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Desert Valley Blitz
Ep#6- Week 5 Victors and Storylines with Coach Dockery
Coach James "Doc" Dockery of Xavier Prep joins Desert Valley Blitz to break down his team's impressive 4-1 start and analyze Week 5's most thrilling matchups across the Coachella Valley.
Despite Xavier's winning record, Dockery reveals the high standards driving his program: "It feels like 1-4 in our locker room because our standards are high." He highlights his junior quarterback's growing leadership and the Taylor twins' defensive dominance, with each accumulating approximately six sacks already this season.
The week's most dramatic contest saw Shadow Hills fall 52-51 in double overtime to Patriot after losing their kicker to injury, while Palm Desert's offense exploded with quarterback AJ Rivera throwing five touchdown passes in a 50-35 victory over Redlands. Meanwhile, Desert Hot Springs engineered a last-minute comeback against Big Bear, with quarterback Jalen Turner orchestrating a game-winning drive with just 1:30 remaining.
Palm Springs remained undefeated with a statement 22-14 win over Yucaipa, a team that has traditionally given desert schools trouble. Freshman Tank Smith made significant contributions, highlighting the impressive young talent emerging across multiple valley programs.
With many DEL teams on bye in Week 6, attention turns to Desert Hot Springs visiting Yucca Valley in what Coach Dockery calls "a coin flip" matchup, while undefeated La Quinta faces perhaps their toughest test traveling to El Centro against unbeaten Central.
As league play approaches in just two weeks, the Desert Valley football landscape is taking shape with established powers maintaining their standards and several programs positioning themselves as serious contenders for league championships.
#highschoolfootball #coachellavalley #football #mayorscup #indiohighschool #shadowhillshighschool #palmdeserthighschool #laquintahighschool #coachellavalleyhighschool #palmspringshighschool #xavierprep #ranchomiragehighschool #cathedralcityhighschool #desertmiragehighschool #desertchristianacademy #desertchapel #deserthotspringshighschool #yuccavalleyhighschool #29palmshighschool
welcome back everyone to desert valley blitz week five wrap up. It's already week five. It's going by super fast and today we've got a real special guest, a guy that we've all know and love. He's the head coach of xavier prep, mr james dockery, aka aka Coach Doc. How you doing, man, I'm doing good man, Thanks for having me. Thanks for coming in man.
Speaker 1:We've been trying to get you on for a long time. We love that you're here. Before we get into the wrap-up, we want to kind of talk about your program. You guys are off to a fast start 4-1. Just had a big victory over Y in the season going so far, it's doing pretty good, man.
Speaker 2:Our coaching staff is really different. I think that if you would have came into our locker room after the win against Yucca, you'd be like you guys are 4-1. It feels like 1-4 in here, just because our standards are high, man. So we're just always striving for greatness, striving for excellence, and we're 4-1, but we haven't played our best ball yet, and so that's what's for us. But luckily we're on a bye week right now. Our boys are attentive and they understand that we haven't played our best ball either, but we've played enough ball and a good enough ball to win, and so we're going to fine-tune some of those small things and hopefully, you know, get better, because we've got PD coming in the house and we know about them.
Speaker 1:Two weeks, man, the league starts. It's going to be above that league?
Speaker 2:Yes, it is there that league? Yes, it is, there's no easy wins?
Speaker 3:No, not at all.
Speaker 1:But you guys always have top-line talent, Xavier. Ever since you've been there, you've been known to have those top guys. Can you speak to some of your captains and your leaders that are really leading the way this year?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean I would be remiss if I didn't mention our quarterback, because as a freshman I gave him a little bit more reps as a sophomore Joe Barry and him kind of battling it out and now he's a junior and he doesn't have to look over his shoulder, he can go out there and just be himself and make plays and he's been working on his leadership, working on his maturity. But you know, the things he does on the field is natural. He can run the ball, he can throw the ball, um, and really he's really becoming a good leader. Um, especially during the game, you know, like last week I was crashing out. They'd be like waiting for my crash outs on the sideline and uh, coach was like hey, coach, hey, we're good, we're good, we're good, I'm like all right. Yeah, and it's nice when my quarterback's telling me like, relax, I got you.
