But that's what they that's what they told me when I was up there a couple weeks ago.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_01: And I think it does make sense because they were always in the DEL D VL to start.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: DVL, and then they went, I guess, Beyonza.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_03: They were in Dianza for a long time with Yucca and 29, Big Bear.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but you know, they were never the team.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and so this is uh you know, they started turning things around a couple years ago, maybe three years ago when when Roy Pros took over.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, to be able to like finally get a league championship would be really really something for them.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_01: And what a great job he's done.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_00: Pretty historic run.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, enjoy it up there, guys, because this is a historic run.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think they can probably do some damage in the playoffs once they get there, depending on where they're seated.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, just that that team, that team is clicking on all cylinders and they got playmakers everywhere.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: So shout out to the Golden Eagles.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: We got a lot to play for next week.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, moving on to the DEL.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: So we got a we had a Thursday night game.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Lakinta is 34.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: Xavier Prepp zero.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: So Lakinta wraps up their first DEL championship, first outright DEL championship since 2016, 10 years.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_00: And they do it in a pretty impressive fashion.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: You were at this game, it was pretty impressive to watch, right?
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they got the shutout, so their defense is is solid this year, and their defense uh has playmakers.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but ultimately, this is, I think, still an offensive team because you have multiple running backs who can have a big game.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you look at you know, Madden Ruberg can have his moments.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_01: Colton LeCrone, of course, you know, Gregory Mora, although all those guys are like game breakers.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they're like all league caliber running backs.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_01: Off maybe the best offensive line in the valley.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_01: I would say, yeah, for sure.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_01: Then in addition, you know, solid quarterback play, good receivers.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_01: Uh offensively, I think you just think they're about as good as anyone in the valley.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: So um very, very tough team to beat.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_01: You know, yeah.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_00: What was your takeaway?
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: You saw the film?
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I saw the film.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_03: Um offense was humming, uh, doing a job.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_03: I uh what popped off was like Ryan Jones, man.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_03: He was he was in the backfield the whole night?
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_03: The whole night.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_03: I think I think uh I think they credited him with two sacks, but he I think he was around the ball for four of them, and then ton of pressure on Sam.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_03: Um he was running for his life training.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_03: Running for his life.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_03: You know, and they wanted to, you know, Xavier wanted to throw the deep ball, and um it takes time to block that deep ball.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_03: It takes time for that to develop, and I don't think they they had the time that they wanted to get that deep ball going.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_03: And um, hats off to Ryan, man.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_03: He he he he was in that backfield all night, man.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I mean I give credit to the La Quinta offense quite a bit, but yeah, defensively in that game particularly, uh just really outstanding.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, really outstanding the way those guys uh pressured the quarterback.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_03: So DB's did a did a good job staying back and keeping the ball in front of them.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_03: So it's La Kintha doing doing it right at the at the right time.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_03: So hats off to them champions this year.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_00: DL champs, man.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_00: Can't do much better than that.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: Shout out to Coach Ruiz and the Blackhawks and our assistant producer Ty over there, who's wearing his Blackhawk shirt.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_00: Um, hey, 2026 is your year, man.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: So enjoy it.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_00: But hey, you got you still gotta take care of business this week coming up, otherwise, you know, that there will be some questions asked.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: We'll talk about that in the next segment.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_00: Moving on, another important score in the DEL, Rancho Rod 20, Shadow Hill Zero.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: So Shadow Hill's coming off that that big time, uh, big time win on the road against Palm Desert.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_00: You think they have all the momentum?
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: The Rattlers come into their house and kind of shut them down, get to get that win 20-noth, keep themselves very much alive for that second seed.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, what do we what do we know about this one?
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_03: Sounded like a good defensive matchup, first half, 0-0.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_03: Um, both teams trying to figure each other out.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_03: I I I only saw the beginning part of the game.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_03: I saw Shadow Hills uh try to make it down, primarily with Walls running the ball.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_03: Um and they couldn't punch it in.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_03: And um it sounded like some halftime adjustments by Matthews got them going in the second half.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_03: I didn't get to see the game though, but um they got their offense going and Shadow Hills didn't.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it sounds like that midline started getting going in that second half, and that's tough to stop once it gets going.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_00: What were your takes from this one?
