La Quinta High School has never been shy about running the football, and while this year the Blackhawks’ offense should be more balanced there’s reason to believe that the run-first mentality will be alive and well.
That’s largely because of the depth La Quinta will have at running back, but also because of senior Colton LaCrone and his ability to pound the ball like perhaps no one else in the Coachella Valley.
LaCrone ran for 568 yards and three touchdowns in five league games last season, averaging 113.6 yards per game. It’s because of his potential for a spectacular encore that he lands at No. 3 on The Desert Sun’s 2026 Elite 11 countdown.
LaCrone, who stands about 5-foot-10 and weighs just shy of 200 pounds, is a bruising tailback who’ll also
help lead the Blackhawks’ defense from the linebacker spot. He was an all-league and All-CIF-SS selection last season in helping La Quita back to the playoffs.
It could be argued that La Quinta will be even better this season, despite some key losses on the roster. The receiving crops appears to be deeper and arguably faster and more talented, collectively, the offensive line looking solid and LaCrone is perhaps the top running back in the valley.
With all of those factors in play, LaCrone could very well push for more than 1,000 yards and a dozen touchdowns. His ability to rush for much more than that is certainly there.
Andrew John covers sports and recreation in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Find him on Instagram at @desertwriter.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: This La Quinta two-way wrecking ball is No. 3 on the 2026 Elite 11
