Latest / Desert Valley Blitz / EP#44-When Records Lie And Rivalries Tell The Truth & DEL Preview Revision with Andrew John of the Desert Sun

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EP#44-When Records Lie And Rivalries Tell The Truth & DEL Preview Revision with Andrew John of the Desert Sun · Desert Valley Blitz

0:07
SPEAKER_00: Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz.
0:10
SPEAKER_00: We're super hyped this week because we're going into DEL play.
0:15
SPEAKER_00: So for our second half of the show, we're going to have an expert in the house, Mr.
0:18
SPEAKER_00: Andrew John from the Desert Suns.
0:20
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining the show and coming in, and we're going to be talking about some DEL action.
0:25
SPEAKER_00: But first, we're going to start with our week five wrap-up.
0:28
SPEAKER_00: So week five was a little bit short on schedule.
0:30
SPEAKER_00: A lot of teams are on the bye week, but however, there were some really important games, and we'll kind of get into those.
0:36
SPEAKER_00: Um, so first game of the week.
0:39
SPEAKER_00: Arrowhead Christian 44, Cathedral City 20.
0:42
SPEAKER_00: So the Lions lose a tough one at home.
0:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was actually a pretty good game.
0:46
SPEAKER_02: I got a chance to watch it.
0:47
SPEAKER_02: And I actually love uh Coach Lee's X's and O's.
0:50
SPEAKER_02: Like he runs a 4-2-5 on the defense, very similar to what I would run.
0:53
SPEAKER_02: And he's running power.
0:54
SPEAKER_02: I'm looking at the guy.
0:55
SPEAKER_02: He's running the ball.
0:56
SPEAKER_02: Those are like, they're not two, three-yard pops.
0:58
SPEAKER_02: He'll get nine, ten yards a run sometimes.
1:01
SPEAKER_02: Um, I just think they got to find a way to get that big play going.
1:04
SPEAKER_02: Some somehow, maybe a trick play or maybe a post, post-corner, because those long drives, eventually some of the kids will start making mistakes.
1:12
SPEAKER_02: A fumble happens.
1:13
SPEAKER_02: It's just um, man, I root for those lions, but that's pretty much what would happen.
1:16
SPEAKER_02: They were moving the ball again.
1:18
SPEAKER_02: Um, but they would a fumble would come or a penalty, and now all of a sudden it's third and 18.
1:23
SPEAKER_02: And um, you know, it just it's tough to win that way.
1:26
SPEAKER_02: So um somehow, though, if I would get into uh Coach Lee's ear, I'd be somehow maybe a double pass or halfback pass.
1:35
SPEAKER_02: Some way you got to get a touchdown um through a trick player or some type of big play.
1:39
SPEAKER_02: We at La Quinta, we used to just say we got to take a shot.
1:42
SPEAKER_02: We gotta take a shot because you know we like to run the ball too there, but you gotta find a way to just maybe blow the top off with a post or somehow work on it.
1:50
SPEAKER_02: And if they can do that, make those big plays, uh, somehow, some way, I think they'll they're gonna I think they can turn it around and and have uh make a good run this season.
2:01
SPEAKER_00: Be ready for league, right?
2:02
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
2:02
SPEAKER_02: They're they're moving the ball really good.
2:04
SPEAKER_02: It's just those long drives are tough to maintain.
2:06
SPEAKER_04: So Andrew, what's your impression of the Lions so far?
2:09
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I've only seen them once, but I I kind of agree.
2:12
SPEAKER_04: It's uh you know, Coach Lee's one of my favorite coaches uh out here in the valley, uh partially because he you know doesn't have as much to work with as maybe some of the other coaches, but he he does get creative with some of the things he does.
2:26
SPEAKER_04: But I I think yeah, they're missing that big play component with their offense right now.
2:29
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
2:30
SPEAKER_00: And that that as we know that at Sun Valley's wide open.
2:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
2:34
SPEAKER_00: So I don't think anybody's gonna blow anybody off the field in that league.
2:37
SPEAKER_00: So it's all about peaking at the right time.
2:39
SPEAKER_00: So Dejer City hang in there, man.
2:41
SPEAKER_00: I think uh the brighter days are ahead.
2:43
SPEAKER_00: Um moving on, uh another another score on Friday night.
2:46
SPEAKER_00: Valley 42, Shadow Hill 6.
2:49
SPEAKER_00: So, did anybody get the chance to check this game out?
2:52
SPEAKER_02: I saw a little bit of it, man.
2:53
SPEAKER_02: And uh, you know, Laquinta, we used to play him back in the day, and they always had a couple kids that can just straight fly down that field, and here we are for 2026, and they still got those kids that can just take the ball and run.
3:04
SPEAKER_02: And um they had a couple receivers uh that could just, you know, little little dump pass or a stop route, and then they just make one move and down the sideline.
3:14
SPEAKER_02: And um, I didn't catch his number, but he was fast.
3:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they had a couple, a couple guys on the side.
3:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and they got up early on on Shadow and hats off to Shadow Hills.
3:22
SPEAKER_02: They started to play better defensively, um, offensively.
3:25
SPEAKER_02: They just uh they were running the ball really well, um, which is good to see, but uh I think it was like three picks.
3:32
SPEAKER_02: Um you know, you can't throw interceptions, and they were just manning them up.
3:36
SPEAKER_02: Uh Ballybu just straight man across, and um, you think they got to find a way to get have some man beaters, like some type of rub route, some type of uh slant wheel, so some way to get that those guys to run into each other on the defensive side and get a guy open.
3:50
SPEAKER_02: They just couldn't do it.
3:51
SPEAKER_02: And um three picks is tough to win.
3:54
SPEAKER_00: So yeah.
3:55
SPEAKER_00: Get a chance to check this one out a little bit.
3:57
SPEAKER_04: I I watched a a few of the a few of the plays uh on film, and I think that uh one thing that is concerning for Shadow Hills going into league is just the lack of offense that they're generating, they're not really generating as much as they have the last few years, which has really kind of been their calling card, their offense.
4:15
SPEAKER_04: And I think there is some talent there, but uh to be able to, I think they're only averaging about 10 points a game this season.
4:22
SPEAKER_04: And you, you know, that's I don't know if that's gonna get any easier once the league starts.
4:26
SPEAKER_00: Right.
4:26
SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, Valley View's a good test because that team speed I saw on that tape jumped off the table.
4:31
SPEAKER_00: I mean, they had some receivers, they had a running back number seven.
4:34
SPEAKER_00: That guy was great, man.
4:35
SPEAKER_00: He just won cut and he was up the field.
4:37
SPEAKER_00: The quarterback was good too.
4:38
SPEAKER_00: He's a big kid, but he could fly too.
4:40
SPEAKER_00: So Valley View is a good team.
4:42
SPEAKER_00: I think you know, they the quinta's not gonna give them that kind of team speed.
4:45
SPEAKER_00: So I think there's some hope there.
4:47
SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, obviously, you know, you don't want to give up 42 points, but yeah, a good team.
4:52
SPEAKER_00: I mean, as a semifinalist, I think even maybe a finalist last year.
4:55
SPEAKER_00: So it's a good team.
4:56
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, league will not be, I don't think you'll see that type of team speed in the league.