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I thought that they were pretty convincing.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_01: It took them a while to get going, but once they did, they they were rolling.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_01: And I think it's easy for me to forget that really uh Ranch Am Raj is just a couple plays away from being unbeaten in this league.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, you know, because they were right there against La Quinta, um, right there against Palm Desert, and then two, you know, fairly convincing wins after that.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_01: So Rancham Raj is uh maybe uh kind of flying under the radar a little bit, but very good season for them so far.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_01: And I am I expect them to get in the playoffs and and you know be a tough out.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: They will be a tough out.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: The way they play defense and run the ball, that always travels in the playoffs.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_03: I'm always positive that those those tough losses might give them a better seating in the playoffs.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_03: So they might be one of those teams that make a deep run into the playoffs.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_03: So it, you know, kind of positive to think about it.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_03: It works out, yeah.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_00: And on Shadow Hill side, they're still alive, even though they only have one uh DL victory.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_00: The DL's crazy too.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody's still alive.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so they they got a real important one coming up that they got to win in order to be considered for the playoffs.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: So and we'll talk about that with the next one.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: But everybody's still alive, nobody's eliminated yet in the DEL.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: And then last one, Palm Desert 30, Palm Spring Zero.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: So a little to me, a little surprising score on that one.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_00: I thought this would be a close game.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: Andrew, you were at this game.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_00: What were your takeaways from this one?
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I I think that uh especially the way Palm Desert struggled against Xavier Prep in Shadow Hills.
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_01: We expected this to be a little bit of a closer game.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_01: I think this was the game where Palm Desert got back to doing what I was doing earlier in the season.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_01: I am still not, because I wasn't at those games that they lost.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_01: I'm still not exactly sure what was going on with that with that team.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_01: They seemed to get get back, kind of right the ship a little bit.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_01: And uh they had seven turnovers as a defense.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_01: Now part of that was because the ball and the you know, yeah, the ball was slipping and everything.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I think three or four of those were interceptions.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_01: So they were getting back to what they do, uh, playing good defense, forcing turnovers.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_01: Offensively, I still feel like there's room for improvement there, but defensively is how they've really won games the last couple years mostly.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_01: So they're getting back to that.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that uh, you know, the they'll be a little tougher this week against Laquinta than maybe I had initially thought they would be based on the last couple weeks, you know.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_01: They'll show up for Laquinta.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, they always do.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_03: That game, like I think you said it's hard to predict that game, which is crazy, right?
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_03: It sounds like they got I didn't see the game, but it sounds like they got that deep ball going with Phil Bolton.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_03: They did, yeah.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_03: So that's I've always said, you know, when it comes to the go ball, Palm Desert does it the best.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, the timing, I I don't know if it's coaching, but for whatever reason, their quarterback graphs that ball and they they throw it up on time, and yeah, um, it really helps the receiver feel when that ball's coming down because it's coming down at the same time every time, and um, they do it right over there.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_03: So if you get a Palm Desert and throw a good deep ball.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_03: Um, it's not just a go ball, they threw the post, right?
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_03: It was a post play.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_03: Um, they're they're that's scary when Palm Desert gets going that way.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_03: So um yeah, it's good to see them get back in the winning column, especially before looking to battle coming up.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_00: So and you mentioned Trey Bolton.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_00: That guy had three touchdowns, yeah, three receiving touchdowns.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_00: And the week before, right?
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_03: And the week before he had three as well.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_03: So there's a what is that like six quarters of just fantastic football right there?
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_00: That dude is pretty unstoppable right now.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_00: He's their best, he's their best offensive weapon.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_00: He's doing a great Jonah Tolan impression.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and uh each Trey had maybe the most impress in that game, he had maybe the most impressive catch that I've seen this season where you know in the rain he caught it in the end zone where he was kind of bobbling it, and on a second effort he caught it.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_01: Kept his feet in kept his feet in.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_01: Really, really cool um to see that you know I know he's battled some injuries, but to see him have a game like that was really special.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_00: He's getting hot at the right time.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_00: Palm Desert stays alive.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_00: They can they can still, I think they can even still finish as high as second, right?
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: If things work out for them.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: So it'd be a really interesting uh flag game this week.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_00: But Palm Desert better beginning ready.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_00: Hopefully the turbulence is behind them and they're back to winning ways.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it should be a slug fest out of Coachella or at the Quinta this weekend.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a good one.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of stuff on the line this week for everybody, too.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's not just not just the Quinta Palm Desert this year.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_00: It's everybody except for one team is still alive, and that's the beauty of the new league.