Speaker 2:yeah you know, I got you went out there, delivered, delivered a throw, finished the drive. Coach, I told you I got you. I'm like, so I'm loving that as a head coach my quarterback just calming me down and letting me know, like, hey, I know what you expect. Like we got this. Then our offensive line have been doing a great job. We have about three or four seniors on the line and they're just my line. They do everything right. Those guys are like maybe you want her to date a guy like that, because they're just like responsible guys. They're always on time, they always are in the weight room doing things right. The grades are good. They're happy-go-lucky dudes always hanging out together.
Speaker 2:So my offensive line, king, and then our defense. Our defense has been lights out Jacob Van Javon, taylor LaShawn, taylor they're Taylor twins, new to our team. Those guys I think I haven't noticed that, but those guys are probably six, seven sacks apiece, definitely our DNs. With Daniel Canby we have a really good defensive line. Secondary Luke Vermillion is doing well. We have some players. We're not the biggest school out there, but our top guys. They can play.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely that's what you guys are kind of known for is having that top line talent. Speaking of that top-line talent, you guys went out and did your thing this week, xavier prepped 35, yucca Valley 21. Big win for you guys going into the bye week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're upset about that because our defense gave up two touchdowns. We got a punt block. So my defensive guys they're a different group man. They did not like that. 14 points is too much, too much. But Yucca Valley's good though. Coach Johnson, you guys got a lot of innovation, like his sets and formations. He's got stacks, he's got bunches, he's got empty. The running back is fast man.
Speaker 1:That guy's bigger and faster in person than you think.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And even their slots, their slot receiver number 24,. He's a strong kid. And then Aiden Pope is the real deal. Like I, like that kid, a lot of business, but you know it's gonna get a little bit harder in the dl yeah, I mean yucca valley's a perennial dvo power, so coming down playing you guys gonna be a challenge.
Speaker 1:Yep, they, they stepped up to the challenge. They didn't come out on top. You guys kind of put it away early I think. But yeah, they're gonna be all right, I agree.
Speaker 2:Them Coachella Valley and then Coach P at DHS. No matter what happens in the preseason, that guy just finds a way to rally his guys. That's a leader right there man Shout out to him because he's an all-time leader at DHS. Great coach, great guy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're going to get to that. We're going to get to that score right now. So we're moving on to the weekly roundup. Coach desert hot springs 19. Big bear 14. Coach, josh, you got a chance to pick. Check that one out.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I got to watch it. Um, if you don't know, big bear and dhs used to be in the same league, so they got a lot of history playing um against each other. Uh, I actually was a dc at dhs a long time ago, so I remember preparing for uh big bear and if you don't know, they run this uh veer option stuff and it is tough man it's no fun to prepare for and if you're not playing assignment football it's a long night and I always like to see what the plan is on the defense and I loved what DHS did.
Speaker 3:It was a 6-2. Four guys D linemen had their hand in the dirt. Two ends stand it up, so the D linemen in charge are taking away that dive. That's their money. Play that dive play. And then the ends and the inside backer are responsible for quarterback pitch and they played really well all night. I think the the star of the show was the D-lineman. They were in that backfield all night, put Big Bear in some really tough positions, made him pass which they don't want to pass, and got some sacks for some chunk change. I mean it was like third and 40. And on offense they did good man. The quarterback took them a while to get going, but once he started to get going he hit some goal balls on the right side, jalen Turner the quarterback Jalen Turner.
Speaker 3:The quarterback Jalen Turner, yeah and extended the plays with his feet when he had to. He also did a good job of taking a couple reads and then hitting the check down, and the running back went for about 40 yards. So all in all, it was a good win, man.
