Young but confident, La Quinta football out to prove last year was no fluke

For the La Quinta Blackhawks, the 2022 season was a turnaround year.

After three frustrating seasons without a league win, La Quinta did it all last year: Shared the league title, beat Palm Desert in the Flag Game and won a playoff game.

The goal for the 2023 squad is to keep that positive momentum going. There will be several new faces playing key roles, but that winning spirit is back permeating the program, and that can go a long way to help a young team.

"All that stuff was great, but that was last year," coach Juan Ruiz said. "It was good for our program and our community and a standard was set, but those things happened and they're gone. This group has been working really hard and focused on the process of getting better every day. There's a lot of buy-in with this group."

The Blackhawks are also using the same motivation that worked for last year's team, proving doubters wrong.

Elite 11: Aiden Nsubuga, La Quinta's all-league tailback, is No. 4 on the 2023 countdown

Despite last year's success, the team doesn't feel like people believe they can do it again. But they believe.

"We've been grinding all summer, we're ready to go" said senior tight end/linebacker Mark Levine. "Last year we felt we needed to prove everybody wrong, La Quinta was kind of doubted. And the truth is it kind of seems like the same again this year. We're motivating ourselves off of that."

The offense

One thing the Blackhawks have going for them is a talented returning tailback in Aiden Nsubuga, most would agree the best-returning skill position player in the Desert Empire League. Nsubuga had a huge sophomore season with 1,575 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns with nine 100-yard games. He's back for more this year, and he won't be sharing carries like he did last year.

"I'm definitely stronger both mentally and physically, I was running a little scared at first last year," Nsubuga said. "We have a lot of new faces on offense, but I think we're looking pretty good. We did lose some seniors, but we had a lot of sophomores and juniors on last year's team, too, so we know what it takes and what we are capable of."

One of those new faces in a starting role is quarterback Sean Jones. Jones was the back-up to starter Tommy Ansley last year, and he's ready for his turn at the helm. Coach Ruiz said he has confidence in Jones' ability to lead this team. He knows the offense. He knows the terminology. He's ready to go.

The offensive line will be basically all new, so that's a unit that will need to come together to give the Blackhawks' skill guys time to shine.

The defense

The defense returns players who were pressed into duty last year as sophomores and freshman and learned on the fly. Now they're seasoned veterans and ready to lead the way.

Lorenzo Herrera, a junior linebacker, will be one of the anchors of the defense. And Ruiz also pointed to sophomore Major Hinchen as a talented member of the secondary and a crucial player on that side of the ball. Look for Levine to also play linebacker as well as tight end.

"We've got a lot of young guys that are going to step in, and the truth is I think that's kind of cool because we get to develop these guys and watch them grow," Ruiz said. "The work ethic is there. Hard-working group. I'm excited."

Last year's record: 7-5, 4-1 (advanced to second round of playoffs)

Coach: Juan Ruiz, second year

Coach Ruiz says

The team scrimmaged at Yucca Valley on Friday and Ruiz came away pretty happy: "We did some good things and some not so good things, but more good than bad. It was a chance to see where we are and it looks like we are farther ahead at this point than we were last year. ... We just talk about getting better every day, and this group has really bought into that, and they understand that."

Our prediction

This year's La Quinta team may not have as many household names on it as last year's, but the vibe I'm getting from this group is a positive one. It's possible they may take a few lumps in the non-league schedule as some of these guys get comfortable in their new leading roles, but that happened last year, too.

But by the time the Desert Empire League season rolls around, I don't think anybody will want to be playing these guys. The Blackhawks are as capable as any DEL team of taking home the crown, and if all else fails, they have a bona fide stud to rely on in Nsubuga. The other league teams don't have THAT guy.

Of all the Desert Empire League teams, I'm most fascinated to see what La Quinta grows into this season. They may have doubters, but they've sold me. Sure they're overall youth gives me hesitation, but I believe they can accomplish all of their goals ... again.

Projected regular-season record: 6-4

Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. Reach him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.

The schedule

Aug. 25: at Heritage (Menifee)

Aug. 31 (Thur.): vs. Rancho Verde

Sept. 8: at Sultana

Sept. 15: vs. Southwest El Centro

Sept. 22: at Vista Del Lago

Sept. 29: at Palm Desert

Oct. 6: vs. Palm Springs

Oct. 13: vs. Xavier Prep

Oct. 20: at Rancho Mirage

Oct. 27: vs. Shadow Hills

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: CIF-SS football: Young but confident, La Quinta ready to run it back