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_00: And we're gonna talk about that when we come back after a word from our sponsors.
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• 20:02
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• 20:06
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_00: This is our week 10 preview.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_00: It's also Rivalry Week, also the last week of the season.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_00: A lot to play for.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody's still alive except for one team.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_00: A lot to play for this week.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_00: And this is going to be this is the most important week of the year by far.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_00: So we're going to start with our only team that's not in a league down here.
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_00: Desert Christian Academy.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: This is one I kind of circled early on when I saw the schedule.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_00: They've got a team called Rio Hondo Prep coming down to the valley to take on an undefeated Conquer team.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: This team is ranked pretty high.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_00: We did our research.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_00: Max Preps, it's a 200 school, which is very high.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, they're 7-2.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_00: They're also a power out of the LA basin area.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_00: So they're going to give Desert Christian a nice little preview what the playoffs are going to look like.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: What are we expecting in this one?
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_03: Hats off to Coach Johnson for scheduling this before playoffs.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, this is like a tune-up for the playoffs.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_03: You're going to see teams like this in the playoffs.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_03: This is who you want to play against.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_03: Um obviously it's not on part of the playoffs, so it's, I think it's perfect.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_03: I think it's a good call for Coach Johnson.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_03: Um, it's going to be a tough matchup, uh, but let's go Conquerors.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_03: I hope they come up with that W.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_01: What do we know about Rio Hondo Prep?
• 21:16
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, super talented in terms of just athletes.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, these these are good, they're they're gonna see some athletes that you know to the Aiden Pope level that we saw they saw earlier the season against Jekyll Valley.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that, you know, uh fortunately for the Conquerors, they have some of those athletes that can match up.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm curious to see how they match up on the lines as well, because uh there's gonna be some physical play there.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_01: And again, I yeah, I think it's great tune up for the for the playoffs, exactly what they're gonna see.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, interesting matchup.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_00: There are 28 game winning streak, regular scene will be on the line.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that alone was just mind boggling.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: You know, shout out to the Conkers.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a tough task, but I think you know, they can they can get it done and go into the playoffs undefeated, be a pretty amazing feat.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_00: So we're we're We're rooting for you guys to pull that one out.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: Moving on, all right.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_00: We'll start with the SVL in the week 10 preview.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: A lot to play for in the SVL.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_00: So, the what's the situation in the SVL, Andrew, in terms of uh our playoff seedings and brackets?
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, Indio really throws a wrench into that situation because they beat Desert Mirage in overtime.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_01: So it's kind of like you get two points for a win, but only one for an overtime win.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_01: So India really needs to not only beat 29 Palms this week, but they really needed Desert Mirage to beat Cat City to get in that playoff spot.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_01: And um, of course, India would also share the league title with 29 Palms.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_01: So uh a lot to play for for India this week.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um then, of course, you know, just kind of breaking down some of the other things, Desert Mirage can get in with a win.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but because they would have but they would also need an Indio loss.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_01: We know 29 Palms is already set.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Cat City can also get in with a win uh and an Indio loss.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_00: So everybody's still alive.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_01: Really?
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_01: Everyone's still in it.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_01: But but the keys is you gotta win.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_01: If you don't win, you're probably not getting in.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_00: So the playoffs start this week, basically.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_00: Except for 29 Palms, who we already kind of had a knowing it that they're gonna be in the playoffs.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so what are we thinking?
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_00: Indio has to go up to 29 palms, Coach Josh.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_00: Tough task for Indio, right?
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, 29 Palms has athletes, man.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_00: And having been coached at that school for a long time, Indio struggles with really good athletes, especially on the perimeter.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna have some speed.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_00: The speed really hurts them.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_00: And 29 palms got a lot of speed.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_00: So this is India travel.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a tough task for the Rajahs to slow that, slow that uh offense down.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_03: It's not looking good for Indio, but if someone can stop a type of offense like that, it's Doc.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_03: He's seen it before.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_03: He's he's a good coach.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_03: So um let's just keep those receivers in front of you, you know, play contain and um come out with that W.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_03: I think it's gonna be tough though.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_00: What are you expecting out of this one?
