Preview: Desert schools plan to bring the heat in 2025 high school football season

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune is previewing the CIF San Diego Section’s football teams, conference by conference, as we build up to the start of the 2025 season. High school football games begin Aug. 21.

Southeastern Conference

Imperial Valley League

Brawley

Last season: 9-2

Coach: Bert Esposito, first year

Key players: Connor Chalupnik (OL-LB), Jack Fischer (OL-DL), Khris Espinoza (OL-DL), Jared Gutierrez (RB-LB), Aiden Arriquive (RB-LB), Kevin Valenzuela (Ath), Seth Hopkins (WR-DB), Jake Padilla (OL-LB), Diego Sandoval (PK), Benjamin Limentang (WR-DB).

Scouting report: Esposito, who spent five years at Temecula Valley after heading up the Paloma Valley program for three years, takes the reins of the always tough Wildcats. His first job is finding replacements for quarterback Mario Gutierrez and running back Matthew Moreno. Just three starters return. The offensive line is the strength: Chalupnik, Fischer, Espinoza and Padilla return and will be joined by 330-pound Omar Cueva, Jared Lopez and Ezekiel Ruiz. RJ Rebollar and Josh Vizcarra are in the mix at tight end. Johnathan Piseno, Arriquive and Gutierrez are manning the RB spots. while Hopkins and Limentang join four versatile juniors and sophomores at receiver.

Calexico

Last season: 6-5

Coach: Fernando Solano, second year

Key players: Israel Ruiz (QB), Leonel Canchola (RB-LB), Joshua Ramirez (WR-DB), Aaron Valez (WR-DB), Chris Nunez (OL-DL), Andre Lopez (RB-LB), Jose Fernandez (RB-DE), Eduardo Carzares (OL-DL), Dominic Flores (WR-DB), Ivan Ortiz (RB-LB).

Scouting report: Look for the Bulldogs to come out running the ball behind Fernandez and Lopez, who combined to rush for more than 1,000 yards and score 13 touchdowns a year ago. Calexico loses 25 players to graduation, and is especially hard-hit on the O-line. Nunez and Carzares return. Canchola and Lopez head up the linebackers, with two-way performers Ramirez, Valdez and Flores available. Depth would appear to be the biggest concern, especially up front.

Central

Last season: 8-4

Coach: David Pena, eighth year

Key players: Matthew Lizaola (RB-LB), Joshua Garcia (WR-DB), Emiliano Morales (WR-DB), Christopher Alvarez (LB), CJ Acosta (WR-DB), Luis Jimenez (QB), Ryan Smith (OL-DL), Isaiah Aguirre (OL-DL), Mason Nava (OL-DL), Nicholas Valadez (OL-DL), Sergio Perez (OL-DL), Angel Vasquez (WR).

Scouting report: Although 32 players have moved on, the Spartans aren’t exactly rebuilding. Jimenez returns after throwing for 1,177 yards and 15 TDs a year ago. The biggest loss is Nico Viesca, who rushed for 899 yards and 15 TDs; expect Lizaola to take over alongside newcomers Junior Camarena and Eric Morales. Veterans Smith, Aguirre, Nava, Valadez and Perez will be joined by sophomore Anthony Rodriguez up front. The defense is stout, with college prospects Morales, Garcia and Acosta manning the backfield behind veteran linebackers Lizaola and Alvarez.

Holtville

Last season: 10-1

Coach: Jason Turner, seventh year

Key players: Alonso Cuevas (QB), Enrique Armas (RB), Francisco Barcelo (DE), Bradyn Terrill (TE), Santiago Cerezo (DB), Alan Carrillo (WR), Ian Suarez (OL-DL), Abraham Apodaca (OL-DL), Asael Miranda (WR-DB), Marcos Garcia (DB), Jackson Irungaray (DB), Fernando Yuren (DL).

Scouting report: A 10-6 loss to St. Augustine in the first round of the playoffs took some of the shine off the 10-0 regular season. But with 14 starters returning, the Vikings should be able to weather losing 19 seniors. Armas rushed for 1,309 yards and 21 TDs a year ago; he’ll be joined by Andre Gonzalez. Cuevas is back at QB after throwing for 968 yards and 14 TDs in 2024. Carrillo is the top returning receiver, while Terrill and newcomer Kai Gonzalez are expected to be in the mix at tight end. Suarez and Apodaca anchor both lines. Yorem and all-league defensive end Barcelo bolster Suarez and Apodaca on defense, while Cereno, Irungaray and Garcia are returning starters at DB. There is a lot of talent and experience returning, but the search is on for linebackers.

Imperial

Last season: 9-2

Coach: David Shaw, fifth year

Key players: Gio Robles (WR), Sammy Ruvalcaba (LB), Deren Hueso (RB), Adrian Cortez (LB), Jordan Malek (OL-DL), Anthony Hellum (WR-DB), Levi Mincher (OL-DL), TJ Ruiz (WR-LB), Noah Larios (OL-DL), Kenny Tirado (DB) Ezrah Favela (OL-DL), Mario Gaxiola (WR-DB), Jacob Lee (LB).