Speaker 1:It was a good game, good win. They had to come back in that game, right? Yeah, I believe the quarterback took him down there with a minute 30 to win the game.
Speaker 2:I like that quarterback. We've gone against both those guys. This year we scrimmaged Big Bear and then we played DHS this year and DHS has some athletes. Man Coach P does a good job.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and shout out to Coach P man All-time victories in DHS history. Man, that's awesome, and he's only been there what four?
Speaker 2:years. Yeah, they love him up there too, because sometimes you know, coaches don't get their appreciation and I just like that DHS is acknowledging the accomplishments that he's doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean that's a great job. I mean, he's been, and you know who he passes on that all-time list Coach Matthews, coach Matthews, another good, good coach. So hey, shout out to the desert, to the desert. Hot springs, eagles man, they're doing their thing. Another win I believe they're three and two now on the season.
Speaker 1:So they're, they're gonna go rolling into league, I think, looking to do some damage in that league. They're ready to go, ready to go um, moving on, uh to the on the wrap-up palm desert 50 redlands, 35 man, that's a barn burner palm 50 points 50 points on the road coach the road coach, that's a pretty good showing. Palm Desert apparently was winning that game and Redlands made a little comeback. But that quarterback from Palm Desert.
Speaker 3:AJ Rivera threw five touchdown passes he throws nice balls man.
Speaker 1:Five touchdown passes.
Speaker 3:They hit the receiver in the hands almost every time. He's a great deep ball. His timing's nice. They're throwing a ton of wide receiver screens, man, I love it. That's my favorite play.
Speaker 1:Jonah Tolan is one of their main receivers.
Speaker 3:He's doing a good job.
Speaker 1:Coach, I'm sure you're going to be watching a lot of football. Yeah, I know, jonah.
Speaker 2:I've been coaching Jonah since he was a little dude. I remember Jonah being like probably what. I've been out here nine years now. Jonah's probably 17. So Jonah's probably eight years old on the bus with us at Xavier's. Dad was at Xavier's, so I know Jonah very well. He's part of our Desert Football Academy family. We know what he can do.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you're going to have to prepare for him next year. I'll be up all night, jonah, so we're going to figure it out. Offense coming in hot Trey Bolton also had a bunch of catches, so Palm Desert's offense a team that's known for defense really got after it offensively, went on the road, scored 50 points. I know the coach wasn't happy with some of their back-end play on the defense.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they gave up 35.
Speaker 1:I'm sure in the bye week they're going to get that together and you're going to see how much improvement.
Speaker 3:Sometimes it's injuries. We don't know. We're coaches on the outside there could be some injuries here and there.
Speaker 1:But shout out to Palm Desert man Tough league schedule 3-2. Now the real season begins in two weeks, so we're real excited about that. Moving on Shadow Hills goes out on the road man to Patriot Patriot 52, shadow Hills 51-2 in double overtime 100 points scored in the game.
Speaker 2:Is that a way to lose man? Man, yeah, shadow Hills, they have a good offense man. Coach Denise Armando, the run and shoot. You know they got a little.
Speaker 1:Pedro did a great job last year, so I mean the new quarterback obviously knows what he's doing 50 points to score in a high school game is yeah, he's putting up some numbers. I don't care who you're playing. That's a lot of points, so.
Speaker 2:I like the receivers as well. They made some plays against us last year, so that's another tough team.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so apparently this game was just a barn burner and the kicker for Shadow Hill got hurt. Oh wow, so that's why they missed the extra point and that's why they lost in overtime, because they were just lighting up Patriot. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I wouldn't bear to sleep I mean, I'm a defensive guy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's horrible Coach.
Speaker 2:Nick Exales, we probably I can't even say it on air, but if we give up 50, we'll hmm yeah, we wouldn't like that. Their offense was humming, but their offense can go their offense was humming.
Speaker 1:They've got some real weapons over there. Shaheem the receiver out there, reef Brandon Peppers.