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think I think 29 Palms was probably rightfully the favorite in this one.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I agree that um Indio is well coached.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_01: They have you know a lot of good coaches, they have um, you know, probably more uh up front than some of the other teams that 29 Palms has seen.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_01: So I like Indio to have a puncher's chance, but I think it's uh it's gonna be tough.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's got they gotta eliminate the big plays.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_00: And the woof the film I've been seeing from 29 Palms, they got guys that can take it to the house.
• 24:28
  SPEAKER_00: So that's a tall task, but hey, this is what you play.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's what you want, right?
• 24:31
  SPEAKER_00: You wanna you want one game to get into the playoffs.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_00: If you're if I'm a coach or a player, I'm happy to have the take that bet.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_00: So should be an interesting one up there at 29 Palms.
• 24:40
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, and the second one, this man, I can't get over that.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_00: The cat these city lions are going to Desert Mirage on a Thursday night.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_00: They can get into the playoffs with a win.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_03: What a great story this is.
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_03: That's two good running football teams.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_03: This this game might be over in like 20 minutes.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_03: You know, it's uh I think it's gonna be a great game.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_03: I think both teams are gonna be um ready to go.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_03: Uh Coach Lee obviously got a little momentum behind him, but you know, Desert Mirage put up some good um football games early in the season.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_03: I I think they just got to get back to that and try to find a way to start playing like that again.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_03: And I think they could possibly get it done.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_03: But right now it's something like Cass City might get that W.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Cat City's, hey, they got they've got a winning streak going, right?
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_00: So what do we think of the Lions' chances?
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's probably 50-50.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_01: I I do think I think maybe I lean toward Desert Mirage just because I've based on what I've seen, they're big, they're much bigger on the lines.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_03: I heard the team pretty big on the O-line.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_01: Very, very big.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_01: So, and we just we know that Cathedral City doesn't have a lot of that size.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_01: So if Desert Mirage can use that, run the ball, control the clock, um, you know, play solid defense, I think they come out with this.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, really it's uh it's great to see really a true playoff game because whoever's whoever loses is definitely not making the playoffs.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:57
  SPEAKER_00: One common opponent, Indio.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: Desert Mirage wins by two.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Cathedral City wins by 12.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: So I mean some football math, yeah.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, some football math.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_00: But I I think Cathedral City's got a got a chance to make the playoffs here, and I think that'd be just an amazing story.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um that uh Desert Mirage had a great season, but they've they've kind of peaked maybe a little too early at this point.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_00: So that but it'll be a great matchup, you know.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_00: It's just that's why this new league is so fun because Cathedral City and Desert Mirage are playing for the playoffs.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, who wins the last time we've ever said that, right?
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_00: And Desert Mirage has never made the playoffs.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_01: Never made the playoffs?
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_01: I confirmed that today.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_01: So that's a story right there.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_01: That's a cool story.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_01: I didn't know that.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_01: As cool as the Cathedral City angle is very cool for Desert Mirage as well.
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean, wow, this is the beauty of the new Rams.
• 26:43
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, everybody, everybody, man.
• 26:45
  SPEAKER_00: I'm yeah, I want to see these games because they're so important.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_00: Uh playoffs start this week, though, for those teams.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_00: Uh speaking of that, so we'll move on to the DVL.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_00: This one is a little bit more black and white.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_00: We uh kind of already kind of touched on that, but you want to break down the playoff scenarios in this one for us, Andrew?
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, uh we already know that Yucca Valley and Desert uh sorry, Desert High Springs are the two teams that are gonna represent them in the playoffs.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_01: Banning, I think, can get in as an at-large, but they probably need to win this game.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and so yeah, could uh Coachella Valley's already out of the playoff picture uh because they cannot get an at-large because you need at least five wins to do that.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and this is the first time in a long time that Coachella Valley has not made the playoffs.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_01: Long time.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_01: So that's a pretty big deal.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then of course we know the winner of Desert Hot Spring Jacket Valley wins the outright DBL title.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, very, very exciting that both teams have a lot to play for uh in that falling in that in this last week.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_00: So Banning's gonna go to Coachella Valley, and it's a much more important game for Banning than Coachella Valley at this point.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: I think that yeah, that may drive some factors on who's wants it a little bit more.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 27:57
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see if Coachella Valley shows up and wants to put up a good fight.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but banning's got a lot to play for.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and you remember Banning lost to Coachella Valley in the first round of the playoffs last year.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_01: That was a great and it was a great game.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_01: A little bit of a get back opportunity for Banning.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_01: I think um, you know, I like Banning to win that game, but um, you know, I definitely can't underestimate Coachella Valley playing with a lot of pride, playing at home uh for their seniors, you know.