Scouting report: With 11 starters returning, Imperial could make a run at the IVL title. The graduation of QB Jayden Ayala leaves a big hole as he passed for 1,663 yards and 25 TDs last season. Sophomore Santonio Urena appears to be the heir at QB, with experienced Hueso and newcomer Jerrell Walker ready to roll from the running back spot. Robles, Hellum, Gaxiola and Ruiz plus sophomore Danny Alcala figure to have a lot more opportunity to catch passes. The returning OL is a running back’s dream: All-leaguers Larios (265 pounds) and Malek (295 pounds) are joined by starters Mincher and Favela. Ruiz and Lee will start at linebacker, where they’ll be bolstered by sophomores Gianni Robles and Ernie Vargas.

Desert League

Calipatria

Last season: 9-2

Coach: Rick Stewart, first year

Key players: Ozzy Lopez (RB-LB), Sebastyn Lopez (RB-LB), Craven Vogt (TE-DE), Jordan Hickenbottom (OL-DL), Daniel Alcala (QB), Jaeden Espinoza (RB-CB), Drew Saiza (RB-DB), Gabe Cabrera (OL), Jose Valenzuela (OL), Toni Martinez (OL).

Scouting report: With only three starters returning, Stewart will need to scramble at the beginning of the season. Alcala has the edge at QB, but the graduation of running backs Dominic Hawk (1,429 yards, 26 TDs), Juan Perez (592 yards) and Jordan Potter (411 yards) means the Hornets will be leaning on the two Lopezes and newcomers like Espinoza, Saiza and Rhiann Potter. All-leaguer Vogt returns at tight end and defensive end. Hickenbottom, Cabrera, Martinez and Jose Valenzuela bring some size up front. Ozzy and Sebastyn Lopez earned all-league honors on defense; they’ll be joined at linebacker by Isaac Uribe, Potter and Robby Valenzuela. Versatile Jesus Alfaro will see plenty of action on both lines.

Palo Verde Valley

Last season: 2-8

Coach: Wally Grant, 15th year

Key players: Kenneth Salazar (RB-LB), Darion Scott (RB-DB), Darius Scott (RB-DB), Antonio Barron (OL-DL), Christian Richards (RB-LB), Andrew Mojica (OL-DL), Carlos Arevalo (OL-DL), Jose Arevalo (OL-DL), Zarious Cano (RB-LB), Skipper Rangel (QB-DB), Michael Ramirez (RB-LB).

Scouting report: PVV returns 14 starters. Five players are looking to fill the running back spots, led by powerful all-leaguers Salazar (74 carries, 646 yards in 2024) and the speedy Richards (107 carries, 543 yards in ’24). Ramirez and Cano will play running back and linebacker. Twins Darius and Darion Scott were two of three players to catch passes a year ago, so expect them to add to their numbers with Skipper Rangel moving in at QB. Barron, Mojica and the Arevalo twins anchor the line. Scott and Rangel are two-way players as DBs.

Southwest-El Centro

Last season: 0-10

Coach: Bo Seibel, first year

Key players: Max Martinez (OL-DL), Joshua Ibarra (WR-DB), Damian Cordero (TE-DE), Jaden Real (OL-DL), Vicente Valenzuela (OL-DL), Joe Johnston (WR-DB), Leo Vasquez (W-DB), Abe Moreno (RB-LB), Adrian Jauregui (RB-LB), Daniel Dimas (RB-LB).

Scouting report: The Eagles have lost 18 straight games. The team scored just 30 points in 10 games a year ago, being blanked seven times. The search is on for a QB, but there is no shortage of running back candidates with Moreno, Jauregui and Dimas. Nearly every player is listed as a two-way performer. Both lines should be stronger with Martinez, Real and Valenzuela.

Vincent Memorial

Last season: 6-5

Coach: David Wong, 10th year

Key players: Manuel Quintero (OL), Alvaro Pereira (DB), Claudio Martinez (OL), Ricardo Vizcarro (WR), Edwardo Lavalle (OL), Patricio Carranza (QB), Gael Santillan (DL), Sebastian Jaime (DB), Erick Munoz (LB), Juan Pablo Rivera (LB), Victor DeLeon (RB), Jose Luis Wong (DE).

Scouting report: Carranza supplies veteran leadership at QB, where he completed 77 of 152 passes for 1,144 yards and 13 TDs a year ago. Newcomer Gael Cervantes backs up Carranza. Vizcarra returns after grabbing 15 passes for 288 yards a year ago, and junior Andre Longoria steps in to provide depth. DeLeon was the Scots’ leading rusher with 456 yards on 97 carries a year ago. The O-line is loaded, with all-leaguer Quintero joining the 6-foot-4, 280-pound Martinez and Lavalle up front. Manuel Talavera moves right in at tight end. Santillan returns at defensive tackle and Wong is a familiar sight at defensive end. Munoz and Rivera return at linebacker. Veteran safety Pereira and newcomers Luciano Ortega and Axel Cervantes make up the defensive backfield.

STEVE BRAND