High school football rankings: Yucca Valley falls from top spot entering Week 3
So, we were dead wrong about our preseason rankings, right?
Well, after two weeks, we're circling back to see just how wrong (or right) we were. Truth be told, in some instances, we were way, way off.
We waited two weeks to release our power rankings 2.0 for the 2023 high school football season for the Coachella Valley because not every team played the first week. Other teams that did play that first week didn't play last week because of a variety of issues in what has quickly become the most bizarre first couple of weeks of a high school football season that we can remember.
Rather than get into that, let's instead dive into what went wrong, what went right and who has impressed us the most over the first couple weeks of the season.
Here's our take:
1. Coachella Valley
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 3
The Arabs’ first game, versus Xavier Prep, was canceled after four drives due to lightning. So, that game doesn’t count. But if you do count the two drives they had versus the Saints, Coachella Valley has scored touchdowns on seven of nine offensive drives this season.
With star running back Aaron Ramirez on the field, the Arabs will be a tough matchup for any valley team. Ramirez ran for 273 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries in last Friday’s 41-21 win over Palo Verde Valley, a team that won a CIF championship last season, and he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The Arabs’ defense shut the Yellow Jackets out in the second half, which is no small feat.
2. Xavier Prep
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 5
The Saints have impressed from the moment they stepped onto the field in their first game, on Aug. 18. They scored a pair of touchdowns in two drives versus Coachella Valley before lightning ended the game. They then went on the road and handily beat a La Salle team 27-6 in Pasadena. In five unofficial quarters of football, Xavier Prep has outscored opponents 41 to 13.
The sole reason the Saints are not ranked higher than Coachella Valley is that the Arabs have beaten what we view to be a tougher opponent. That’s it.
3. La Quinta
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 8
We’ve got some egg on our faces after ranking the Blackhawks eighth to start the season, which looked downright foolish after they throttled Heritage 56-14 on Friday. That La Quinta did it without star running back Aiden Nsubuga, who is nursing an injury, was the real stunner.
Heritage, once a powerhouse in the Menifee Valley, has now been blown out twice in two games, so maybe La Quinta’s win will not look as impressive later in the season. Still, these rankings are all about the first two weeks of the season and perhaps no valley team has a more impressive win so far.
4. Desert Hot Springs
Record: 2-0
Preseason ranking: 10
When was the last time the Golden Eagles have been this high in our rankings? Safe to say it’s been several years. But after two weeks of football, this might even be short-changing what Desert Hot Springs has done.
The Golden Eagles have scored 90 points in two wins, while allowing just 16 points. To put that into context, Desert Hot Springs scored just 108 points all of last season, while allowing 29.1 per game. Quarterback Messiah Smith is the valley’s breakout star of the year so far and his squad looks reborn. Let’s see if the Golden Eagles can keep it up.
5. Yucca Valley
Record: 0-1
Preseason ranking: 1
Let’s be clear: The Trojans fell four spots in these rankings, but not because they lost by three touchdowns to a team that, in our opinion, would have beaten any team in the valley. Rancho Christian narrowly lost to Xavier Prep last year but the Eagles are arguably much better this year, having already beaten a team from Utah that won a state championship last year.
The reason Yucca Valley fell in these rankings is because there were a few concerning things we witnessed in the loss. First, the Trojans don’t seem to have much of a kicking game, which could be critical in close games this season. Second, the offensive line had some early struggles, which meant that quarterback Michael Ramos didn’t have much time to throw. Though the line improved late in last week’s game, it’s a concern that is worth monitoring.
That said, the talent on this Yucca Valley team is still undeniable.
6. Rancho Mirage
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 7
The Rattlers began their season with a quality 28-25 win over Hemet on the road before their second game, versus Aliso Niguel, was canceled. The game was called off because Rancho Mirage had just one day to practice after Tropical Storm Hilary led to school being canceled for three days.