• 28:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that should be a good one, but definitely Banning's got a little bit more to play for at this point.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so the next one though is basically uh the the coup de gra and the and the DVL is the winner's.
• 28:33
  SPEAKER_00: Is this Coach Josh's game of the week?
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so.
• 28:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's gotta be, right?
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: Because this one is a play-in championship game.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think I love the way Yucca Valley's playing right now.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_03: They're they're seem to be peaking at the right time.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_03: Obviously, Desert Hot Springs is gonna be the favorite, but I'm gonna go on record and say I think Yucca's gonna take the W.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_03: Wow, look at that.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_03: Upset of the week.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_03: And I just gotta give a shout out to my nephew, uh Josh, Josh Inez, uh 58.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_03: He's playing right tackle.
• 28:59
  SPEAKER_03: And all those runs you see, Aiden uh down the sideline, you'll see number 58 just turning his guy, reach blocking perfectly.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_03: So um give a shout out to him.
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_03: But no, the they've kind of moved some pieces around.
• 29:10
  SPEAKER_03: They got another uh running back back there, number 22.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_03: They got a new quarterback that they inserted earlier in the season.
• 29:16
  SPEAKER_03: Ever since they've kind of moved those pieces around, they've kind of just been humming.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_03: So um I think it's gonna be a closer game than people think.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_03: Obviously, the Golden Eagles are the favorite, but um, don't count out those Trojans, man.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_03: They're they're coming.
• 29:27
  SPEAKER_03: So right.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_00: Andrew, you'll be at this one, huh?
• 29:29
  SPEAKER_01: I'll be at this one.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um I I'm leaning Desert High Springs, but I I actually agree that Yucca Valley has looked really good and and they're playing at home.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah, there's something that feels really, really good about this squad.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_01: So I think um it although I still lean Desert High Springs, I think it would not I would definitely not be surprised if Yucca Valley were to win this one.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's gonna be a good game.
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_00: Who's gonna block Chief though?
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_00: That's my whole thing, is like that guy is a single game breaker right there.
• 29:59
  SPEAKER_03: So they're not running up the mill, they're going around the outside.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_00: So double team all night.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_00: It should be a great one.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, this is why this is why these leagues are so cool.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_00: Is that we have a game that's basically for the championship, you know, at on the last game of the season.
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it doesn't get much better than that.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_00: Number one seed is at is at stake here.
• 30:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I think the winner's gonna get a pretty high seed, right?
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_00: They're gonna be pretty they're gonna get at least a home game in the playoffs if they win this one.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_00: The league champion usually gets a home game.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_00: So a lot to play for.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think Desert Hot Springs is just rolling right now.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't see I don't see them losing, but you know, hey, Coach Josh May more may know a little bit more than about that than me.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll uh we'll see on the game.
• 30:37
  SPEAKER_00: We'll let it figure it out on the on the game day.
• 30:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so it's gonna be a great, a great way to end the DVL.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, that's what that's the beauty of the new league.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_00: Moving on to the DEL.
• 30:47
  SPEAKER_00: This one's a little bit more gray than most, right?
• 30:50
  SPEAKER_00: Because there's a lot, everybody's still alive, everybody got something to play for.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, Laquinta is the number one seed, they're gonna be the first seed coming out of the DEL, but they got a lot to play for too because they haven't had that flag in three years.
• 31:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 31:03
  SPEAKER_00: So Rivalry Week's gonna kick in.
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we'll start with uh really important game.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_00: Palm Springs at Rancho Mirage.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_00: So, what are some of the playoff implications in this one?
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_01: Well, Palm Springs needs to win, of course, to and and they need some help to you know be able to get into uh the playoffs.
• 31:21
  SPEAKER_01: But then uh Rancho Mirage really uh I think they're sitting in a good spot because if they can win this game and then with a Palm Desert loss, um they hold the tiebreak they would hold the tiebreaker against Xavier Prep if Xavier Prepper to win.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_01: So they could get the second the second spot.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_01: I think it they're in a good position to get that.
