Our picks for 10 best high school football games on 2023 schedule
It's human nature for a desert high school football fan to look at the upcoming high school football schedule and see what games fall in the gotta-be-there category.
Sure, there are rivalries and clashes with huge league title implications, but there are some other sneaky good matchups that shouldn't be overlooked.
Here are The Desert Sun's picks for the 10 best games on the high school football schedule, in chronological order. If you're only going to see one or two games this year, make sure these are on your list:
Coachella Valley at Xavier Prep
When: Aug. 18
Why: Don't know how this game came to be on the schedule, but we are loving it. We long to have more Desert Empire League vs. Desert Valley League crossover games, and this one could be fascinating. The Arabs are coming off a title season and return one of the most electric returning players in running back Aaron Ramirez. However, they did lose a lot of seniors. The Saints are looking to rebound from a frustrating 2022 season and could make a pretty loud early statement with a win in this one. It's a first-time meeting, and we hope it becomes a yearly tradition. Great opener.
Indio at Shadow Hills
When: Aug. 18
Why: This year's installment of the Mayor's Cup should be a telling one for both teams. The Knights have a new coach and return some key players who sat out most of last season, so it's tough to tell what kind of chemistry or cohesion they might have early in the season. The Rajahs broke their playoff drought last year and look to build on that. This game has been a nightmare (or Knight-mare) for Indio. A good showing, even in a loss, would add a lot of oomph to the season for an Indio team that I know has this game circled. Last year's game was the closest of the rivalry with Shadow Hills winning 28-13, but the fact remains, in four Mayor's Cups it's Knights 182, Rajahs 13.
Desert Chapel at Desert Christian Academy
When: Sept. 15
Why: Have you heard the news? Desert Chapel has joined the 11-man ranks this season and that means a resurrection of this formerly excellent eight-man rivalry that went away when Desert Christian Academy moved to 11-man in 2018. It will be the first meeting since 2016. Who knows what to expect from the Eagles this year. Traditionally when teams make the leap to 11-man the first year is a tough one. The Conquerors, meanwhile, are quite comfortable as an 11-man team now and though the players may not have a built-in concept of a rivalry with Desert Chapel, maybe some alums hanging around the team will enlighten them.
La Quinta at Palm Desert
When: Sept. 29
Why: It's the Flag Game, and it's back, baby! The 2022 version, La Quinta's stunning 41-34 victory, helped intensify the rivalry that had been dominated in recent years by the Aztecs. The Blackhawks have the Victory Flag hanging in their gym now and Palm Desert wants it back. It's hard to predict where the flag might be after this year's version. Both teams will be relying on new quarterbacks, but if I know anything about new Aztecs coach Rudy Forti, he'll have his team primed for this Desert Empire League opener. Palm Desert regrouped to finish 4-1 and share the league title with the Blackhawks and Palm Springs in 2022. Welcome back, Flag Game! We're expecting another classic.
Coachella Valley at Yucca Valley
When: Oct. 6
Why: It would be almost impossible for this game between these two electric teams in the DVL to be better than last year's version that proved to be for the league title. A classic shootout. Yucca Valley's Michael Ramos threw for four touchdowns, running back Stephon Rogers and receiver Myles Harper both went over 200 yards and the Trojans still lost as Coachella Valley pulled out a 40-39 win behind Ramirez's 253 yards rushing. The Trojans have all their studs back and will likely be the favorites in what will probably be one of the most anticipated games played at the Trojans' relatively new field.
Shadow Hills at Palm Springs
When: Oct. 12 (Thursday)
Why: A little Thursday night special pits two teams with new coaches and new quartetbacks, but also enough talent coming back that this one should have major implications on the Desert Empire League race. The Indians are talented in the trenches and the Knights feature Jermiah Peffers who can be a one-man wrecking crew on defense. The winner of this game will be in good position to compete for a league title, the loser will have an uphill battle. If both sit at 2-0 in league play, this might be the type of game that draws players from other DEL teams to Ralph Watt Stadium.
Indio at Yucca Valley
When: Oct. 13
Why: With coach Daniel Hayes, the Rajahs can officially compete with anybody. Their last two games against Yucca Valley have proven that. Last year, the Trojans did beat Indio 28-23, but the Rajahs were one of only two teams all year to hold Yucca Valley to fewer than 30 points. The year before, Indio snuck out a 16-15 win over the Trojans in Yucca Valley. The Trojans will be coming off their game against Coachella Valley and need to remember not to overlook the Rajahs, who have no plans to stop giving the Trojans fits.
Cathedral City at Desert Hot Springs
When: Oct. 27
Why: It's a fair guess that Yucca Valley, Coachella Valley and Indio will continue to be the top three teams in the Desert Valley League, but who might claim the fourth spot and have a potential claim to a playoff spot. This game could have some intrigue. Desert Hot Springs, with new coach Roy Provost, has some talent returning and some able transfers. The Golden Eagles could be a surprise team this year. The Lions, meanwhile, look to rebound from a frustrating year last season and have talent returning like playmaker Noah Gannon. By the time the final week of the season comes around, this game may have more riding on it than it feels like it will right now.
Coachella Valley at Indio
When: Oct. 27
Why: The Bell Game certainly has been ringing only for one side in recent years as the Arabs have now claimed the bell in 11 straight seasons since the last time the Rajahs won this rivalry in 2011. But last year's game was as close as it's been as the Rajahs defense clamped down on the high-powered Arabs offense, only to let them escape with a 13-10 win. Even with new personnel, you can expect Coach Hayes' defense to be stout after their remarkable five shutouts in seven league games last year. Can the offense do enough to get the beautiful sound of the ringing bell back on Indio's campus? A classic season-ender that will likely have league title and playoff ramifications sounds like a great night to be at Indio High.
Palm Springs at Palm Desert
When: Oct. 27
Why: This game, now thankfully entrenched in the final week of the season, always seems to have league-title and playoff-positioning implications for one if not both teams. A unique twist this year is that both teams have new coaches as Palm Springs' Dan Murphy (retired) and Palm Desert's Shane McComb (new job in Alabama) will no longer be patrolling the sideline. There is no love lost between these two teams and I'm guessing new coaches Darryl Goree and Rudy Forti will keep that charged rivalry afloat. By this time of the year, we'll know a lot more about the two teams and who can be counted on in a huge game like this, but for now, we can just rest assured that this game is waiting for us as the cherry on top of a regular-season sundae.
Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. Reach him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 10 best Palm Springs area high school football games on 2023 schedule