5:00
SPEAKER_00: So they'll be ready.
5:01
SPEAKER_00: You know, Coach King, first year, man, there's a lot of things to work out.
5:05
SPEAKER_00: Most important games are coming up, though, and we'll get back to that in the next segment.
5:08
SPEAKER_00: Uh, moving on, our desert hot springs, golden eagles, 48, A.B.
5:13
SPEAKER_00: Miller, zero.
5:13
SPEAKER_00: So the Golden Eagles get off the snide back in the winning track.
5:17
SPEAKER_00: Anybody get a chance to come check any of this game out?
5:19
SPEAKER_00: Didn't see this one either.
5:20
SPEAKER_00: Um, pretty, pretty dominant performance.
5:22
SPEAKER_00: Golden Eagles got up early and and basically held on to the end, and they didn't really they didn't even really even threaten them, AB Miller to score.
5:30
SPEAKER_00: So a great win for Coach P in the desert and the Golden Eagles.
5:34
SPEAKER_00: They're back on track.
5:35
SPEAKER_00: They got one more coming up, and then they're on to league.
5:37
SPEAKER_00: So four and two, pretty, pretty great start, I would say.
5:41
SPEAKER_00: Looking nice right now.
5:41
SPEAKER_00: DVL is gonna be ultra competitive.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: I I think they got to be right there in the DVL, one of the favorites we're gonna be looking out for in the next couple weeks.
5:48
SPEAKER_00: Probably the closest league this year, right?
5:49
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
5:50
SPEAKER_02: The top there.
5:50
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely, yeah.
5:51
SPEAKER_04: I think it could go, you know, any one of those four teams could probably could do something.
5:56
SPEAKER_04: Um you know, finish in the top two.
5:58
SPEAKER_04: I think it was great for Desert Hot Springs to get this win because you know, I was at the Ranch of Mirage loss, and that, you know, sometimes with 16, 17 year old kids, it's not you know, you don't know how they're gonna respond to a tough loss like that, but to come back and really bounce back, really good win for them.
6:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, great showing by the Golden Eagles.
6:15
SPEAKER_00: Look like they're gonna be ready for league.
6:16
SPEAKER_00: They got one more coming up.
6:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, next, banning goes to West Valley 55 West Valley Zero.
6:24
SPEAKER_00: So the banning Broncos put another thump in on it on an Inland Empire team.
6:29
SPEAKER_00: This team, in my opinion, is the favorite in the DVL.
6:31
SPEAKER_00: I have to say it.
6:32
SPEAKER_00: I mean, just look at their scores.
6:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:33
SPEAKER_00: I mean, there's nobody they they've had one close game this whole out of six.
6:37
SPEAKER_00: And they're not playing cupcakes.
6:39
SPEAKER_00: No, and they're not playing, you know, down teams.
6:41
SPEAKER_00: They're playing teams that are comparable to them.
6:43
SPEAKER_00: So, I mean, I know you guys don't cover them too much, but you gotta be you gotta be checking the scores and saying, hey, this team's got something.
6:49
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I mean, we we do a little bit with them just because they are in the league with a lot of uh local teams, but yeah, we don't we don't actually go out there and cover those games.
6:58
SPEAKER_04: But you're right, I think banning looking about as good as anyone in that league.
7:02
SPEAKER_04: Um, you know, Desert Hot Springs and now Yucca Valley and Coachell Valley is starting to maybe come on, but it's gonna be interesting in that league for sure.
7:08
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, those Broncos are coming.
7:10
SPEAKER_00: And they put up points, man.
7:11
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I see some of those highlights.
7:12
SPEAKER_00: I'm just like that quarterback is special.
7:15
SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, I can't wait to see them match up with some of our teams down here.
7:18
SPEAKER_00: I want to go actually go check them out and see them in person because they've been putting lighting up that scoreboard all year.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: So great job by the banning Broncos.
7:25
SPEAKER_00: Hats off to them.
7:26
SPEAKER_00: Uh, they'll be on a bye week this week.
7:27
SPEAKER_00: So going into league pretty strong.
7:29
SPEAKER_00: Uh, next one, um, we're gonna go to the quinta 20, Roosevelt 33.
7:36
SPEAKER_00: So, Coach Josh, I know you're the quinta whisperer here on the on the program.
7:40
SPEAKER_00: What uh what do you see in that film?
7:43
SPEAKER_02: Uh I I don't want to say it, but it seems on brand this year they just play a really tough uh opponent um and they're actually hanging with this these great teams, and it's just a couple of mistakes.
7:53
SPEAKER_02: And um, I think it's just when you're playing a team that that good, those mistakes become more glaring.
7:59
SPEAKER_02: Um if you you know, if you're in a tight game and you muff a punt and then they get the ball and they score, and then your defense comes out and it's one, two, three, and out, and they punt again and you muff it again, it's gonna be tough to win no matter who you're playing, especially when you're playing Roosevelt.
8:14
SPEAKER_02: Um, but I think once they get in the league, they'll be fine.
8:17
SPEAKER_02: The good news is they're playing fast, they're playing physical, um, they're executing at a high level.
8:22
SPEAKER_02: They just they're searching for that perfect game, and as a coach, you never really get it.
8:26
SPEAKER_02: But um I think if they can get 90% perfect, I think they'll be fine in league.
8:30
SPEAKER_02: Really?
8:31
SPEAKER_02: They're they're playing really good football.
8:33
SPEAKER_02: It just doesn't feel like it because they're one and four.
8:35
SPEAKER_02: It's but you can't let the troops get down, you gotta you gotta show them, hey, there's light at the end of the tub, we gotta keep chopping wood and and and then we'll be fine.
8:44
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, um, they're playing good football.
8:46
SPEAKER_02: It's just they're playing good teams.
8:48
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's uh these records honestly in the preseason are all about scheduling, correct?
8:51
SPEAKER_00: I mean, even though this may be one of the best teams in our region, they have one of the worst records because they go out and they play tough teams over the hill, you know.
8:59
SPEAKER_00: So that that's kind of their philosophy, it's been their philosophy.
9:01
SPEAKER_02: We'll see how it plays off when League comes in.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: Right.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: And we like to kind of see okay, who's playing the cupcakes, who's playing the tough schedule, and then how does it, how does it how does it work out in league?
9:09
SPEAKER_00: That's really the the equation that we're all looking at, right?
9:11
SPEAKER_00: Good news we get to find out it's coming, hits game.
9:14
SPEAKER_00: Any uh thoughts on this game?
9:16
SPEAKER_04: Well, you know, I I didn't actually actually watch this game, but I did see the quinta a couple weeks ago, and I thought they're as good as any team I've seen.
9:23
SPEAKER_04: And so you're right, I think when people look at the record, if you haven't actually seen the team, it's easy to think these guys aren't that good one and four, but every team they've played, uh well, the four losses, they've all been very good teams.
9:36
SPEAKER_04: And the one win they had was Yucca Valley, which you know might be better than we originally thought uh based on the first few games of the season.
9:42
SPEAKER_04: But yeah, I think the Quinta um is just one of those teams that's real physical.
9:48
SPEAKER_04: I agree they are executing at a high level.
