Xavier Prep is doing things on defense that have rarely been done in the Coachella Valley
If defense indeed wins championships, consider Xavier Prep a favorite to win a CIF Southern Section title this year.
The Saints, who play at home on Friday against West Covina in the Division 10 semifinals, are playing at a defensive level we’ve rarely seen from any team from the Coachella Valley. It's true. Maybe that sounds like hyperbole, but consider a few things:
First, the Xavier Prep defense has allowed just 17 points in its last three games.
Dig into the archives of high school football in the valley and there are surely some elite teams that have had similar success over a three-game stretch. But to do it over a stretch that includes matchups with an unbeaten league champion (Rancho Mirage) and two playoff opponents is especially unique.
The Saints held the Rattlers' offense, which scored the most points in the Desert Empire League this year, to seven offensive points. They then went out and allowed just three points against La Quinta, the team that scored the second-most points in the DEL, and seven to a Kennedy squad from La Palma that had averaged 27 points in the 11 games prior.
Mix in the fact that the Saints have forced 31 turnovers in 11 games and we're witnessing a defense that we don't see often in the valley.
"Not a lot of valley teams have done what they are doing," said Pat Blackburn, who coached Palm Desert High School for 22 seasons. "They have a shot to win a title with the way their defense is playing right now."
Xavier Prep’s success on the defensive side of the ball starts with head coach James Dockery, who played cornerback in the NFL, facing the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan. Dockery is a known film junkie and he has the players to execute a defensive scheme.
Up front is edge rusher Kyle Hill, a 6-foot-4 senior with multiple Division I scholarship offers, who has recorded 11 sacks this season. Hill, Efrain Contreras and Daniel Shnayder offer size and physicality on the line.
"The defense is stacked with players across the field who make plays," Hill said. "Teams thought they could run that smash-mouth offense to beat us but that didn't work out, obviously."
At linebacker, Jesus Pazos is among the smartest, most physical players in the valley. His 141 tackles leads the Saints. Outside linebacker Canyon Pensis has 94 tackles.
Cornerback Braden Cervello, who has eight interceptions this season, leads a defensive secondary stacked with speed and versatility. Nickelback Tyson Ruiz, safeties Austin McDanel and Alexander Vasquez and cornerback T.J. Bosley have each made game-altering plays at various times this season.
“We have stars at every level,” Dockery said. “That’s the thing. We feel like we have a good scheme and a game plan for every opponent, but the key is the keys going out and executing.”
The Saints have done that all season, even prior to the last three games. After traveling to San Diego and Arizona to face other programs in seven-on-seven during the off-season, Xavier Prep held arguably the most explosive offensive player in the valley, Coachella Valley’s star running back Aaron Ramirez, in check before that season-opening matchup was canceled because of lightning.
The Xavier Prep defense then allowed just 20 points total versus La Salle, Notre Dame and Rancho Christian, and 24 to Aquinas, a Division 5 playoff team.
In the Desert Empire League, the Saints held Shadow Hills to seven points and Palm Desert to six.
The Saints allowed 20 to La Quinta, before holding the Blackhawks to just three points in the first round of the playoffs, and 21 to Palm Springs. But along the way they learned how to slow spread offenses and run-heavy power schemes. They now feel like they've seen it all.
"Everyone keeps writing us off and we keep proving them wrong," Hill said. "And we'll keep proving them wrong until we're finished."
It's a good thing that the Saints' defense has been rocking because the Xavier Prep offense hasn't scored more than 14 points in a single game since Sept. 29. That's six consecutive games.
Dockery insists that the Saints are due for an offensive explosion. He points out that Xavier Prep has the athletic playmakers — with dynamic freshman quarterback King Pellum, Pazos and McDanel in the backfield and Ruiz, Cervello and Bosley at receiver — to light up the scoreboard if an opposing defense is not prepared.
Ruiz believes that the offensive avalanche is finally coming this week.
"I believe that our offense is due for a very explosive game," Ruiz said, "and I do believe this is going to be it."
Whether that indeed comes or not, Dockery and his team can rest well knowing that a nasty Xavier Prep defense will keep the Saints in the game and give them a chance to win and play for a CIF championship.
“They say that defense wins championships," Dockery said. "Let’s see if that’s true.”
Andrew John covers sports in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
Friday's CIF-SS semifinals
(All games at 7 p.m.)
D10: West Covina at Xavier Prep
D12: Coachella Valley at Cerritos (Played at Gahr High School)
D12: Santa Fe at Yucca Valley
D13: Desert Hot Springs at St. Monica
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: If defense wins championships, you have to like Xavier Prep's chances
