After 10 weeks of high school football in the Coachella Valley, I can say with some confidence that this is the most important week of the season for at least half of the 14 teams in the valley.
Every team in the area is still technically in the playoff picture, but losses this week will change that for many of the teams. For others, like La Quinta and Desert Christian Academy, there are league title hopes resting on the games they'll be playing this week.
That's why this weeks picks could be the toughest ones yet. In football, or sports in general, I've come to learn that it's not always about who has the best team. In weeks like this, it's often about which teams are more prepared because, really, anything can happen.
So, let's get right to the
picks. Last week, I was 7-1 with my picks and I'm now 68-15 on the season. Sports editor Shad Powers was 5-3 last week and is now 54-29.
We're not exactly seeing eye-to-eye this week, so let's see which one of us has the better week.
Andrew's picks
THURSDAY'S GAME
La Quinta at Xavier Prep: This one is especially interesting because La Quinta can win an outright Desert Empire League title for the first time since 2016 with a win here. Xavier Prep staying in the DEL title picture with a win. It'll be the Saints' stout defense versus the Blackhawks' high-powered offense, and my take is that La Quinta's offensive line will win the battle up front to lead LQ to a comfortable win.
Prediction: La Quinta 28, Xavier Prep 15
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Rancho Mirage at Shadow Hills: Tough to not read into Shadow Hills beating Palm Desert last week, but I like what I've seen from the Rattlers all season and I just think that they're the better overall squad. The big question is, can Shadow Hills repeat what worked so well last week?
Rancho Mirage 33, Shadow Hills 19
Palm Desert at Palm Springs: Here's a rematch of the reigning co-DEL champs. Both teams will be desperate for a win to remain in the postseason hunt. But I think the Aztecs will be especially hungry (maybe even hangry) after how the last two weeks have played out, with losses to Xavier Prep and Shadow Hills. So, I lean that way here.
Palm Desert 24, Palm Springs 20
Cathedral City at Indio: Give me Indio to stay in the Sun Valley League title chase. A win here combined with a Twentynine Palms win clinches a postseason berth for the Rajahs.
Indio 27, Cathedral City 7
Desert Mirage at Twentynine Palms: The Rams need this win to stay in the SVL title chase and perhaps even the postseason hunt. I'm thinking that they'll get it and then have only Cathedral City in the way of a share of a league title.
Desert Mirage 26, Twentynine Palms 19
Banning at Desert Hot Springs: Banning will be desperate coming off a loss to Yucca Valley. But Desert Hot Springs is so balanced and so hungry that I cannot imagine the Golden Eagles collapsing here.
Desert Hot Springs 40, Banning 27
Coachella Valley at Yucca Valley: It's explosive when these two teams play. I think it will be again this year because both teams really need this win to stay in the postseason hunt. The Trojans, however, have looked better recently, winning four consecutive, so my lean is toward Yucca Valley.
Yucca Valley 34, Coachella Valley 28
Desert Christian Academy at Santa Rosa Academy: The Conquerors are two wins from back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons and I think they take another step toward that achievement in this one.
Desert Christian Academy 49, Santa Rosa Academy 20
Andrew's Game of the Week: Banning at Desert Hot Springs. Both teams have just two losses this season. Banning lost by 12 to Redlands East Valley and by seven to Yucca Valley. Desert Hot Springs lost by four to Granite Hills and by six to Rancho Mirage. I think the Golden Eagles' opponents were better and the games were closer.
Banning also hasn't beaten anyone nearly as good as DHS, whereas DHS has already beaten a very good Tahquitz team that is arguably better than Banning. For that reason, among others, I don't see a scenario where Desert Hot Springs loses this game.
Shad's picks
Thursday
- La Quinta 27, Xavier Prep 14
Friday
- Rancho Mirage 28, Shadow Hills 13
- Palm Desert 35, Palm Springs 20
- Indio 30, Cathedral City 14
- Twentynine Palms 33, Desert Mirage 21
- Desert Hot Springs 38, Banning 28
- Yucca Valley 49, Coachella Valley 20
- Desert Christian Academy 49, Santa Rosa Academy 12
Shad's Game of the Week: Twentynine Palms vs. Desert Mirage — This is a pivotal game in the race for a Sun Valley League playoff spot. I feel like its the Wildcats whose star is rising right now, while the Rams are coming off a dispiriting OT loss. I like the Wildcats to win at home and all but guarantee themselves a trip to the postseason.
Andrew John covers sports and recreation in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
Shad Powers is the sports editor at The Desert Sun. Email him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Who we're picking in Week 10 of the high school football season