9:50
SPEAKER_04: And I I like the way they play and the attitude they have this year.
9:54
SPEAKER_04: So I think they'll be you know really tough in league.
9:56
SPEAKER_04: Right there.
9:57
SPEAKER_00: They're gonna be right there.
9:58
SPEAKER_00: Blackhawks are fine.
10:00
SPEAKER_00: Don't panic, everybody.
10:01
SPEAKER_00: The record does not mean anything, as we know.
10:04
SPEAKER_00: Uh moving on, Desert Mirage 42, San Gregorgonio, 18.
10:08
SPEAKER_00: So the Rams moved to four and one.
10:10
SPEAKER_00: An impressive coaching job by Coach Flip out there at Desert Mirage.
10:14
SPEAKER_00: Um, I can't remember the last time the Desert Mirage Rams were four and one.
10:19
SPEAKER_03: I don't think they ever have.
10:20
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
10:20
SPEAKER_00: That's a great win.
10:21
SPEAKER_00: I mean, that's a great win going on the road.
10:23
SPEAKER_00: A team that Indio handled pretty convincingly at home.
10:27
SPEAKER_00: Um, pretty comparable score.
10:29
SPEAKER_00: So SVL's kind of shaping up to be like, you know, hey, this will be some pretty interesting games going into that league as well.
10:36
SPEAKER_00: Um, but coach flip on the road, Desert Mirage, very impressive.
10:40
SPEAKER_00: Shout out to the Rams, man.
10:42
SPEAKER_00: You guys are doing great out there.
10:43
SPEAKER_00: We're pulling for you.
10:44
SPEAKER_00: Keep it up.
10:45
SPEAKER_00: Keep it up, man.
10:46
SPEAKER_00: All right, now we'll get to the big Bell games everybody wants to talk about.
10:50
SPEAKER_00: First Bell game, Yucca Valley 63, 29 palms three.
10:55
SPEAKER_00: So we kind of had a sense that Yucca Valley was playing a little better after that Xavier win.
11:00
SPEAKER_00: I I came away from that game, very impressed with their defense.
11:02
SPEAKER_00: Looks like uh they kind of Aiden Pope got on track.
11:05
SPEAKER_00: He had four touchdowns, kind of starting to look like Yucca again.
11:08
SPEAKER_00: It's a lot of points.
11:09
SPEAKER_00: 63.
11:10
SPEAKER_00: That's a that's a that's a big that's a big number.
11:12
SPEAKER_02: That's a good turnaround.
11:13
SPEAKER_02: So something's clicking over there.
11:15
SPEAKER_02: Um did they did they move the quarterback?
11:17
SPEAKER_02: Is it the same guy?
11:18
SPEAKER_02: Same guy.
11:19
SPEAKER_02: You know, same thing.
11:20
SPEAKER_02: They just start clicking that sometimes it takes a few games to get going.
11:23
SPEAKER_02: And um, yeah, I I didn't see the game, but 63 is not easy to do, regardless of who you're playing.
11:29
SPEAKER_02: So um and a rivalry game.
11:32
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, not that.
11:33
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
11:33
SPEAKER_02: So they're playing for something up there.
11:34
SPEAKER_04: I mean, 29 Palms uh had beaten Big Bear, which is really never a an easy team.
11:40
SPEAKER_04: So I mean it's not like 29 Palms is is done nothing this year.
11:43
SPEAKER_04: They've you know they've won a few games.
11:45
SPEAKER_04: Uh I think to beat them so convincingly, that was something, even though, you know, I don't think anyone's gonna argue 29 Palms is one of the better teams in the valley.
11:54
SPEAKER_04: It's like they're not a pushover.
11:56
SPEAKER_00: No, no, necessarily either.
11:57
SPEAKER_00: They've won a couple games with the limited roster that they have.
12:00
SPEAKER_02: They've won a couple games.
12:01
SPEAKER_02: Even I I thought they like physicality, they they were playing um Desert Christian very tough.
12:06
SPEAKER_02: They were flying around hitting guys, and um, they're they got some guys there.
12:10
SPEAKER_02: They just seems like they're just starting to put it together at the right time.
12:13
SPEAKER_00: So hopefully they keep getting better.
12:15
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but you shout out to the Trojans, man.
12:17
SPEAKER_00: They seem like they're starting to peak at the right time.
12:19
SPEAKER_00: A little rough start.
12:20
SPEAKER_00: Had to do with their schedule as well.
12:21
SPEAKER_00: They were scheduling up, you know.
12:23
SPEAKER_00: 0-4 was not that if you looked at it in the preseason, they could be for 0-4, you know, just because of who they're playing.
12:29
SPEAKER_00: But now I think they've turned it around.
12:31
SPEAKER_00: So shout out to the Trojans, Mr.
12:33
SPEAKER_00: Aiden Pope up there doing his thing.
12:35
SPEAKER_00: It seems like they're back on track.
12:36
SPEAKER_00: Um, lastly, we'll get to the the big Bell game down here in the Valley at least.
12:41
SPEAKER_00: Indio 7, Coachella Valley 28.
12:44
SPEAKER_00: So the Bell stays in Coachella for the 15th year in a row, which is really hard to say as an old Raja.
12:51
SPEAKER_00: Andrew, you were at this game.
12:53
SPEAKER_00: What were your impressions?
12:55
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I thought that um Coachella Valley, you know, came out with a sense of urgency that they really needed.
13:00
SPEAKER_04: We hadn't really seen that.
13:02
SPEAKER_04: I know that they had a few things.
13:04
SPEAKER_04: They had a couple guys coming back from injury, which were really big.
13:07
SPEAKER_04: Um, they also had uh a coaching change.
13:11
SPEAKER_04: Their defensive coordinator left.
13:12
SPEAKER_00: Oh, really?
13:13
SPEAKER_00: I didn't know that.
13:14
SPEAKER_04: So they they had to elevate an uh a current assistant to uh Coach Hondo to Desert Uh DC, yeah.
13:22
SPEAKER_04: So Honda's now the DC.
13:24
SPEAKER_04: Um and he had those guys ready to play.
13:27
SPEAKER_04: Um credit to him and credit to those guys because you could tell that they were ready to play and that they um they took it really seriously in in a way that it it might be hard.
13:37
SPEAKER_04: It's always the bell game, and you you know you would want to think that all the kids are motivated, but when you've beat the same, when you beat the team 15, 14 times in a row, you wonder how motivated the kids are, or maybe they think they can just walk through it.
13:49
SPEAKER_04: And Coachella didn't really play that way.
13:51
SPEAKER_04: They came out with the urgency and uh and they were flying around hitting people, and that was a big deal.
13:58
SPEAKER_04: I thought Indio was you know, they played well until uh Damian Dorenzi got hurt, obviously changed the momentum of the game, but I still think Coachella was uh you know gonna win that game regardless.
14:09
SPEAKER_00: They're the better team after what you saw.
14:12
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I think so.
14:13
SPEAKER_04: And I think you know, Indio still hats off to them.
14:16
SPEAKER_04: They've you know had a nice start, and I think they'll they'll be contenders for a playoff spot in their league, but um yeah, that they just kind of weren't able to hang in this one after Dorenzi got hurt, and it just seemed like there's that cliche that like this team wanted it more, but genuinely I think Coachella Valley seemed like they wanted it more in this game, and that was a big difference.
