Desert Valley Blitz

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Preseason rankings are supposed to be fun until they’re your team. We bring Desert Sun high school football writer Andrew John into the Desert Valley Blitz studio to explain what fans rarely see: how a list like the Elite 11 is actually built, why it starts months before kickoff, and how coaches’ feedback, returning production, and role changes can matter as much as last season’s stats. If you’ve ever complained about a snub, you’ll understand the process a lot better by the end. 

We also revisit the Desert Sun top 100 players of the last 25 years and break down the real criteria behind those placements. Andrew explains how archive research, old all-league and all-Desert Sun teams, and conversations with coaches across eras shaped the final list. The conversation gets honest about why college success doesn’t automatically equal high school dominance, and why two-way stars, multi-year starters, and CIF championship impact can separate players who look identical on paper. 

Then it’s full Coachella Valley football preview mode. We talk about the new super league format, why competitive equity and relegation pressure could raise the week-to-week intensity, and the scheduling complications coaches are already thinking about. From there we run through MaxPreps preseason rankings in the Desert Empire League, the big “reload vs rebuild” questions for Palm Springs and Palm Desert, what La Quinta needs to stay in the hunt, and how new head coaches at Xavier Prep and Shadow Hills change the ceiling. We wrap with Desert Christian Academy’s outlook and a week zero slate that includes Palm Springs at Hemet, Palm Desert at Brawley, Xavier at Rim of the World, and Rancho Mirage at Yucca Valley. 

If you like smart local football talk, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more Coachella Valley sports fans can find us.

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One bad social media post can cost a scholarship, and Devin Jones has seen it happen up close. Devin is a former LSU player who fought through the undrafted NFL grind with stops at multiple training camps and practice squads, then kept his career alive in arena and semi pro football. Now he’s pouring that hard earned perspective into youth sports training in the Coachella Valley through Empowerment, plus taking on a new challenge on the Shadow Hills coaching staff.

We talk about what athletes rarely hear out loud: football is a business, and being “good” does not guarantee a roster spot. Devin breaks down the mental side of getting cut, how COVID changed his direction, and what it really takes to pivot from athlete to business owner. He shares how Empowerment builds athletes with assessments, safe strength progressions, and clear teaching so players know why they’re doing each drill and how it translates on game day.

Then we get practical for any high school athlete chasing D1 football recruiting. Devin explains how coaches scout today, why your Instagram should look like a clean recruiting profile with your name, class year, GPA, and film link, and how recovery habits like ice baths, sauna, and smarter workload choices can keep you on the field when it matters. We also zoom out on Coachella Valley football, the rising level of competition, and what it means when more trainers and coaches give back.

Subscribe for more Coach’s Corner talks, share this with a parent or athlete who needs it, and leave a review if the message hits. What is one thing you want recruiters to notice first when they find you online?

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One two-point call can change a season, but Coach Roy Provost says the real work happens on ordinary days. We’re joined by the all-time wins leader at Desert Hot Springs High School to talk about how a program once labeled inconsistent turned into a team nobody wants to see late in the fourth quarter. From his beginnings coaching youth football to building DHS into a playoff regular, Coach P lays out the mindset behind standards that stick and players who stay.

We get into the culture details that most people miss: leading with love while still being blunt, creating buy-in so athletes trust the staff, and building a “family” that alumni actually return to. Coach Provost shares the playoff moments fans remember, including the read option and triple option calls that led to huge two-point conversions, and why he’d rather put the game in his players’ hands than wait for overtime. If you care about high school football leadership, program building, and player development in the Coachella Valley, there’s a lot to take from how DHS trains, competes, and responds when games get tight.

The conversation also goes beyond X’s and O’s. Coach P explains why academics and eligibility drive everything, how study table time is built into the day, and why multi-sport athletes often stay healthier and sharper. We talk division movement, scheduling headaches, the CIF playoff algorithm, long road trips, and the mentors who shaped his coaching style. Subscribe, share this with a local football fan, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway from Coach Provost’s approach.

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A head coaching job lands in your lap one week before the season. You’re 25, you’re leading kids who are basically your little brother’s age, and you’re trying to build a winning culture without a feeder program. That’s the reality Coach Jesus “Flip” Philippe shares as we head to the east side of the Coachella Valley to talk Desert Mirage Rams football and the real work behind the record.

