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Palm Desert (CA)


GENERAL
Nickname: Aztecs
Colors: Red/Gold
Coach: Pat Blackburn
League: Desert Valley
Section: Southern
Playoff Division: Eastern (VIII)
Playoff Division Rank: #2
CA Bowl Division: South 2 (not yet official)
CA Bowl Division Rank: #22

RETURNERS
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Defensive Starters: 5
2007 JV Record: 8-2
Starting Quarterback Returning: yes
Top Running Back Returning: yes

RATINGS
2007 Final Power Rating: 30.2
2007 National Rank: #1423
2007 State Rank: #123
Off-Season Rating Adjustment: +5
2008 Starting Power Rating: 35.2
2008 National Rank: #824
2008 State Rank: #83
Dynasty Rating (Average 2003-2007 Rating): 20.5
Dynasty National Rank: #1856
2008 Rating vs. Dynasty Rating Comparison: better by 14.7
Dynasty Record: 46-17 (21-5 in league)

HISTORICAL
2007 Overall Record: 10-4
2007 League Record/Finish: 4-1 (2nd)
2007 Points For Average: 33.7
2007 Points Against Average: 18.4
2007 Differential: +15.3
2007 Wins: #1329 Serrano (Phelan) (47-21), #3055 Palm Springs (38-7), #3055 Palm Springs (19-7), #4382 Arlington (Riverside) (26-21), #4970 Sultana (Hesperia) (36-22), #6306 Indio (30-6), #6990 Hemet (28-9), #7513 Cathedral City (41-0), #11769 Ramona (Riverside) (60-6), #12134 Coachella Valley (Thermal) (58-0)
2007 Losses: #261 North (Riverside) (67-35), #655 Spring Lake Park (MN) (42-22), #1329 Serrano (Phelan) (27-12), #2074 La Quinta (23-20)
2007 Opponents W-L: 86-69
Recent League Championships: 2005
Winning Streak Entering 2008 Season: none

SCHEDULE
2008 Schedule: 9/5 at Moreno Valley, 9/12 at Sultana (Hesperia), 9/19 at King (Riverside), 9/26 Silverado (Victorville), 10/3 Hemet, 10/17 at Indio, 10/24 Coachella Valley (Thermal), 10/31 at Cathedral City, 11/7 Palm Springs, 11/14 La Quinta
Highest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: La Quinta (32.1), Moreno Valley (31.2), King (Riverside) (23.7)
Lowest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: Coachella Valley (Thermal) (-17.8), Cathedral City (-5.9), Indio (6.6)
2007 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 9.2 (18.3 overall)
2008 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 12.2
2008 vs. 2007 Schedule Strength Comparison: +3
2008 Projected Regular Season Record: 9-1
2008 Projected League Finish: 1st
2008 Undefeated Regular Season Probability: 27%
Opener: 9/5 at Moreno Valley [projection: 28-27 win]



Outlook: Palm Desert High School had what most might consider to be a fairly good regular season, but their post-season was spectacular, making it all the way to the Eastern Division finals of the Southern Section. The Aztecs had a pretty powerful offense last year, and the leaders of that unit return (QB Ryne Clark and RB Trevor Bateman). Coach Blackburn expects a few athletic juniors will be making some nice contributions as well. What concerns the coach, however, is having to replace his entire linebacking crew, although he feels he has some athletic players, such as Mike Salas, in line to step into those roles. Also note worthy is that the team who defeated Palm Desert in the finals has moved into another division. Could that open the way for the 'Devils?