Speaker 2:They got some guys.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they got some real good offensive players on Shadow Hills. So that's another team 3-2,. Going to be another tough out in the league. I'm telling you, Coach, I'm glad I don't have to prepare for these teams in the league you got some offenses that you're going to have to deal with.
Speaker 1:As a defensive guy, I do. But shout out to Shadow Hills, they'll be ready for it. I think they're on a bye this week as well and they'll be ready for that. Del opener opener, uh. Moving on to another game, on friday night, rancho mirage is at home 35, europa hills 29. So here's a another perennial del power. Yeah, they come home, play a pretty decent jerupa hills squad who's not great on record, but apparently they had some talent. Yeah, and uh, rancho mirage got out pretty early on them and uh kind of held on to the end. I know uh, coach matthews wasn't happy about the defensive performance, as it seems to be a theme this week. But Ratchet and Mirage man, so many weapons, right, coach?
Speaker 2:Yeah, julian is great. You know he's a good dual threat quarterback. And then it starts with Jeremiah. I mean, like you know they go as he goes. You know he's a four-year starter, jeremiah, another him, jonah. Jeremiah, another him, jonah. All these guys Trey Bowen, you know we've had, I mean a couple years ago, our DFA team. I mean they were stacked with all these guys and they did well in Vegas. Like these are real guys. And Jeremiah Johnson, he's a Saturday dude and he's hard to stop.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's got a couple offers. Rancho Mara also has a freshman that had a pretty good game and I told you guys.
Speaker 2:Rancho Maras has some freshmen coming up.
Speaker 1:Z'darrius Z'Darrius has to he's coming next.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like Z'Darrius. He reminds me of Tyson Ruiz Real, shifty, fast, not the biggest guy in the world, big heart, though Great player.
Speaker 1:True freshman making some moves on. So Rancho Maras got a couple freshmen and I think they got more to come, because I know what they got coming up.
Speaker 3:So yeah, they're going to be ready for league too.
Speaker 1:Another team that looks like they're going to be prepped and ready for league. So you know, like I said, del man, del is going to be tough Moving on my Indio Rajas man.
Speaker 2:This is my game, Maybe the cleanest jerseys in the Valley this week. I mean, I like our jerseys, but man, those white ones they came out with last week.
Speaker 1:Cool, yeah, yeah, Crispy, hey. So there's no secret. I'm an old Indio guy. You know, I graduated in the 90s from Indio. Indio gets a victory at home against San Diego in 27-16, and they had to come back to do it. Man, Shout out to the Rajas man, they started pretty rough. I mean, it was a little force. You know, Coach, when you start slow, it's kind of hard to get those kids going in practice and get them up for the next game. But shout out to that coaching staff man, they got out there and they went out and got that victory. Man, they were down again and come back. I guess this kid Damian DeRenzi.
Speaker 3:He went off for three touchdowns that old track guy.
Speaker 1:So he went off and he scored three touchdowns. So shout out to the Rodgers man Get in the win column. And now we're kind of trending in the right direction, especially in those white jerseys. Don't lose them.
Speaker 3:Those things are fire.
Speaker 2:I don't know if Coach Lueber bought those or what, but those things are icy.
Speaker 1:Hey, Coach likes those jerseys, so hey, shout out to the Rodgers. Getting in the win column for this week man, Keep doing it, Keep doing it. Man Moving for Arroyo Valley 43, Cathedral City 8. So Arroyo Valley was an undefeated team coming in to Cat City. Talking to the guys at Cat City last week they kind of knew that they had their hands full with this Arroyo Valley team, much improved. And Cat City, you know, I think they're just one of those teams just trying to get to league, Coach Lee trying to get to league.
Speaker 2:I'll tell you what that line though Cat City's offensive line is really good, really good. Yeah, like they are struggling around that, but that offensive line is like they'll be able to run the ball on anybody. They play and the offensive line is tough, I mean anyway. I mean they ran the ball pretty good on us and I like our defense. I mean our defense is for real.