• 31:40
  SPEAKER_01: Just win, hopefully Lake to win, they're in golden.
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_01: They're in the number two.
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_01: They're in the number two spot.
• 31:46
  SPEAKER_01: You know, uh really just break down the tiebreakers here.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_01: It's head to head.
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_01: So that's uh an important one.
• 31:53
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but then in addition, then it comes, then what happens is uh if there now there's a scenario where there's a five-way tie for second, where all Which is crazy.
• 32:03
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, if if Laquinta were to win, and you know Would not surprise me.
• 32:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and Shadow were to be David Prebb, and then Paul Strings were to win.
• 32:11
  SPEAKER_01: These seem these all seem unlikely.
• 32:13
  SPEAKER_01: Chaos.
• 32:14
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, you can have a five-way tie for second, and then it comes into you know head to head, and then it also comes into uh what also comes into play is did you beat someone that's higher than you, right?
• 32:26
  SPEAKER_01: You know, like none that really wouldn't play out because none of them will will have beaten La Quinta if it were to win.
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_01: So there's just a number of different playoff scenarios.
• 32:37
  SPEAKER_01: It's hard to sit here and dictate exactly what's gonna happen because there's so many different scenarios, but really interesting.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_01: The chaos is definitely uh is definitely possible.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_00: I hope it happens.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, everybody's still alive, right?
• 32:48
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that's kind of why they do these things, right?
• 32:50
  SPEAKER_00: How amazing would that be, right?
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_00: I mean a five-way tie per second.
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_00: Has that ever happened before?
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_00: No, nothing.
• 32:55
  SPEAKER_01: Not that I remember never so you know, and and so the other thing is Palm Desert can really throw a wrench in this whole thing and and win outright number two if they were to just win.
• 33:09
  SPEAKER_01: Then it doesn't matter what happens in the rest of the league as long as they beat La Quinta, then they can get number two because they hold the head to head against Rancho Mirage.
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_01: I guess I guess technically I I guess I misspoke there because Xavier would win, but then hold the head to head against Palm Desert.
• 33:26
  SPEAKER_01: So there but I guess Palm Desert would automatically have an automatic they'd at least be the three three.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, because they have a higher just win.
• 33:35
  SPEAKER_01: But definitely a a tall task to beat La Quinta, Alakinta, but you know, anything's possible.
• 33:40
  SPEAKER_00: Stranger things have happened though, right?
• 33:41
  SPEAKER_00: And we'll kind of talk about that flag game.
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, it's a the DEL is crazy.
• 33:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's just like we we don't know who's gonna make it so for Laquinta.
• 33:48
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody else.
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_00: There's a scenario where everybody else makes it, which is which is pretty awesome though at this time of year, right?
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's a testament to how competitive that league is.
• 33:56
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 33:56
  SPEAKER_00: Another important game in that, we'll move on.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_00: Shadow Hills at Xavier Prep.
• 34:01
  SPEAKER_00: So two teams are coming off of losses.
• 34:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's a good game.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_00: Still got a lot to play for.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_00: Shadow Hills is very dangerous, even though they've only won one game in league.
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_00: They've got that offense.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Xavier got that defense.
• 34:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's kind of a matchup of strengths.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_00: What are we what are we looking looking at?
• 34:16
  SPEAKER_03: I think it's gonna be a really good game.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_03: Um, Xavier's defense has been playing uh pretty good.
• 34:21
  SPEAKER_03: You know, they've had their their moments where they've kind of had some letdowns, but I think they should be able to contain that that offense uh for Shadow Hills.
• 34:29
  SPEAKER_03: Um but at the same time, Shadow Hills can put up some points in in a hurry.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_03: So man, I don't know if you're gonna I I probably I'm going with Shadow.
• 34:39
  SPEAKER_03: Let's go Shadow.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_03: Go to Shadow.
• 34:41
  SPEAKER_03: It's a 50-50 game.
• 34:42
  SPEAKER_03: I really do think flip game.
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's tough, but I I I think I think they're due.
• 34:47
  SPEAKER_03: So it's a good football team.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_03: They haven't won too many games, but they've been in a lot of tough battles.
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_03: So let's go shadow.
• 34:53
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 34:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 34:54
  SPEAKER_03: Andrew, what's your thoughts on this one?
• 34:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I that's I think you're right.
