The Palm Desert High School football team won its third consecutive Desert Empire League title Friday, but one by one, each of the Aztecs said that they have their sights set on a much bigger goal.
“We want to win a ring,” senior running back Simon Gaete said.
Senior linebacker Andrew Gonzalez added: "That's what we want next."
That quest for what would be Palm Desert's first CIF football title will begin Friday at home against Temescal Canyon. The Aztecs (6-4, 5-0 DEL) enter the playoffs on a five-game win streak and as the fifth seed in Division 8.
In addition to Palm Desert, three other area teams will play in the CIF-SS playoffs.
Palm Springs will open with a home game versus Hillcrest in Division 10, Rancho Mirage will play at Norte Vista (Riverside) in Division 10 and Coachella Valley will play at Jurupa Hills (Fontana) in Division 12.
All games are tentatively scheduled for 7:30 p.m., but teams could agree to alter game times this week.
The Aztecs will enter their game as a heavy favorite. Temescal Canyon (3-7) has been outscored 278-159 and has won just one of their last eight games.
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The closest thing to a common opponent is Martin Luther King High School, a team that Temescal Canyon beat, 6-0. Palm Desert did not play King this season, but beat Shadow Hills 50-7 and Shadow Hills beat King, 56-28.
By contrast, Xavier Prep, which played Palm Desert tough before losing 34-20, was left out of the Division 11 playoff bracket despite being ranked in the top 10 poll. The Saints (6-4) beat La Quinta, a Division 9 team, in the regular season finale, in addition to a number of other quality opponents this season, but finished fourth in a six-team DEL.
What's interesting is that Claremont High (3-7) was given an at-large spot despite finishing sixth in their league and losing their last five games by a combined score of 176-85.
Xavier Prep head coach James Dockery said that the CIF-SS playoff formula was not ideal, but he's choosing not to focus on why his Saints were not selected.
"Six and four with our schedule and league is something for my players and staff to be proud of," Dockery said. "We will use this as motivation for our young guys."
Palm Springs returns to the playoffs after missing out last year for the first time since 1999. The Indians (6-4, 4-1 DEL) are the fourth seed in the Division 9 bracket and believe that if they can play up to their capabilities, they can beat anyone in their path to what would be the school's third CIF football title.
"We're excited, first off to be in the playoffs," Palm Springs head coach Dan Murphy said. "Playing at home is huge. Players are excited to watch film, coaches are already scheming, and if we have a good week of practice, we'll absolutely be ready to go."
Palm Springs last won a CIF title five years ago, in 2014, just five years after winning its first.
Rancho Mirage (6-4, 3-2 DEL) last reached a CIF championship game in 2016 and is back in the postseason after missing out last year. The Rattlers will open against the second seed in Division 10, a week after hanging close with Palm Desert.
"It's just great to be back in the playoffs, first of all," Rattlers head coach L.D. Matthews said. "Everybody earned their spot in the playoffs, so it's about who's the best team on that given night. They're going to come to play and we'll have to come to play, too."
Coachella Valley (7-3, 6-1 Desert Valley) versus Jurupa Hills should be a fun matchup. Both teams like to pass the ball and combined have averaged 73.1 points per game.
"It should be a lot of action, that's for sure," Arabs head coach Brett Davis said. "It won't be boring."
CIF playoffs
FOOTBALL
(All games at 7:30 p.m. tentatively)
D8: Temescal Canyon at Palm Desert
D10: Hillcrest at Palm Springs
D10: Rancho Mirage at Norte Vista (Riverside)
D12: Coachella Valley at Jurupa Hills (Fontana)
WATER POLO
(All matches at 5 p.m.)
Tuesday's games
D3: La Quinta at Capistrano Valley
D4: Xavier Prep at Glendora
D5: Palm Springs at Temecula Valley
Thursday's game
D5: Great Oak/Citrus Valley at Palm Desert
Saturday's game
D7: Gahr/San Gorgonio at Rancho Mirage
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Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Coachella Valley make CIF football playoffs - Desert Sun
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