With the one game sample size, there’s a lot to like about this Rattlers squad. They had quality play under center, a strong rushing attack and recorded four quarterback sacks and two turnovers against a team that handled Indio fairly well a week later.
7. Palm Springs
Record: 0-1
Preseason ranking: 2
The Indians, who have high hopes for this season, have had perhaps the most frustrating start of any team in the valley. They lost their season opener at home by one point (22-21) and then had their second game canceled due to the fallout from Tropical Storm Hilary. Brutal.
There’s still a lot to like about Palm Springs, from the strength of the Indians’ offensive line to the quality defense that has been a staple for years at the school. But based on the first two weeks of the season, it’s been a less than ideal start.
8. Shadow Hills
Record: 1-1
Preseason ranking: 4
The reviews have been mixed on the Knights this season. They were not competitive in a 49-6 loss to Norte Vista that had to make folks wonder what happened to a defense that looked so formidable in a season-opening shutout of Indio. Then, with Indio getting blown out against Hemet, it made that 19-0 win over the Rajahs a lot less impressive.
The defense should regroup but consider what the Shadow Hills offense has done in two games: It has scored just three touchdowns in eight quarters. There are numerous excuses for that, of course, but the bottom line is that it should be worrisome.
9. Palm Desert
Record: 0-2
Preseason ranking: 6
The Aztecs may be the only valley team that has already played two high-quality opponents this season. But the fact that they’ve scored just one touchdown in those two games should be a cause for concern.
The dominant offensive line that has been a staple at Palm Desert in recent years does not seem as dominant this year, and the defense isn’t either. The Aztecs still have some playmakers and can certainly turn things around, but after two games it has not been a great start.
10. Cathedral City
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 12
The Lions got off to a solid start this season, outscoring Indian Springs 14-0 before the game was canceled due to lightning.
Cathedral City was on a bye last week but will return this Friday at Pacific in San Bernardino for what will be their first official game of the season.
11. Indio
Record: 0-2
Preseason ranking: 9
The Rajahs were not competitive in either of their first two games this season, which included a 19-0 loss to Shadow Hills and a 38-13 loss to Hemet. This Friday they’ll play in their home opener against Barstow.
We look forward to seeing how Indio responds.
12. Desert Mirage
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 13
The Rams got off to a great start this season with a 24-23 win over Calipatria after a bye week to begin the year. They’ll have a shot to start 2-0 for the first time since 2015 if they can secure a win over Desert Christian Academy on Friday.
13. Desert Christian Academy
Record: 1-1
Preseason rankings: 14
The Conquerors followed up a 26-13 loss to Calipatria with a 14-13 win over California Military Institute. It’s still tough to know just how good this DCA squad is because the competition has not been on the same level as most of the rest of the valley.
14. Twentynine Palms
Record: 0-1
Preseason ranking: 11
The Wildcats lost their lone game of the season 38-0 to Canyon Springs. It’s an indication that this could be a long season in Twentynine Palms.
Next up for the Wildcats is a home game on their new field versus Victor Valley on Friday.
15. Desert Chapel
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 15
The Eagles will open their season Friday against Banning after last week’s game was canceled due to issues related to Tropical Storm Hilary. It will be their first game of 11-man football.
Andrew John covers sports in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This week's schedule
Thursday's games
Valley View at Yucca Valley
Victor Valley at Twentynine Palms
Yucaipa at Shadow Hills
Rancho Verde at La Quinta
Tahquitz at Rancho Mirage
Friday's games
Cathedral City at Pacific
Desert Mirage at Desert Christian Academy
Perris at Desert Hot Springs
San Jacinto Valley Academy at Coachella Valley
Barstow at Indio
Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) at Palm Desert
Palm Springs at Eisenhower
Aquinas at Xavier Prep
Desert Chapel at Banning
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: High school football rankings: Yucca Valley falls, Coachella Valley rises entering Week 3