• 34:58
  SPEAKER_01: It's a 50 50-50 game, probably closer than most people will expect.
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_01: Xavier Prep's defense is great.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but offensively, they've really struggled to score points this year.
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, inconsistent on offense for sure.
• 35:12
  SPEAKER_01: So that's not a great recipe going into this game.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that um, yeah, I probably lean Xavier Prep, but uh, it's one of those games where I think Shadow Hills is definitely playing it.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_01: I part of me wants that.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_01: While I have no rooting interests, I do want the chaos.
• 35:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 35:29
  SPEAKER_01: It's a good story, right?
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's a good story.
• 35:31
  SPEAKER_01: I root for the story, not the team.
• 35:33
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, so anybody accusing him of being a homer, he's he's rooting for the story.
• 35:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he doesn't care who wins.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think this is it's gonna be a coin flip game, like I said.
• 35:42
  SPEAKER_00: Uh both teams kind of play each other's strengths.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_00: Woodson may be a factor on the yeah, that guy's a big play just waiting to happen.
• 35:50
  SPEAKER_00: And then on the Xavier side, King Palum may be that factor on the other side, too.
• 35:54
  SPEAKER_00: So it's a matchup of strengths, it'll be an interesting game.
• 35:57
  SPEAKER_00: Both teams should be highly motivated.
• 36:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 36:00
  SPEAKER_00: Because, you know, that's a playoff line, a playoff, a playoff birth is at stake.
• 36:05
  SPEAKER_00: So, hey, if you can't get up for this, guys, I don't know.
• 36:07
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_00: And then finally, the big one, the flag game, the one that we've all been pointing to for the whole year.
• 36:14
  SPEAKER_00: Palm Desert is going to La Quinta.
• 36:17
  SPEAKER_00: Flag game, flag game 2026.
• 36:19
  SPEAKER_00: Which way is that gonna go this year, Coach?
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_03: You know, at the beginning of the year, I, you know, I'd I'd lean pretty, you know, towards Palm Desert.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_03: They were looking like you know, the juggernaut that they've been in past years.
• 36:29
  SPEAKER_03: But uh last few weeks, man, La Quinta has has shown they're they're the best team in the in the desert this year.
• 36:35
  SPEAKER_03: And um, Palm Desert's kind of had a couple uh stumbles.
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_03: Um uh they've kind of gotten over that this last week, but uh have they gotten past uh it enough to beat a La Quinta?
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_03: I don't know.
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_03: I think I think La Quinta's got the edge this year.
• 36:50
  SPEAKER_03: Um I'm always gonna go for La Quinta.
• 36:51
  SPEAKER_03: I'm a Laquinta guy.
• 36:52
  SPEAKER_03: I'm never gonna uh go against them.
• 36:54
  SPEAKER_03: Um but I'm just being honest.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_03: I I think they got you know a ton of momentum.
• 36:58
  SPEAKER_03: Um they got defense, offense, quarterbacks playing well, uh three running backs that can take it and run, offensive lines human.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_03: Um the one thing I will say with Palm Desert is they've they know how to contain that offense that La Quinta has.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_03: Uh for a few years now.
• 37:16
  SPEAKER_03: Um so I'm sure they're gonna dust off that La Quinta playbook and and bring it back and do whatever they did try to do last year.
• 37:23
  SPEAKER_03: But and on the flip side, La Quinta, you know, they got that film.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_03: I'm sure there's gonna be adjustments that they want to do this year, and um you're gonna see them.
• 37:30
  SPEAKER_03: So I think they got to go out there and play.
• 37:32
  SPEAKER_03: But you know, I'm always going for La Quinta.
• 37:34
  SPEAKER_03: So that's how I see it.
• 37:36
  SPEAKER_00: Andrew, you're kind of pointing to this game early on, maybe the one that would decide the DEL.
• 37:40
  SPEAKER_00: Still, there's a lot of implications, not gonna decide first place, but what do you kind of expect in this this version of the flag game?
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I did expect at the beginning of the season the league title would come down to this now.
• 37:50
  SPEAKER_01: We know La Quinta already wrapped that up, but I think if you're La Quinta, you don't want to lose this game going to the playoffs.
• 37:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 37:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so and there's a give back because they lost 35-0 to Palm Desert last year, last year.
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_01: So there should be no shortage of motivation for La Quinta, even though they've already wrapped up the league.