14:39
SPEAKER_00: Which is surprising because we Indio haven't had that belt, you'd think you they would walk through fire to get the game.
14:44
SPEAKER_00: That's the thing.
14:44
SPEAKER_04: I think India, it's not that I'm not that's not to say that Indio didn't want didn't want because they you know they they wanted to end the streak for sure, they wanted to be the group to end the streak, right?
14:52
SPEAKER_04: There's no doubt about that.
14:53
SPEAKER_04: But uh yeah, Coachella Valley, maybe it was playing at home, I don't know what the deal was, but they just uh really played with a lot of fire, and and it was a fire that maybe they really hadn't played with earlier in the season.
15:05
SPEAKER_04: It I had seen them against Palm Springs, and while they you know played Palm Springs pretty closely, they didn't have quite this uh you know sense of urgency that we saw from from them on Friday.
15:16
SPEAKER_02: Well, hats off to the coaches because it's up to them to get those kids rallied up and playing at a high level, and it's not like they did that.
15:23
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
15:24
SPEAKER_00: You get any chance to check any of this out?
15:26
SPEAKER_02: No, I was traveling this weekend.
15:27
SPEAKER_02: I watched a little bit of it online um when my wife was getting ready.
15:31
SPEAKER_02: We had a uh harvest ball to get to, but um, I saw I saw the beginning.
15:35
SPEAKER_02: It looked pretty competitive early on.
15:36
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Indio took the lead initially, right?
15:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, and that's about when I I couldn't watch anymore, but man, I saw the I saw the updates on Twitter.
15:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was all after Indio scored, I think it was all Coachella, pretty much, right?
15:48
SPEAKER_00: I mean, Indio got down there, I think, one other time, yeah, but didn't score.
15:52
SPEAKER_00: Like, and that kind of was you could see the air come out of the whole Indio side.
15:56
SPEAKER_00: So shout out to the Arabs, they get off the snide.
15:58
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's a good a good week to get off the snide, the bell game.
16:01
SPEAKER_00: That bell is gonna have a permanent address in Coachella the way this thing is going.
16:05
SPEAKER_00: It feels like it's getting more competitive.
16:06
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's getting more competitive, but also that Indio, we got to get that bell back at some point.
16:11
SPEAKER_00: It's becoming it's becoming like uh the theme of the season now.
16:14
SPEAKER_00: I think that game is now more important than making the playoffs because the alumni care about that game.
16:19
SPEAKER_00: I can see that.
16:19
SPEAKER_00: You know, they come out support.
16:20
SPEAKER_00: That thing was almost sold out, you know.
16:22
SPEAKER_00: Like I don't know that that's the case if Indio makes it to the playoffs.
16:26
SPEAKER_00: You know, so that game is important.
16:28
SPEAKER_00: So all you all you Indio guys out there, we gotta keep working, man, because we got to get that thing back.
16:32
SPEAKER_00: But that is gonna do it for the week five wrap-up.
16:36
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna come back because we have a real exciting week coming up.
16:40
SPEAKER_00: DEL is starting.
16:41
SPEAKER_00: We have an expert in the house and we're gonna learn lean on some of his expertise.
16:45
SPEAKER_00: So we'll be back right after a message from our sponsors.
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17:40
SPEAKER_00: Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz.
17:42
SPEAKER_00: We're going to go into our week six preview with a friend of the show, Andrew John.
17:48
SPEAKER_00: We have a local expert in the house.
17:49
SPEAKER_00: But before, and it's a really exciting weekend because we're going into DEL play.
17:54
SPEAKER_00: Everybody says, hey, everything's about league, pre-seas about league, summer ball is about league, spring's about league.
18:01
SPEAKER_00: So hey, league is here.
18:02
SPEAKER_00: Yep, everyone's zero and zero.
18:03
SPEAKER_00: Everyone's zero and zero.
18:04
SPEAKER_00: This is the time where you make your money.
18:06
SPEAKER_00: So this is the most important time of the year, and we're excited to cover it.
18:10
SPEAKER_00: You did have some predictions at the beginning of the year.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna go ahead and kind of read back your order of finish, and I want to see if you want to revise anything.
18:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, definitely.
18:19
SPEAKER_00: So your order of finish in the preseason, mind you, you hadn't seen any of these teams yet.
18:23
SPEAKER_00: Palm Desert number one, La Quinta number two, Rancho Mirage number three, Xavier Prep number four, Shadow Hills fifth, and Palm Springs sixth.
18:33
SPEAKER_00: So any of those any amendments now that we're in the middle of the season, you've seen everybody, what what would you amend?
18:39
SPEAKER_00: What would you keep?
18:40
SPEAKER_04: I I actually kind of like what I have there.
18:43
SPEAKER_04: Not bad.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: I mean top three for sure, right?
18:45
SPEAKER_00: Top three for sure.
18:46
SPEAKER_00: Top three for sure.
18:46
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
18:47
SPEAKER_04: Um, and I think the probably the big one is Palm Springs.
18:51
SPEAKER_04: I I do think they're they're gonna probably win at least a game or two in the in the league.
18:56
SPEAKER_04: So I would put them maybe at the fourth spot.
18:58
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
18:59
SPEAKER_04: Though I think Xavier could also be kind of in there.
19:02
SPEAKER_04: So maybe maybe just switch Shadow Hills and Palm Springs.
19:07
SPEAKER_04: So it would be Palm Springs fifth, uh Shadow Hills sixth.
19:11
SPEAKER_00: Interesting, interesting.
19:12
SPEAKER_00: That's I mean, that's pretty that's pretty spot on for a preseason poll that you haven't seen any of these teams.
19:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, you have seen all the teams.
19:20
SPEAKER_00: What storylines are you kind of following going into league?
19:23
SPEAKER_00: What's what are some of the people that you maybe are overachieving, maybe underachieving in your opinion?
19:28
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I think that Rancho Mirage, even though I did have them at third, uh and I still probably think they're the third best team in the league.
19:35
SPEAKER_04: I they are four and one, and I think after going 0-5 in the league last year, they're you could say they're maybe overachieving a little.
19:42
SPEAKER_04: They're really still a young group, uh, mostly sophomores.
19:47
SPEAKER_04: Uh, and so I think I would call them the the definite um underachie or overachievers.
19:52
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
19:53
SPEAKER_04: And uh maybe the underachievers you could say is Shadow Hills, just because they've been a playoff team the last couple of years, and while we talked earlier about them playing a tougher schedule this year, they haven't really shown that you know they're kind of the same team that they were the last couple of years.
20:10
SPEAKER_04: And maybe that's yeah, I know they've had some kids they've lost that have been very good, and there's a number of reasons why that could be.
20:18
SPEAKER_04: I just think that uh you know that's probably a team that I would target right now as a as an under as a uh underachiever.
20:25
SPEAKER_00: Uh they did play a real tough schedule though, so that does factor into those equations, right?
20:30
SPEAKER_00: I mean, all the preseason records are dictated by schedule, it's not really how good you are.
20:34
SPEAKER_02: Those kids play different when league comes around too.
