Desert Valley Blitz

Send us Fan Mail The moment James Dockery says he didn’t play tackle until eighth grade, you can feel the room lean forward. From Pomona grit to Oregon State swagger to four-plus years in the NFL, his story is less about luck and more about stacking habits that hold up when the lights get hot. We walk through the mentors who nudged him in, the youth coach who bought the cleats, and the way basketb...

Send us Fan Mail A packed rivalry game. A struggling program. And a coach who saw both a problem and a blueprint. Coach Bill Johnson of Coachella Valley High School joins us to unpack how a valley-famous turnaround actually happened: a modern offense that matched the school’s athletes, practices designed down to the minute, and an academic backbone that kept classes together long enough to lead. W...

Send us Fan Mail What if a high school football program could change the trajectory of an entire valley? Coach Chris Johnson joins us to share how he went from Southeast San Diego to the NFL and into a purpose-driven head coaching role at DCA, where “bigger than football” is more than a motto—it’s the operating system. He opens up about meeting his father late, losing his mother, walking on at San...

Send us Fan Mail What if a dynasty could be built on just four core plays, ruthless clarity, and seniors who policed the locker room better than any staff meeting? Coach Dan Armstrong joins us to unpack how he turned programs with no field, no seniors, and no tradition into league champions and back‑to‑back CIF winners. We dig into the moment a reluctant assistant became a lifer, the trial by fire...

Send us Fan Mail Three semifinal dreams, one unforgettable season. We dig into a valley-wide playoff push that showcased grit, growth, and the thin margins that decide November football. Palm Springs’ trip to Barstow set the tone: a 7–0 jump, a missed chance to make it 14–0, and a second quarter where Barstow’s 4–3 front suffocated runs and flipped momentum for good. Sloppy rain and a chewed-up fi...

Send us Fan Mail The valley got loud. A nail-biter in Palm Springs, a weather fight for Palm Desert, and a six-touchdown statement from Coachella Valley turned Week 13 into a showcase of late-season nerve and clean coaching. We felt the season tighten—the quieter practices, the colder air—and then watched three programs punch through with poise. We start with Palm Springs vs Hart, a true playoff c...

Send us Fan Mail A halftime gamble changed everything. From Banning’s aerial clinic to Coachella Valley’s three-safety adjustment that flipped the night, we watched a playoff slate where courage, timing, and one or two swing plays separated joy from heartbreak. Five desert programs are still alive, and the road ahead is loaded with long bus rides, tough draws, and real chances to crash the semifin...

Send us Fan Mail The valley just punched eight tickets to CIF, and the storylines are electric. We open with a clean Week 11 wrap-up—Palm Desert’s trench clinic in the flag game, Palm Springs grinding through a real test, Shadow Hills flexing on defense—then pivot straight into a layered playoff preview you can use on Friday night. KESQ’s Kenji Eto joins us with grounded scouting, real numbers, an...

Send us Fan Mail Rivalry week is here, and the valley is buzzing. A single upset lit the fuse: Palm Desert stunned previously unbeaten Palm Springs with a ruthless first half, then survived a furious rally thanks to red‑zone grit and a game‑saving interception. That pivot didn’t just change a scoreline—it scrambled the DEL, turned tiebreakers into a maze, and set up a finale where a team could cre...

Send us Fan Mail A shutout says a lot, but the story behind it says more. We sat down with Palm Springs head coach Daryl Gore to unpack how an 8-0 start took shape: a midseason defensive switch his staff sold, players embraced, and opponents now struggle to solve. Coach Gore explains why keeping the run game simple for linemen while changing the presentation for defenses has unlocked long drives,...

Send us Fan Mail Defense changed the temperature of the valley. We open with Coach Rudy Forti of Palm Desert, who pulls back the curtain on a brutal preseason, the realities of depth, and how a disciplined front seven can flip a game before the offense even settles in. From the wind-whipped nights that taught them to grind, to a statement win over Rancho Mirage keyed by turnovers and trench domina...

Send us Fan Mail A four-and-two surge meets an undefeated buzzsaw, and suddenly the Desert Empire League feels like a bracket before the bracket. We sit down with Shadow Hills head coach David Palmer to unpack how a four-deep receiver room, a flexible QB plan, and a timely shift to a 3-3-5 defense flipped their Rancho Mirage matchup and set the stage for a heavyweight trip to Palm Springs. If you...

Send us Fan Mail The valley finally gets what it’s been waiting for: league games that feel like November in late September. We start by rewinding a wild week six—Yucca Valley pulling away late behind Aiden Shannon and Clyde King, La Quinta clawing back from 22-0 only to fall in OT, Coachella Valley learning through a one-score loss, and Cathedral City winning hearts with a throwback T formation a...

Send us Fan Mail Coach James "Doc" Dockery of Xavier Prep joins Desert Valley Blitz to break down his team's impressive 4-1 start and analyze Week 5's most thrilling matchups across the Coachella Valley. Despite Xavier's winning record, Dockery reveals the high standards driving his program: "It feels like 1-4 in our locker room because our standards are high." H...

Send us Fan Mail The real season begins when league play starts—everything else is just preparation. This week's episode features special guest Coach Bill Johnson of Coachella Valley High School, who brings his championship experience to break down Week 4 action across the desert. As a four-time DVL champion coach, Johnson offers unique insights into program building, explaining how CV's...

Send us Fan Mail The quarterback position takes center stage in this week's Desert Valley Blitz as we welcome DCA head coach Chris Johnson to break down his team's perfect 3-0 start and analyze the offensive explosions happening across Coachella Valley football. Coach Johnson reveals how his program's integrated youth football system is already paying dividends, with freshmen steppi...

Send us Fan Mail Friday nights in the desert are back in full swing, and Week Two delivered the drama, surprises, and statement performances that make high school football so compelling. The early-season storyline emerging across the Coachella Valley is clear – the Desert Empire League is shaping up to be an absolute bloodbath this season. Every DEL team is showing strength, with Rancho Mirage, Xa...

Send us Fan Mail Football season has arrived in the Coachella Valley, and Desert Valley Blitz delivers a comprehensive breakdown of all the opening week action across local high schools.  The Desert Empire League flexed its collective muscle with Shadow Hills dominating the Mayor's Cup against Indio, Palm Desert looking sharp in their victory over Brawley, and Xavier Prep cruising to a convin...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what football looks like through a coach's eyes? Desert Valley Blitz hosts Coach Bobby and Coach Josh pull back the curtain on their decades of coaching experience in the Coachella Valley, revealing how the game transforms when you're calling the plays instead of making them. From their humble beginnings as young coaches (Josh was just 20 when he joined La...

Send us Fan Mail The heartbeat of Coachella Valley football now has a voice! Desert Valley Blitz launches with coaches Bobby and Josh at the helm, creating a much-needed spotlight for the incredible football talent across our region. For years, these veteran coaches have witnessed outstanding athletes and innovative coaching strategies go unrecognized – they're changing that narrative with th...