Speaker 1:Yeah, your defense is always tough, but yeah, Cassidy they can keep that crew together in the next two years. No doubt cassidy's coming back, so and that's another, just one of those stories getting ready for league. So shout out to cat city um, moving on, 29 palms goes on the road. Here's a. Here's a pretty surprising score 29 palms, 21 West Valley-Hemet, which traditionally is a pretty tough program 14. So 29 palms won two in a row and they go out and beat a pretty big school out in Hemet. Man, that's a pretty impressive win.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we went against them up in Big Bear as well. They got some tough guys. You know how that goes. Yeah, they all do 29, them guys, their quarterback's tough as nails. I don't know what happened in the beginning of the season, why they started so slow, but shout out to them Good job.
Speaker 3:Sometimes it's just one piece. You got to move around and then it starts to click. It's a really weird spot.
Speaker 1:The Wildcats man won two in a row.
Speaker 2:The DVL is going to be interestingca Yucca, we never know.
Speaker 1:Everybody's trending in the right direction right now. Yeah, so it should be a little bit more interesting. It might not just be CV and Yucca this year. We might actually have a third party coming in.
Speaker 2:Watch out for DHS Surprises man Surprises.
Speaker 1:So moving on, another Friday night game New Bridge 42, desert Chapel 28. Desert Chapel goes on the road and does not get a victory. That's another program that's still building, coming from eight, some young guys. Yeah, they're trying to kind of emulate. They're trying to build that program up and it's going to take some time, but they're improving. The scores are getting better. I know they've got a couple dudes right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they've got the run-and-shoot offense, coach Miller, those die by the run and shoot. The quarterback gets the ball out. They have a great receiver that is really good.
Speaker 3:I haven't seen him play, but I heard he's really nice.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's good, and so they can score yeah.
Speaker 1:And I think another thing is just they've got to get some guys Depth helps A little bit more depth.
Speaker 2:It's hard, man. There's too many high schools in the Valley.
Speaker 3:That's a whole other podcast though.
Speaker 1:But, yeah, shout-out to Desert Chapel. They're trending in the right direction. So we're moving on to Thursday's games, and we had some of our bigger programs play on Thursday. We'll start with LaQuinta versus Linwood. Coach, Josh, you were at this game. Yeah, I got to see the game. You got to see this one.
Speaker 3:I could slice this up a lot of different ways. Linwood just wasn't that good man. They just— A city team.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a city team. They just didn't have the depth A long way to come out here man.
Speaker 3:I counted like 27 guys suited up. When you just don't have the depth. It's tough. Their quarterback was nice, good coaching staff. Schematically they were sound. They just kind of they couldn't really move the ball. And a shout-out to that D-line Alfred Franco was in the backfield all night. They didn't allow any points scored. They ran the ball. Laquinta ran the ball nice. They passed the ball efficiently. So they did what they had to do to get the W and now they're on to the next one, laquinta.
Speaker 2:They're always tough. They're going to be good, they're going to be good.
Speaker 3:We always have good matches Every year it feels like it's like one-yard difference between LaQuinta and Xavier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, it's probably going to be the same. This year. We'd have two league titles if it wasn't for an extra point in overtime.
Speaker 1:I know, I know Game of inches, they're always on you in practice for those little things.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but they got a tough test next week, so they got Central coming up. Yeah, and we'll get to that in the next segment.
Speaker 1:But yeah, la Quinta's 4-0.
Speaker 2:Good job, palm Springs 4-0.
Speaker 1:So we got a couple undefeated teams still in the Valley after four or five weeks. So we'll see next week, though that's when the test is coming, yeah for sure. Thursday game. Okay, so here's one game that we kind of had circled Palm Springs 22, Yucaipa 14. Yucaipa come in here and been beating all our teams.
Speaker 3:About time we get a W.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we needed somebody to take these dudes out. Man, I got a schedule with Yucaipa here soon, in a few years, we'll get them.