20:36
SPEAKER_02: A lot of times they they want to, you know, they know the kids that's going to the school down the street.
20:40
SPEAKER_02: They they seem to pick up their game when league comes around.
20:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
20:43
SPEAKER_00: And everybody would be hyped for league, right?
20:45
SPEAKER_00: If you get everybody that's and and you gotta also factor the transfer situation, right?
20:49
SPEAKER_00: Right?
20:49
SPEAKER_00: We've got a bunch of transfers that are now eligible coming back.
20:52
SPEAKER_00: So there may be some guys you don't even we haven't even seen yet.
20:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like at Xavier, I know we're gonna see a totally different quarterback this week.
21:00
SPEAKER_00: So you have to also kind of figure like did some guys have been held out.
21:04
SPEAKER_00: I know I believe Palm Springs has a couple guys too that be maybe coming back too.
21:07
SPEAKER_00: So Palm Desert for sure.
21:08
SPEAKER_00: Palm Desert has a couple guys.
21:10
SPEAKER_00: I mean, so these teams could be changing on us real quick.
21:13
SPEAKER_00: So you never count out those transfers.
21:15
SPEAKER_00: Um you kind of spoke to it.
21:18
SPEAKER_00: Flag game you kind of predicted would be kind of for the league.
21:22
SPEAKER_00: Are you still kind of feeling confident?
21:23
SPEAKER_04: I think so.
21:24
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, which is really great for the Valley, right?
21:26
SPEAKER_04: Because anytime the flag game is high stakes, I mean, people in the rivalry will say it's high stakes every year, but the truth is if you're playing for a league championship in that game, then I think that that's just a really exciting environment and really speaks to how the health of the valley football is.
21:45
SPEAKER_04: Um when Palm Desert and Laquinta are playing for something meaningful.
21:48
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
21:49
SPEAKER_04: And I mean that's in the case.
21:50
SPEAKER_00: Well, they might get this year.
21:52
SPEAKER_03: I mean, we it's still early, so we don't we don't surely know.
21:55
SPEAKER_03: But I mean, you look at this week for for instance, you know, if Rancho.
22:00
SPEAKER_04: Were to beat uh Palm Desert, that could be.
22:03
SPEAKER_04: Throws everything into chaos right there.
22:05
SPEAKER_02: And we have seen that in the past few years where someone loses a game where they think they should win.
22:09
SPEAKER_02: So yeah.
22:11
SPEAKER_00: All these league games are important, man.
22:13
SPEAKER_00: Even the ones that you think people are at the bottom, like that Xavier Palm Desert game last year, nobody expected that to affect league, right?
22:20
SPEAKER_00: And it was like one of the main deciding factors why Pompners had to share a title.
22:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, true.
22:24
SPEAKER_00: Because they had to go out there and they lot they kind of lost the game they maybe should have won.
22:28
SPEAKER_02: I think that happens every year.
22:29
SPEAKER_02: It feels like there's one game where you think you got a winner and then all of a sudden they lose, and you're like, how does that affect the race?
22:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, every one of these things counts.
22:38
SPEAKER_00: So that's why it's so exciting to cover, and that's what we're gonna get into now is the schedule for week six, which is very exciting.
22:44
SPEAKER_00: We'll start with the non-league games.
22:46
SPEAKER_00: There's still some teams out there playing non-league games.
22:48
SPEAKER_00: Um Negro City's going to Yucca Valley on Friday night.
22:53
SPEAKER_00: So man, Cat City, they they they have a tough schedule, man.
22:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they're tough.
22:56
SPEAKER_00: Coming off a loss to Arrowhead Christian.
22:59
SPEAKER_00: Uh Yucca seems to be peaking right at the right time.
23:01
SPEAKER_00: What do you what do you guys expect in this?
23:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think I think Yucca's peaking right now, and and Cass City's gonna got a tough game on their hands.
23:08
SPEAKER_02: Um don't don't you know count the Lions out, but it Yucca's looking like the favorite in this one.
23:14
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
23:14
SPEAKER_02: What are you expecting?
23:16
SPEAKER_04: I I'm expecting kind of another big win for uh Yucca Valley.
23:20
SPEAKER_04: Some more, yeah, maybe not quite as bad as last week's game against the 29 Pauls, but yeah, I just really see uh Yucca Valley seems to have taken a step from some of the earlier games we saw earlier this year season.
23:33
SPEAKER_04: And I think that they're um they're really really taking off now.
23:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they start seem to be playing their best football right at the right time.
23:40
SPEAKER_00: So that'll be a good one to watch.
23:41
SPEAKER_00: We'll keep an eye on it.
23:43
SPEAKER_00: An intervalley game, uh Sun Valley versus Desert Valley.
23:47
SPEAKER_00: Desert Hawks team going to Indio.
23:48
SPEAKER_00: So Indio coming off that tough loss, the Bell loss, got a recoup.
23:53
SPEAKER_00: We don't know the health of Dorenzi if he's gonna play or not, but what are what are some of your quick impressions?
23:58
SPEAKER_02: It's a tough game for Indio.
23:59
SPEAKER_02: I mean, Golden Eagles are playing good football right now.
24:02
SPEAKER_02: Um, I heard they're getting some guys back, and uh it's it's gonna be tough for Indio.
24:07
SPEAKER_02: So and that you know, losing Dorenzi doesn't help.
24:10
SPEAKER_02: Um, we talked about it.
24:11
SPEAKER_02: He he was you know playing quarterback, but he also was you know punter, like you said, and uh DB.
24:17
SPEAKER_02: So you end up losing him, it's like losing four guys on the team.
24:20
SPEAKER_02: So it's gonna be tough to replace him, but never count out a game, you know.
24:25
SPEAKER_02: But it's it's looking tough for Indio right now.
24:28
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
24:28
SPEAKER_00: That's the hot spring seems to be back on a roll, right?
24:30
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and you add Chief to the offensive line.
24:34
SPEAKER_04: It's like uh one of the strengths of uh the Golden Eagles this year is their line play, I think.
24:39
SPEAKER_04: And so you've you you know you add you even further strength than that.
24:43
SPEAKER_04: It's gonna be uh really tough for pretty much any team that they face, I think.
24:48
SPEAKER_04: Um so definitely uh I would I would definitely favor Desert Hosprings in that game.
24:53
SPEAKER_04: Um but Indio's played well this season at times, so I think that it could be a good game.
24:58
SPEAKER_00: All right, and they're at home, so maybe they get a little home cooking and maybe play playing a little better.
25:02
SPEAKER_00: We don't know the health of Dorenzi.
25:04
SPEAKER_00: We're praying for the quick recovery for him, but yeah, it's gonna be a tough task for Indio uh without him.
25:10
SPEAKER_00: Um moving on, Desert Mirage going to Calapatra.
25:14
SPEAKER_00: So they're going down to the to the Imperial Valley down there.
25:18
SPEAKER_00: What uh what are we what do we what are we thinking this?
25:21
SPEAKER_00: Let's go rats, man.
25:22
SPEAKER_02: Keep it going.
25:22
SPEAKER_02: Let's go.
25:23
SPEAKER_02: It's uh they're playing really good football.
25:25
SPEAKER_02: You love to see it.
25:26
SPEAKER_02: It sounds like they got a good group of kids.