• 38:08
  SPEAKER_01: Palm Desert, there's plenty of motivation because they want to get into the playoffs.
• 38:11
  SPEAKER_01: So uh I expect another classic game in this rivalry.
• 38:16
  SPEAKER_01: I do expect La Quinta to win just because I think the the thing I'm looking at is as we talked earlier, La Quinta probably the best offensive line, or if not one of the best offensive lines in, or you know, one of the best offensive lines, if not the best offensive line.
• 38:31
  SPEAKER_01: I think Palm Desert, that's traditionally their defensive line.
• 38:34
  SPEAKER_01: It has been a strength.
• 38:35
  SPEAKER_01: I don't feel like it's as much of a strength this year.
• 38:38
  SPEAKER_01: So I I do give the the edge to La Quinta on the line there, and I think that's probably the difference in the game for me.
• 38:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 38:46
  SPEAKER_00: Lakinta's been playing better than Palm Desert the last five weeks.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so they should be the favorite.
• 38:52
  SPEAKER_00: They look the best out of anybody, like you said, here in the Valley.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_00: I will say this though, and uh the Bolden factor, Trey Bolden is gonna give that secondary an issue because that dude got double teamed last week, still had three touchdowns.
• 39:04
  SPEAKER_00: So they're you gotta know where he's at.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_00: He's gonna be he's gonna be the X factor for me.
• 39:08
  SPEAKER_00: I think he might be able to make enough plays to keep them in the game.
• 39:11
  SPEAKER_00: So and then if it's close in the fourth quarter, as you guys know, in these rivalry games, anything can happen.
• 39:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
• 39:16
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, some wacky stuff.
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a good game for these rivalry games.
• 39:19
  SPEAKER_00: So something to play for on all sides, man.
• 39:21
  SPEAKER_00: That's kind of why we do this.
• 39:22
  SPEAKER_00: That's why we love talking about it because it's a beautiful thing.
• 39:25
  SPEAKER_00: Andrew, you're the best, man.
• 39:27
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for coming in.
• 39:28
  SPEAKER_00: You got anything to promote before we get out of here?
• 39:29
  SPEAKER_00: Anything coming up that our fans should be aware of?
• 39:32
  SPEAKER_01: I just I would just say, you know, check out all of our picks at Desert Sun and have a little more of a breakdown on each of the games where we can, you know, get into uh some of what why, you know, why I'm making certain picks.
• 39:46
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I would just say uh follow that and and definitely uh looking forward to the postseason.
• 39:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and some end of the year awards also coming up in the Desert Sun as well.
• 39:54
  SPEAKER_00: You guys start another one.
• 39:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, end of the season, we'll have our All Desert Sun squad, which is always I think my favorite part of the season.
• 40:00
  SPEAKER_01: Get to highlight so many different kids who've had great seasons.
• 40:04
  SPEAKER_01: We're already starting to look at that list this year, you know.
• 40:07
  SPEAKER_01: Who's who are who are the top guys at each position?
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 40:11
  SPEAKER_01: It's definitely uh guys who are standing out.
• 40:14
  SPEAKER_00: And that's really the one you want to be on, right?
• 40:15
  SPEAKER_00: The Elite 11 one is fun for the hype.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_00: But this one is like, hey, I actually went out there and performed, and that's why I'm on this list.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_01: So I think that's the I've always kind of said that, like, yeah, everyone focuses on the Elite 11 because you know they get their own video, and it really is a good promo promotion for each of the kids.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, the end of the year is really the flex because it's like, man, I was the best guy at my position, and here's the proof of that.
• 40:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_00: So when you want to be on people, that lasts the end of the year, desert all Desert Sun team, that means you balled out in the year, right?
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_00: Well, Andrew, thanks for coming in.
• 40:50
  SPEAKER_00: You're the best, man.
• 40:51
  SPEAKER_00: We'd like to have you back for the playoffs.
• 40:53
  SPEAKER_00: And uh we're gonna be following you along on this ride.
• 40:56
  SPEAKER_00: So everybody go out there and subscribe to the Desert Sun.
• 40:59
  SPEAKER_00: These guys do amazing work support, local journalism and support this show.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_00: And you can support this show by like, subscribing, and following.
• 41:07
  SPEAKER_00: And we'll see you next time on Desert Valley Blitz.