Speaker 1:But Palm Springs. There was a rain delay, as we all know, on Thursday and Palm Springs came back and beat them 22. They were down in that game. They came back 22-14. Palm Springs remains undefeated. Bishop Miller man, that guy's got that offense. Humming man, that's going to be another. Yeah, that's what I like about them.
Speaker 2:He's got a lot of poise. A couple years ago they beat us in overtime on the last play of the game too. Same year LaQuinta did. We had a really good team that year, but he's very poised and him as a sophomore Bishop is a good leader man. He dies about that Palm Springs stuff, so you're going to have to drag him off the field to win, so he plays that way.
Speaker 1:That's traditional Palm Springs right there. His dad was a legend, like you, man, one of those guys that got to the next level, no doubt. So, yeah, shout out to the Indians, man. The Indians have another big game from a freshman, another freshman, tank Smith Kalon. Yeah, he's making plays for them too.
Speaker 2:So we got a lot of freshmen in the Valley Coach making an impact. Yeah, a couple of Kalon. I mean he's built that way. You know he's already a thick kid. He's strong, he's been playing high-level Pop Warner growing up. He's also another DFA guy and he travels well.
Speaker 1:He knows, guy, and he travels well, he knows how to play this game. He's ready, yeah, and he made some big plays against a good team already as a freshman. So hey, future's bright man. Desert football, we got, we got a bright future, these young kids coming up, no doubt. Um, lastly, a couple scores here. Desert mirage goes on the road to play a team called mendez from downtown la desert mirage 44, mendez 13. So desert mirage is rolling that, that offense is rolling.
Speaker 1:They love to see it. Uh, om Martinez, one of their backs. He went off again, had about three, four touchdowns. So, desmond Mirage man, they go all the way to downtown LA and get a victory man that's pretty impressive Big offensive line.
Speaker 2:You got that type of offensive line. You can travel. Yeah, I don't know how man seeing them sometimes like dang, where'd he go?
Speaker 3:I'm like I need Lyman. The kids out there, we need Lyman.
Speaker 2:Come on in Xavier man, because you want to play some big-time football. Let's go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but shout out to Desert Mirage man 3-2. So I mean, they're off to a decent start.
Speaker 2:Running that rock. Yeah, running that rock.
Speaker 1:They're going to be somebody to contend with in that league. I'm telling you they run the ball and combination to win games. Lastly, desert christian academy my conquerors 50 california military institute zero game called at halftime.
Speaker 3:So this was at halftime. This was not really a couple.
Speaker 1:This is not really close. Um and dca continues to roll. Man, I know they're not playing powerhouse teams, but a 50 burger at the halftime, coach, that's pretty impressive.
Speaker 2:I got some guys. Man. I like nate. Nate guerrero great player, probably I. He's a freshman but his ball skills he's not running back for them, but he's one of the top receivers out here. Judah, one of the best DBs. You know the Apostles brothers. They got some guys. I think like right now they're just scratching the surface on their potential.
Speaker 1:So we definitely got our eye. Probably, in the next couple of years that'll be a team that we're all contending with. So that's going to do it for the Week 5 wrap-up. We'll be back with a preview for Week 6 right after this message from our sponsors. Looking to upgrade your home? Tile Designs by FINA is your one-stop destination for beautiful flooring, hard surfaces and countertops From timeless design, modern styles. They've got the perfect look for every room. Stop by today and transform your space with tile designs by Bifina. Let's design together.
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Speaker 1:Tired of payroll headaches? Ipay Solutions is your local payroll and HR partner right here in the Coachella Valley. From direct deposits to compliance, we handle the details so you can focus on growing your business. Ipay solutions local, reliable and built for your success. Welcome back everyone to desert valley blitz. This is going to be our week six preview.
Speaker 1:I can't believe we're already into week six it seems like we just started having too much fun, as is way too much fun. But this is a kind of an odd week. A lot of our our teams are on buys getting prepared for that league, so we got a short schedule this week. So what game coach is coach josh's game?