25:27
SPEAKER_02: This is the one team I haven't been able to find online.
25:30
SPEAKER_02: I look every week, I really want to watch them play, but for whatever reason, I just can't find any footage on them.
25:35
SPEAKER_02: Um so maybe I have to get out, you know, and catch a home game sometime, but I think they're gonna win again.
25:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they should be the favorites in this one.
25:43
SPEAKER_00: Four and one.
25:44
SPEAKER_00: What do you what are you expecting out of this one?
25:46
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I think that they will win this one, and I think you know, they'll move to five and one, which they've never done at that school.
25:52
SPEAKER_04: I was looking at their roster, and they have a lot of guys who are uh on the line, a lot of a lot of big players.
26:00
SPEAKER_04: That's a tough team to face, I think.
26:03
SPEAKER_04: You know, you got they have at least five or six guys who are 6'5, 280, something like that, you know.
26:09
SPEAKER_04: I mean, they've got they've got as much size as anyone in the valley, I think.
26:12
SPEAKER_04: So you take that, um, you know, a team that's winning and playing well, uh, group that's confident, um, and you take it against you know, some of the teams they're gonna be facing the rest of the season, I think they're gonna have a chance in a lot of these games.
26:26
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
26:27
SPEAKER_00: And it's a senior heavy team, too.
26:28
SPEAKER_00: Coach Flip was in here telling us they have about 25 guys that have been playing four years, which is really rare at that school.
26:34
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
26:34
SPEAKER_00: So shout out to the Rams, man.
26:36
SPEAKER_00: Shout out to Coach Flip.
26:36
SPEAKER_00: He's done such a good job with those guys.
26:38
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, man.
26:38
SPEAKER_00: So we're expecting them to get to five and one.
26:41
SPEAKER_00: Moving on, uh so CV af after that great Bell victory is now going down to Southwest and El Central.
26:49
SPEAKER_00: What do we what do we know about Southwest?
26:53
SPEAKER_02: I mean, Southwest's not very good, you know.
26:56
SPEAKER_02: Traditionally.
26:57
SPEAKER_02: Traditionally.
26:57
SPEAKER_02: I don't know about this year, but um, I know we we played them a few years ago at Lakinta and it just they weren't that good.
27:02
SPEAKER_02: But I I think if if you're in that area and you're you you take football seriously and you're passionate about it, you're gonna go to maybe like a central or something.
27:11
SPEAKER_02: Um so I I think C B should win.
27:13
SPEAKER_02: But I haven't seen Southwest play this year, so but CB should win.
27:17
unknown: Okay.
27:19
SPEAKER_00: Two in a row for the Arabs.
27:20
SPEAKER_04: I think so.
27:20
SPEAKER_04: I think that um you know there's a lot of momentum coming off of the bell game win.
27:25
SPEAKER_04: And they did get some guys back from injury.
27:28
SPEAKER_04: So I think that uh I would definitely pick them to win this game.
27:32
SPEAKER_04: I I like their chances, and I I think you could argue it's just one that one win, but that that win against India can really kind of launch them uh the second half of the season, uh you know, playing with some confidence.
27:46
SPEAKER_04: I think there's some some good things going there.
27:48
SPEAKER_00: Coachella's starting to look like Coachella again.
27:50
SPEAKER_00: They look at least the film I saw, that offense is starting to move the ball, running games coming around.
27:54
SPEAKER_00: Sound like they were fired up too before the game.
27:56
SPEAKER_00: So playing much better, so that's a good time, right?
27:58
SPEAKER_00: Before the league, yeah.
27:59
SPEAKER_00: Um, and then the last one before we get into DEL, Ontario Christian at Desert Christian.
28:05
SPEAKER_00: So our only undefeated team left in the Valley.
28:08
SPEAKER_00: This isn't this is not a Ontario Christian.
28:10
SPEAKER_00: I was doing my research on it, not a pushover team, so this might be one of the better teams they face on their schedule.
28:16
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I I think that the Conquerors should still move, still keep their undefeated season rolling.
28:21
SPEAKER_00: What do you guys think?
28:21
SPEAKER_00: They're at home, right?
28:22
SPEAKER_00: They're at home.
28:23
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they should win.
28:24
SPEAKER_02: But it should, you know.
28:25
SPEAKER_02: I don't know a lot about them, but apparently the league's tougher that they're in, right?
28:29
SPEAKER_02: So um it's league competition, like you said, everyone's zero and zero.
28:33
SPEAKER_02: So um I think Desert Christian's gonna win, but it you know, don't sleep on this team.
28:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, go out there and handle business, um, do what you're supposed to, and and come home with that W.
28:43
SPEAKER_00: So this is the first league game for Desert Christian this year, so those those league games are always gonna be tough, right?
28:49
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, the the uh you know Xavier Prep has played Ontario Christian in the in the past, you know, um, and you know, they're a tough team, but I think that uh they're not like a team that is gonna run away with it against Desert Christian.
29:03
SPEAKER_04: I think it'll be a competitive game.
29:05
SPEAKER_04: I think either team could win that game.
29:06
SPEAKER_00: Really?
29:07
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so we're expecting a competitive game this week, huh?
29:09
SPEAKER_00: I mean I haven't had one yet.
29:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Desert Christian haven't been.
29:12
SPEAKER_00: They've been blowing people out.
29:14
SPEAKER_04: Well, it'd be interesting to see also if it is competitive, how Desert Christian is able to play in those close games.
29:19
SPEAKER_04: I think that's important this time of year anyway, especially before you get to playoffs.
29:23
SPEAKER_04: You want to be able to play in a couple competitive games to you know figure out how you can do in late game situations.
29:29
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah.
29:29
SPEAKER_02: You want some adversity on that field to see how the kids are gonna respond in certain moments, how the staff's gonna adjust in those moments.
29:35
SPEAKER_02: You need some adversity before playoffs.
29:37
SPEAKER_02: I agree with that 100%.
29:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
29:39
SPEAKER_00: So competitive game, but DCA probably stays undefeated.
29:43
SPEAKER_00: So I'm predicting.
29:44
SPEAKER_00: I I think so.
29:45
SPEAKER_00: I think they need they need a tough game.
29:47
SPEAKER_00: I think when you blow people out so much, it doesn't really prep you for the playoffs.
29:51
SPEAKER_00: You want to have a couple tight ones just so the kids feel that little how are they gonna respond when the other team scores first, you know?
29:58
SPEAKER_00: I don't even think they've been behind in the game this year.
30:01
SPEAKER_00: So we'll we expect them to be undefeated, but hey, it might be a little bit of a test.
30:05
SPEAKER_00: All right, now we're going to the big ones here.
30:07
SPEAKER_00: We're going into the DEL opening week.
30:10
SPEAKER_00: This is this is the the big show right here.
30:13
SPEAKER_00: So we'll start with Lakita at Shadow Hills.
30:16
SPEAKER_00: So Lakinta 1-4 coming off of maybe uh a disappointing record in the preseason, but they played pretty well.
30:23
SPEAKER_00: And Shadow Hills has that same one and four record um coming off last week's loss to Valley View.
30:29
SPEAKER_00: What are our expectations of this one?
