Xavier Prep sends shocks waves through DEL; DCA star makes unreal play

Well, week 8 of the high school football season was one of the best week's of high school football we've seen in a while. On the same night, we may have had the game of the year, the play of the year and the upset of the year and they came in three different games. La Quinta outlasted Rancho Mirage

What is the story about?

Well, week 8 of the high school football season was one of the best week's of high school football we've seen in a while.

On the same night, we may have had the game of the year, the play of the year and the upset of the year and they came in three different games.

La Quinta outlasted Rancho Mirage in one of the wildest games in recent memory as the lead changed hands six times before the Blackhawks iced it. But that was only part of a wild night.

Here are the five most important things that happened Friday night.

Defense wins championships so don't count out the Saints

Xavier Prep had a tall task. Go down Cook Street to Palm Desert to face their rivals on homecoming night. The Aztecs were playing well and motivated by a frustrating loss to the Saints last year. Not many gave the Saints, who entered the game

with a 2-4 record, much of a chance, but league games are different and Xavier Prep has a defense that travels.

The Saints flummoxed the Aztec offense all night, and found some of their own in the second half, to pull off the low-scoring stunner, 14-3 over Palm Desert. So it's the Saints, not the Aztecs that move to 2-0 in league play. It sent some shockwaves across the DEL landscape, and first-year coach Michael Karls said this one means a lot.

Xavier Prep playesrs arrive on the field before their game at Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert, Calif., Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.

"Our mantra since we've gotten into league is 'Let's go 1-0 every single week' and now to be sitting here at 2-0, that's big for us," Karls said. "We control our own destiny, we have everything in front of us that we've been fighting for since spring time. We want to win league, make the playoffs and make a deep run."

On this night it was the defense that rose up as the front seven controlled the Aztecs running game and the secondary, particularly King Pellum's lockdown cornerback play, frustrated Palm Desert all night.

Joe Mejia had a big night with a game-sealing pick and the touchdown catch that put them up by two scores. Sam Mourhess, playing in his second game, had a great second half again. He ran for a touchdown and hit Mejia for a 25-yarder score on fourth down.

The Saints, 3-4, 2-0 will have another toughie at Rancho Mirage on Friday. Palm Desert 4-3, 1-1 has a quick turn around and will host Shadow Hills on Thursday.

Play of the year turned in by Eusebio Gallo

The undefeated Desert Christian Academy Conquerors hadn't been in a close game all year. But when Linfield Christian scored to tie the game 12-12 with just under two minutes left in the game, the Conquerors faced their first bit of adversity. That lasted one play.

On the ensuing kickoff, Conquerors big-play maestro, Eusebio Gallo let the kickoff go over his head expecting it to go into the end zone, but it checked up and stopped at the 1-yard line. That meant Gallo had to go back and pick it up.

A cleaner view of @EusebioGallo3 big time return for the W@BlakeArthur24 @DesertSunSports pic.twitter.com/bKBfHBUeuq
— DCA Football (@football_dcafb) October 10, 2026

He did and after about two steps, three Linfield Christian players were on him at the 5-yard line, but he wiggled to the right and outflanked them, sidestepped another would-be tackler and then escaped being pushed out of bounds on the right sideline by using his speed to get to the edge at about the 15-yard line. Now he had some green in front of him and he picked up a block and juked back inside at about midfield.

Desert Christian Academy's Eusebio Gallo carries the ball during the first quarter of their game in Bermuda Dunes, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

That's when he started to smile, because it was nothing but open astroturf in front of him. He sped to the left pylon for the score, having crossed the field both horizontally and vertically all in one miraculous run.

Amazing. The Conquerors (7-0) win 19-12. They have now won 17 straight regular season games.

Coachella Valley rolling at the right time

The Arabs were the last desert team to win a game this, but now it seems like they can't lose. The Arabs had a very impressive road win at 5-1 Desert Mirage on Friday, rolling to a 49-18 win over the Rams.

Defense and offense played well for the Arabs. Ivan Garza was back from injury and he threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers, playing just the first half. Angel Diaz added two running scores and the defense, behind the stout D-line play of Chris Hilario and Sebastian Casillas, forced three fumbles.

"Starting to get healthier, playing better, starting to play consistent defense, some young guys getting some experience and we're gelling at the right time," coach Bill Johnson said. "The Desert Valley League is going to be tough, but we're looking forward to the competition."

Coachella Valley head coach Bill Johnson talks to his team during a timeout in the first quarter of the bell game in Thermal, Calif., Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

The Arabs (3-4) begin league play at Desert Hot Springs. Desert Mirage (5-2) suffered a bit of a reality check, but they'll jump right into Sun Valley League play by hosting Indio on Friday.

Don't forget about the Indians

Palm Springs took down Shadow Hills 21-14 on Friday to move to 1-1 in league play following just a one-point loss to Xavier Prep last week, so the Indians should not be counted out of the playoff mix.

Marcus Kennedy and "Tank" Smith each had a rushing touchdown, and QB Devin Session hit Sean Meza for the other score.

The Indians now get their first league home game when they host La Quinta on Friday. Shadow Hills has to turn right around and face Palm Desert on Thursday.

Can anyone in the DVL slow down Banning?

Can anyone anywhere. The Broncos made quick work of Twentynine Palms on Friday night for a 49-20 win. Banning will enter DVL play with a 6-1 record and until someone shows they can handle the prolific Broncos offense, they'd have to be considered the favorite.

But all four DVL teams, especially the offenses, are looking sharp. This will be fun. Banning will begin its quest for a DVL title by hosting Yucca Valley on Friday. Twenynine Palms, meanwhile, is a contender in the Sun Valley League, they visit Cathedral City to open league play.