Speaker 3:of the week. I like that yucca dhs game man it's they, they. They used to be in the same league together. They played. They got a lot of history playing each other. Um, it's always a good matchup. Yucca valley's playing good, dhs is playing good, coming off a good w? Um. I think you know you might want to lean towards yucca, but I it's gonna be.
Speaker 1:I don't know I don't count out desert I know they're always, especially when they're they're not playing a powerhouse team. Yeah, they find ways to win. I mean, they found a way to win that big bear game in the last drive.
Speaker 3:Big bear is good good team man that was a good w.
Speaker 1:That was a good and well coached team. They came back, and so I don't. Man, I think that game's a toss-up. Yucca might have a little bit more skill, but, man, I don't think you can count DHS.
Speaker 1:Game of the week right there, so game of the week we're going to have Yucca going or they're going up to Yucca, so Desert Hot Springs on the road. So that might give Yucca a little bit of advantage. But hey, I think that game's a coin flip, so we'll see, but it should be a fun one to watch. Moving on on the preview, week six so LaQuinta, who is the one DEL team that does not have a bye this week? They take their bye in the first week. They're rolling down to El Centro this week. A tough, tough test. I think this might be their hardest preseason game.
Speaker 3:I think this might be their hardest preseason game.
Speaker 1:I think this is going to be their best opponent. What?
Speaker 3:are you foreseeing in this game? It's going to be tough. You've got to take a long bus ride over there. You've got to face off a very good team at their house. Central's been on a tear, I think. They're undefeated right now. Undefeated football team at home. So hey you, you got to lace them up and execute man to win. So I think it's going to be a good game. I'm always going to go for La Quinta, so I'm going to pick them to win, but it's not going to be easy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's going to be a tough test, tough test going on the road. That's a tough place to play. I think we've mentioned that before. Yeah, it was tough when I was a kid and it's, I'm sure it's a good crowd, man, they're really, you know.
Speaker 3:They support behind their team.
Speaker 1:Yeah support their team. So, hey, undefeated team at home. Hey, we're gonna see. Hey, you want something to prepare you for league this is it right here.
Speaker 3:There you go, go down the heavy bat before you go to bat.
Speaker 1:Here you go so hey, they're like he took out their work cut out for him, but they've been playing defense, running the ball yeah, it's going to be a good game.
Speaker 3:I'm excited.
Speaker 1:They should have a chance. They got a puncher's chance, but that's a good football team down there, so we'll see that should be an interesting one to follow. Moving on on the preview, we got Valley View coming into Coachella Valley, so Coachella Valley, ooh, valley View. Valley View is out Moreno Valley. They're usually got some pretty good athletes. They're not the top team in Moreno Valley. They lost to the top team out there by a couple touchdowns, but they always got. It's a big high school.
Speaker 3:Who's the top team out? There, visadalago right now Visadalago. Yeah, we played them last year. They're very good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, visadalago beat Valley View by about two scores, but Coachella Valley hasn't played in two weeks. Their game got canceled. Their game got canceled. They were going to play. They were going to be a little warm up and play all central at home. The rain came and kind of washed the field out, so they should be healthy.
Speaker 1:They should be healthy. They should be healthy, but then you're also dealing with they could be rusty, so you never know. But this seems like a week where Coachella Valley can kind of get back on a roll. Valley View is a 1-3 football team. They should have some athletes. They always do. But I think this is the week that Coachella Valley gets right and Coach Johnson.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, it's winnable.
Speaker 1:Coach Johnson will have them ready. I think they're going to put up a lot of points. I think this is one that Coachella Valley can.
Speaker 3:And they might be bottled up.
Speaker 1:They can't wait to get out on that winning streak before league so that's going to be coming up Friday night, the next one we're going to look at. So, indio, my Rajahs, off of their first victory at home, they're going on the road. Now they got a little tougher test. They're going to West Valley, hemet, which is a pretty traditionally pretty good school, big high school. But 29 Palms beat West Valley last week, yep. So I think the Rajahs got a chance to kind of emulate that. Maybe they seem like they're playing a little bit better.