30:31
SPEAKER_02: You know, I I you know think Lakinta would have the edge on this for sure, but I would not sleep on the Knights, man.
30:36
SPEAKER_02: These league games, these kids play hard every year.
30:39
SPEAKER_02: They're gonna come out fired up.
30:40
SPEAKER_02: Um, they know a lot of each other growing up, so they're don't sleep on them, man.
30:44
SPEAKER_02: But I, you know, if I'm a bet man, I'm betting on Lakinta, of course.
30:48
SPEAKER_02: But it it's it's league, man.
30:50
SPEAKER_02: It's gonna be a tough game.
30:50
SPEAKER_00: So anything these kids know, like you said, they know each other.
30:53
SPEAKER_00: Don't take it for granted.
30:54
SPEAKER_00: Uh what are you kind of expecting in this one?
30:56
SPEAKER_04: Oh, it's it is an interesting matchup because both teams are what one and four, and they've both played really tough schedules.
31:02
SPEAKER_04: So it's kind of like trying to figure out which team is actually better than we think they might be.
31:08
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
31:08
SPEAKER_04: Right.
31:08
SPEAKER_04: Um, I think we probably agree that both teams are better than the one and four, but uh, I would definitely lean Lakinta just because I've in the game that I saw, I was actually really impressed in the game against it was a game against Central, which they lost, but they were inside the 10-yard line twice and kind of came up MD.
31:25
SPEAKER_04: Could have definitely won that game.
31:26
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
31:27
SPEAKER_04: And um I just I was just really impressed with a lot that I saw there.
31:31
SPEAKER_04: And I feel feel like maybe Shadow Hills is you know, they can get this win, but I feel like they're maybe not quite as buttoned up as I've seen La Quinta be um so far this season.
31:42
SPEAKER_04: That's fair.
31:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think uh La Quinta holds a pretty big advantage up front.
31:46
SPEAKER_00: Could be both on both sides of the ball.
31:48
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think that's true.
31:49
SPEAKER_00: So that's gonna that's gonna definitely play into play into this one.
31:52
SPEAKER_00: I think La Quinta's gotta be the favorite, but you know, it's league.
31:55
SPEAKER_00: Who knows?
31:57
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, they gotta play each other because we we we have theories because we've seen them, but they've not played each other.
32:02
SPEAKER_00: So now we're gonna really know about these teams.
32:04
SPEAKER_00: So should be a good one out of Shadow Hills.
32:07
SPEAKER_00: Um, next one Palm Springs at Xavier Prep.
32:10
SPEAKER_00: So two teams that are kind of struggling to find their way in the preseason.
32:14
SPEAKER_00: Um, Xavier Prep does have Sam Moore.
32:17
SPEAKER_00: He's coming back to play some quarterback.
32:19
SPEAKER_00: They've been waiting for him for five weeks.
32:21
SPEAKER_00: His uh his time is he's done his time and now he's eligible.
32:25
SPEAKER_00: So I know they're hoping to add some juice to the offense with him.
32:28
SPEAKER_00: He's a big, strong kid, thrown for a lot of yards.
32:30
SPEAKER_00: What are you expecting out of this one?
32:32
SPEAKER_02: I think it's gonna be a good game.
32:33
SPEAKER_02: Um I I think Palm Springs is a little better than than we think, and I think Xavier Prep's a little better better than their record indicates.
32:40
SPEAKER_02: So um, like you said, with the add-on of the quarterback, I know he got a lot of the reps during the summertime, and um, you know, things like that matter.
32:47
SPEAKER_02: You only have a certain amount of time out there to practice with if someone's getting all the reps and then you have to throw someone else in last minute, right?
32:53
SPEAKER_02: Um, that could be tough to kind of overcome.
32:56
SPEAKER_02: And um, yeah, it's gonna be a good game.
32:58
SPEAKER_02: I would probably, you know, you're probably not gonna like me, but I think I Palm Springs might might be a little favored in this, but um, it's gonna be a close game.
33:06
SPEAKER_02: They gotta play it.
33:06
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, and I think Tank is gonna come back.
33:08
SPEAKER_00: Is that that's the rule?
33:10
SPEAKER_00: That's the word, yeah.
33:10
SPEAKER_00: So that's gonna help.
33:12
SPEAKER_00: That might add a little juice for Palm Springs.
33:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, what do you what do you expect then out of this one?
33:16
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, kind of a 50-50 game.
33:18
SPEAKER_04: I think it all really does come down to what if Moorhead can um if he you know kind of just uh picks up where he left off maybe in the summer.
33:28
SPEAKER_04: Um I imagine it's gonna take a few series to kind of really get in sync with some of the receivers and such.
33:34
SPEAKER_04: But what what better way to do it against, you know, frankly, uh a Palm Springs defense that admittedly, I know they'll admit that they have not played their best football yet.
33:43
SPEAKER_03: Right.
33:43
SPEAKER_04: Uh so I think this is a good opportunity for Xavier to come in and get get work out some of those bugs against uh a defense that is also trying to find its way.
33:53
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
33:53
SPEAKER_04: So um really a kind of a 50-50 game.
33:56
SPEAKER_04: I I think if I had to pick, I'd probably go Xavier Prep, but just because I think um, you know, Xavier Prep has some of the pieces that we know we know Jacob Van has had a really, really good season.
34:08
SPEAKER_00: Great season, yeah.
34:09
SPEAKER_04: And I feel like he can uh help neutralize the Palm Springs offense that has been pretty good this year.
34:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
34:14
SPEAKER_00: Sessions have been playing lights out the quarterback for Palm Springs.
34:17
SPEAKER_00: I love Sessions.
34:18
SPEAKER_00: That kid is that kid is electric.
34:20
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I think it's gonna it could be a shootout.
34:22
SPEAKER_00: I think there could be some points scored in this game.
34:24
SPEAKER_00: Um Palm Springs definitely gonna score some points, I think.
34:27
SPEAKER_00: But Xavier's now got the possibility to put up some points too.
34:30
SPEAKER_00: So it may be one of those coin flip games.
34:32
SPEAKER_00: That's kind of a tough one.
34:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it is tough.
34:34
SPEAKER_00: We don't really know enough about both of these teams because they've been missing so many pieces, right?
34:38
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna find out, right?
34:39
SPEAKER_00: So it'll be interesting.
34:40
SPEAKER_00: This is why that's why we watched the game.
34:42
SPEAKER_00: So that should be an interesting one.
34:43
SPEAKER_00: Coin flip, and it kind of sets a tone for both of these teams, you know.
34:46
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, hey, we're not gonna be the bottom of the barrel like everybody predicted.
34:50
SPEAKER_00: So I think it's an important game for both.
34:52
SPEAKER_00: Okay, moving on, the big one here.
34:54
SPEAKER_00: The big one, Coach Josh's game of the week, on desert at Rancho Mirage.
35:00
SPEAKER_00: The big, the big, this is the big game in the DL this week.
35:03
SPEAKER_00: What are we expecting out of this one?
35:05
SPEAKER_02: It should be a good one.
35:06
SPEAKER_02: It's always a good one, man.
35:07
SPEAKER_02: There's two good coaches at those schools.
35:08
SPEAKER_02: They're gonna have their kids fired up playing.