We get into how Coach Flip learned the craft from mentors like Coach Sandoval, Coach Perry, and others who modeled energy, accountability, and putting players first. He explains why Desert Mirage is built to run the ball and play physical, how offensive line pride creates an identity, and why you still have to adapt when defenses stack the box. We also talk player development when many athletes are brand new to football, plus what it takes to coach safely, earn parent trust, and keep kids coming out year after year.

Then we zoom out to the big picture: the new league setup, the playoff algorithm, scheduling headaches, and what travel games (including trips to downtown Los Angeles) mean for a program that’s often on the road. If you care about high school football coaching, leadership, and building a program the right way, this conversation delivers.

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An NFL legend walks onto a sunbaked practice field in May and starts talking about discipline, not fame. From the Coachella Showcase 2026, we sit down with Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as he explains why he’s in the Coachella Valley, what he wants kids to learn at a football showcase, and how great coaching turns raw excitement into real growth. 

Marshall breaks down what many fans miss about youth football camps and college football recruiting: skill players always draw eyes, but the big guys drive the game. He shares why the best showcases create drills that develop linemen, how coaches can make trench work competitive and fun, and what “getting coached right” really looks like when a player is brand new to football. If you care about player development, mentorship, and building habits that last, you’ll feel the point of this conversation. 

We also dig into his biggest move yet: becoming the new head coach at Southern University. Marshall talks about choosing an FCS HBCU job for impact, pouring into athletes from communities like his own, and using football as a platform to reach bigger goals in life. Listen through, then subscribe, share this with a coach or parent, and leave a review. What lesson do you wish someone taught you earlier in sports?

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Going 10-0 sounds like the finish line, but Coach Chris Johnson doesn’t talk like a coach who’s satisfied. We sit down with the Desert Christian Academy head man to unpack what an undefeated regular season really means, why the standard is CIF and a state championship, and how a young roster can become a long-term Coachella Valley high school football problem for everyone on the schedule.

We get specific about the work: early-morning weight room sessions, building the run game from the trenches, and creating leaders before the first snap of the fall. Coach Johnson also opens the doors on Saturdays, inviting athletes from any program to come compete, sharpen fundamentals, and raise the level of desert football together.

Then we dig into the hot topic: CIF playoff divisions and algorithm seeding. Coach Johnson shares an old-school take on why principals and athletic directors should have a stronger voice, while still embracing tougher leagues, tougher opponents, and the kind of exposure that helps kids get recruited.

Finally, we break down the Coachella Showcase at DCA on May 1–3: Zybek verified combine testing, classroom-to-field evaluation, pro coaching, a linemen-focused GOAT competition with a championship belt, 7-on-7 action, vendors, sponsorships, and girls flag football added to the weekend. Subscribe, share this with a desert football family, and leave us a review with one question you want answered before kickoff season.

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A CIF championship quarterback becomes a head coach, and the mindset shift is bigger than any playbook. We sit down with Xavier Prep Saints head coach Michael Carls to trace how a lifelong love of football turned into a leadership mission after an injury ended his playing career. He breaks down the addictive part of coaching: building a plan during the week, installing it with precision, then watching it come alive under the lights when your players execute it perfectly. 

From his Palm Springs days, Carls brings a clear standard: league wins matter, but CIF championships define the goal. We talk about how that postseason mentality translates to building Xavier Prep football, including what he wants the program to look like on the field and what he refuses to compromise off it. Carls also digs into offensive philosophy, including run and shoot roots, quick-game timing, and the most important rule of all: adapt the scheme to your quarterback and your roster. If you love the details of high school football strategy, you’ll hear how he teaches “what did you see?” so players understand why a call works, not just what to do. 

We also get real about the modern CIF landscape: new league structures, preseason scheduling, and the playoff algorithm that can reward or punish teams in surprising ways. Carls shares how he thinks about controllables, why staffing is about teaching and mentoring as much as X’s and O’s, and what advice he’d give young coaches trying to break into the profession. If you’re a player, parent, coach, or fan in the Coachella Valley football scene, there’s plenty here on culture building, player development, and college readiness. Subscribe, share the show with a coach or parent who cares, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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A familiar Coachella Valley name is stepping into a brand-new role. We’re joined by Nick King, the newest head coach at Shadow Hills, to unpack the real story behind the headset: how a three-sport standout and former pro baseball player turns experience into a clear, grounded plan for building a high school football program that lasts.