Speaker 3:They're moving some pieces around a little bit on offense. It sounded like Jake Shipley started calls on defense.
Speaker 1:Yep, so they're doing a little bit more stuff on defense. They got a couple guys, healthy, doing a little bit more stuff on defense.
Speaker 3:I got a couple guys healthy. You're always fine-tuning stuff as the season goes, man.
Speaker 1:Sometimes you find the formula that works yeah so this is one that I think Indio can get. I think it's going to be on the road, It'll be a test, but I think they're trending in the right direction. They can keep that momentum from that second half of this last game. It's all about momentum in the sport, right?
Speaker 2:Coach, yeah, 100%.
Speaker 1:Once you get rolling on the offensive or defensive side. You can kind of carry it week to week.
Speaker 3:Yeah, there's momentum in games and there's a season momentum. That happens Right, it's important.
Speaker 1:So I think the Rajahs, we might be able to get two in a row here. We'll see. I mean, I don't want to jinx them, but I think they've got a Indio man.
Speaker 1:Let's go Rajas man, let's get this dub. Yeah, Moving on San Gorgonio, the team that Indio just beat now is going to go into Cat City and play the Lions. It'll be a good game. It'll be another good game. Cat City, you know, like Coach Doc was saying, will be in here before Cat City's got a pretty good offensive line Got some big boys up there. Yeah, just got to find some skill guys Good running game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, good running game. And San Gregonio is not the biggest team, so the Cats, they're going to have to travel out here again. So let's go, lions man. It's another one. You're at home. I think you got a nice little advantage of them having to travel out here. So, cat City, we got an opportunity to get another win before that league starts.
Speaker 3:Super winnable, let's go Super winnable game.
Speaker 1:Let's go Cat City Lions. Next on the agenda Desert Mirage at 29 palms. There we go. So old rivals from the DVL. They're no longer in the same conference anymore because we have that new Sun Valley League. But Desert Mirage coming off, a 40-point explosion on the road. 29 palms coming off, a win. Who do you think? I think it's going to be a good game.
Speaker 3:That's another coin flip game right 29 Palms, Powerful running game. They're playing good defense.
Speaker 1:I think 29 Palms. Whoever's at home always get a slight advantage just because the other team got to travel and get off that bus 29 has some momentum, like we talked about. It should be a good game man, desert Mirage can run the ball. They got that running back Martinez, who seems to put up some big numbers. He likes that end zone. Yeah, so it's going to be a good game. I think this is a coin flip.
Speaker 3:What are you thinking? I'm leaning a little bit towards Desert Mirage, but barely. I think a coin flip is a good way to put it.
Speaker 1:Whoever, executes and doesn't turn the ball over is going to win. That's why you play the game. That's why you play the game. So another exciting one coming up. And lastly, this is a short you know most DEL teams are not in action this week, resting up. For next week Desert Chapel is going to is having a St Jean team, st Jean Catholic. This team.
Speaker 3:I couldn't even find on Max Prep, so you know they're pretty small.
Speaker 1:Yeah, st Jean Catholic, this team I couldn't even find on Max Prep, so you know they're pretty small. So it might be a good matchup for Desert Chapel to get that first W let's go Desert Chapel. I don't know much about their opponent, but if they're not on Max Prep, they're a pretty small school. So, I'm assuming that this is going to be Desert Chapel all day long. Hopefully Desert Chapel gets on the board with the victory. Yeah, so that's going to do it. We've got a short week this week.
Speaker 3:A lot of teams taking the bye week, a lot of teams taking the bye week trying to get healthy.
Speaker 1:But hey, next week man Next week.
Speaker 2:Next week's going to be it's DEL time.
Speaker 1:So we're going to do a whole show next week just on that preview, okay, cool. So yeah for that. So if you found some value in today's episode, you guys know the routine man like subscribe and follow and we'll see you next time on desert Valley blitz. Thank you.