35:10
SPEAKER_02: Um, they've they've played each other.
35:12
SPEAKER_02: They're very familiar with um, you know, like the schemes that they that each team runs.
35:17
SPEAKER_02: Um, they're gonna have a game plan, um, but the kids got to go out there and execute.
35:21
SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, Palm does this looking like like they're the team this year, so I would probably give them the nod, but to don't count out Coach Matthews and those rattlers, man.
35:30
SPEAKER_02: It's gonna be a good game.
35:31
SPEAKER_00: So should be an interesting one.
35:33
SPEAKER_00: Are you gonna be at this one?
35:34
SPEAKER_04: I'll be at this one.
35:35
SPEAKER_04: This is the game right here.
35:36
SPEAKER_04: This is the game.
35:37
SPEAKER_04: I'm looking forward to it.
35:38
SPEAKER_04: I think man, I um Rancho Mirage again when they played Desert Hot Springs, kind of in the second half of that game when they came back and won.
35:47
SPEAKER_04: I thought they executed probably as well as any team I've seen this season, just in the plays they made.
35:53
SPEAKER_04: They didn't make a lot of mistakes.
35:54
SPEAKER_04: And I thought that was I was really impressed by that.
35:56
SPEAKER_04: And so I think if they can play that way, they can win this game.
35:59
SPEAKER_04: But um, you know, again, they are one of the younger teams in in the valley.
36:04
SPEAKER_04: Uh can they do it against a team like Palm Desert is a big question.
36:08
SPEAKER_04: And if they can, man, then they could yeah, if they if they can win this game, then I think they can definitely, without question, win the win league.
36:16
SPEAKER_04: Right.
36:16
SPEAKER_04: But yeah, I I would probably lean Palm Desert a little bit just because a little bit more of a veteran team.
36:22
SPEAKER_04: And Palm Desert has, you know, the last few years had the best defense in the league.
36:27
SPEAKER_04: And if they can do that again this year, I think that it's gotta start with this this game and stopping uh Rancho Mirage and what they do on offense.
36:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, this is a great one to start with.
36:35
SPEAKER_00: Great game.
36:35
SPEAKER_00: Great one to start with.
36:36
SPEAKER_00: I mean, you're matching the youth of the Rattlers and the youth and explosiveness of the Rattlers versus the consistency and the size for sure of Pondes.
36:44
SPEAKER_00: Because Pondes is the biggest team in the league.
36:46
SPEAKER_00: I think them and Laquinta are by far the biggest teams.
36:49
SPEAKER_00: Um, so it's gonna be a great matchup.
36:51
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I'm excited to watch it.
36:53
SPEAKER_00: I think man, I just this is almost like a coin flip game, too.
36:56
SPEAKER_00: You know, you could you could see this one going either way, right?
36:59
SPEAKER_00: So it's a tough one to pick.
37:00
SPEAKER_00: I'm glad I don't have to do it.
37:01
SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, DEL is here, fellas.
37:04
SPEAKER_00: What an exciting time.
37:05
SPEAKER_00: This is what we do the show for.
37:06
SPEAKER_00: This is why we come out and watch all these games so we can have an opinion when it matters, and now it matters.
37:12
SPEAKER_00: So um, Andrew, anything for you to plug?
37:15
SPEAKER_00: Anywhere, anything, anything you want to talk about before we uh close out here?
37:19
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I mean we're kind of just uh now we're you know just past the halfway point.
37:24
SPEAKER_04: And um, I think it's really interesting to look at some of the you know who's been kind of the surprises.
37:30
SPEAKER_04: Um I was kind of curious, like if maybe you guys had an idea of maybe one player that's been that's kind of jumped off from you guys in terms of expectations in the preseason versus now.
37:41
SPEAKER_04: I know this is actually a story I'm kind of working on right now and want to highlight a couple of the kids, at least you know, a few of the kids and and who maybe has shine, outshine some of their preseason expectations.
37:53
SPEAKER_02: Well, I got one, but I've been talking about him all year.
37:55
SPEAKER_02: Oh, I think Hartwell at La Quinta's playing lights out this year, man.
37:58
SPEAKER_02: I I you know I know him, so I wasn't surprised, but I'm glad to see the the you know, the ballet kind of seeing what kind of football player he is.
38:06
SPEAKER_02: He's he's he's a great player, great, great person, and um he's he's doing big things this year.
38:11
SPEAKER_00: So uh for me it's Jesus Valenzuela.
38:14
SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh yeah.
38:14
SPEAKER_00: That guy, I I I've not heard his name before, and I should have heard his name before because he's apparently been around for a while, but the plays that guy's making, like on the films I've seen, I was at the Xavier game, he was the difference.
38:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
38:27
SPEAKER_00: Um he and it's not only his receiving and his free safety, he also kicks for those guys.
38:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he's the punter and the kicker.
38:32
SPEAKER_00: So you talk about an all-world athlete, man.
38:35
SPEAKER_00: So to me, that guy, kudos to him, man.
38:37
SPEAKER_00: He's a he's a real leader in that team, and that's that's a name that like we should have known about.
38:42
SPEAKER_00: But and now we do because I saw him in person.
38:45
SPEAKER_00: That kid is a great football player.
38:46
SPEAKER_00: So it's kids like that are why we do the show.
38:49
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, every year there's surprises.
38:50
SPEAKER_02: It's fun.
38:51
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, kids come out of nowhere, and like, who is this guy?
38:53
SPEAKER_02: You know, he's playing high-level football, maybe top two receiver in the league.
38:57
SPEAKER_02: And um you just love to see it.
38:59
SPEAKER_02: The kids go out there and and stake a claim for themselves.
39:01
SPEAKER_04: So yeah, you know, credit to those guys for maybe they were always, you know, this guy, you know.
39:07
SPEAKER_04: We just yeah, we just didn't notice.
39:09
SPEAKER_00: We just didn't know if we were at the right game, I guess.
39:11
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, now they're they're putting everyone on notice, and that that's that's awesome to see, you know.
39:15
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, okay.
39:16
SPEAKER_00: So when's that list coming out?
39:17
SPEAKER_00: Pretty soon, you guys are working on it?
39:18
SPEAKER_00: Like later this week.
39:20
SPEAKER_00: Okay, awesome.
39:21
SPEAKER_00: So everybody check it out.
39:22
SPEAKER_00: Desert Sun, new list coming out, some new names that we should be aware of.
39:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we uh appreciate the great work you do in our community.
39:29
SPEAKER_00: You're you're the best.
39:30
SPEAKER_00: Everybody go check out Andrew's columns.
39:32
SPEAKER_00: We read them every week.
39:33
SPEAKER_00: He's kind of the he's kind of the Bible of high school football, him and Shad.
39:36
SPEAKER_00: So thanks for coming out.
39:38
SPEAKER_00: We got to do this again.
39:39
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, thanks.
39:40
SPEAKER_00: And uh that that's gonna do it for this episode, guys.
39:43
SPEAKER_00: So you know the routine.
39:44
SPEAKER_00: If you found some value or entertainment, like, subscribe, and follow.
39:48
SPEAKER_00: And we'll see you next time on Desert Valley Blitz.
39:50
SPEAKER_00: Peace.