We talk about why he chose coaching through teaching, how relationships drive culture, and what he learned moving from Riverside City College to the University of Georgia and into professional baseball. Then we get into the football details that coaches and fans love: why the trenches decide games, how offensive alignment and formation variety can stress a defense, and why a head coach has to build a system around the kids who actually show up, not a perfect playbook.

We also hit the big-picture topics shaping modern high school football in Desert Valley and beyond: scheduling in the era of the playoff algorithm, whether tough nonleague games help or hurt, and how “just win” simplifies the noise around seeding. Nick closes with advice for the next generation on sacrifice, emotional regulation, and the off-field habits that make on-field success possible.

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You can hear it in Coach LD Matthews’ voice: high school football isn’t just a sport to him, it’s a community engine. We talk about how a kid from rural Montana grows up on Friday night lights, survives a winding college football journey full of injuries, and eventually lands in the Coachella Valley to coach and teach. What starts as a leap with no job lined up turns into two decades of lessons on leadership, toughness, and showing up for people when it’s hard.

We get into what it really takes to build a winning program at Rancho Mirage High School when you’re starting from zero: no traditions, no alumni base, and the daily grind of earning trust. Coach Matthews breaks down the years that led to playoff runs and a CIF championship game appearance, plus the story every local football fan needs to hear, an eight-overtime marathon that tested hydration, focus, and belief. Along the way, we dig into the mentors and community members who shaped him, and why gratitude is a competitive advantage.

If you’re a coach, parent, or athlete, the practical takeaways hit fast: consistency comes from staff alignment, clear standards, and a life-after-football mission. Coach Matthews shares his “E + R = O” approach to adversity, explains how his shotgun and midline identity forces defenses into conflict, and gives an honest look at discipline, competitive equity, playoff algorithms, and scheduling strategy in today’s data-driven high school football landscape. We also shout out the Rancho Mirage football golf tournament fundraiser and how to support the program at rmhs.psusd.us/football.

Subscribe for more Coachella Valley football conversations, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway from Coach Matthews’ mindset.

RMHS Football Golf Fundraiser Info:

https://rmhs.psusd.us/athletics/sport-by-sport/football/football-fundraising

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What does it take to turn a high school program into a perennial contender without chasing trends or making excuses? We invited Coach Pat Blackburn—the godfather of Palm Desert Aztec football—to share the straight story: how mentors at Utah State lit the fuse, why college coaching’s churn sent him back to build at the high school level, and how a simple, relentless philosophy—alignment, technique, effort—became the backbone of 22 seasons of consistency.

We walk through the early Rubidoux years where one formation and two coverages carried a team to 13 straight wins, and we revisit a raw, honest look at Notre Dame’s pressure-cooker—position switches, jammed depth charts, and the reality of fighting for snaps among 130 scholarships. Those lessons became guardrails for leadership: set standards you can see, demand effort you can feel, and earn the right to coach players hard by showing up first and leaving last.

From there, we zoom into Coachella Valley football. Blackburn breaks down the golden era of local semifinal runs, the power of true rivalries, and the sting of quieter bleachers that dull home-field edge. He digs into the widening playoff gap with Orange County programs—where speed at the perimeter and year-round development raise the bar—and explains how to close it with sharper fundamentals, staff alignment, and schemes that match your roster. Then it gets tactical: the shift from I-backs to spread spacing designed to run the ball, deep study of Chris Ault’s pistol, and why two-way toughness still separates great high school teams. Along the way, he spotlights players who never came off the field and assistants who kept the culture tight.

If you’re an aspiring coach, Blackburn lays out a path you can start today: cut your teeth with the freshmen, master film, coach both sides of the ball, keep your word, and protect the program. If you’re a player or parent, you’ll hear how trust, clarity, and accountability turn talent into habits and habits into wins. Subscribe, share with a fellow coach or fan, and leave a review—what’s the one standard you won’t compromise this season?