If it’s Friday, it’s time for high school football in the desert. Reporter Michelle Mitchell shares the sights, sounds and excitement from Cathedral City High School tonight as the Lions celebrate homecoming and take on Coachella Valley High School.

Game over...a sad loss
October 20, 9:17 p.m.
The Coachella Valley Arabs took a win at the Cathedral City Lion's homecoming game 12 to 17.

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A touchdown to narrow the lead
October 20, 9:04 p.m.
With about 4 minutes left in the game, the Lions score a touch down. They close in on the Arab's 11-point lead -- narrowing it to five. The score is now 12 to 17.

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Go defense!
October 20, 9:04 p.m.
"Make some noise," the announcer says, encouraging the crowd to support the Lions' defense.

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Other candidates happy with the result
October 20, 8:38 p.m.
Although she didn't win, Raquel Leyva, a senior, said she enjoyed her experience as a member of the homecoming court. She didn't expect to make it this far, she said.

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Time to Celebrate
October 20, 8:22 p.m.
"I'm so happy for you," said Laura Yanez's fellow varsity cheerleader. Yanez's friends and family hugged her and cheered once her name was announced.
"The crowd cheering my name-- it was incredible," Yanez said.

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Homecoming queen is announced
October 20, 8:18 p.m.
And the winner is Laura Yanez!

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Move with the rhythm
October 20, 8:08 p.m.
Before the announcements....cheerleaders dance to music.

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Parade awards...
October 20, 8:06 p.m.
The announcements are made for the best floats.
The best depiction of theme: freshman class
Most original float: the senior'sclass
Best of Parade award: senior class

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Candidates walk down a red carpet
October 20, 8:05 p.m.
The queen candidates are escorted by relatives and lead to a small stage placed out in the field.

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Time for halftime
October 20, 8:04 p.m.
Peope clap...it's homecoming "A Desert Celebration -- the Magic of Arabia"

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Homecoming announcements begin....
October 20, 8:02 p.m.
The queen candidates are announced.

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Wanting to punk
October 20, 7:59 p.m.
Asante Perez,14, Valentin Perez, 12, Paulo Castellanos, 15, Shawn Colvin, 15, Cole Colvin, 13, Matt Donahue, 15 and Gregory Juarez, 17 -- all had painted a letter of the word "Lion's" on their chests. They wanted to punk the oppenents' fans, they said.

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Cheer on the nephew
October 20, 7:55 p.m.
Reggie Vorraies, 32, of Desert Hot Springs, is at his first game this season to see his younger cousin, Byron, number 72, play. He's having fun -- even though he says it's hard to see the game. He's there with his three children-- Reggie Jr., 2, Savannah, 6 and Zamira, 7.

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First score on the board
October 20, 7:15 p.m.
Coachella Arabs gain three points and an early lead.

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Go Travis Rivera
October 20, 7:11 p.m.
7:16: Sylvia Rivera cheers from the crowd as she watches her nephew, Travis, quarterback, from the stands.

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We're here to support Yalia Ochoa
October 20, 7:11 p.m.
7:14 p.m.: Jackie Ortiz and Aide Anaya, both Cathedral City High School students, are at the game to support Yalia Ochoa for homecoming queen. The queen will be announced at half time. To support their friend, the two made T-shirts and posters.
Michelle Mitchell

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Arabs gain some momentum early in the game
October 20, 7:08 p.m.
The Coachella Valley Arabs make a run all the way to the Lions 11 yard line.

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Kickoff
October 20, 6:58 p.m.
7:00 -- Arabs take over at about the 20 yardline.

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The Color presentation
October 20, 6:56 p.m.
6:59 -- It's time for the color presenation and the national anthem.

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Arabs run out onto the field
October 20, 6:55 p.m.
6:56 -- The Coachella Valley Arabs are out on the field.

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Lions out on the field
October 20, 6:53 p.m.
The Lions run onto the field as the band plays in the playground.

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6:50
October 20, 6:48 p.m.
6:54 p.m.: The band is playing. The crowd is clapping and cheering, "gold and blue" for the Cathedral City Lions.

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Who Wins toss?
October 20, 6:46 p.m.
The Coachella Valley Arabs win the toss up.

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Flag fans
October 13, 9:49 p.m.
Beverly Romero, 10, comes out to every game and tonight she brought her parents along for the first time.

"It was good," Amy Romero said. "I like watching the football game, and of course watching my daughter perform."

Her daughter, Devin, is in the colorguard.

"To watch my sister cause, like, she's good and I like to practice with her," 10-year-old Beverly Romero said.

Her friend Montgomery Dubina also comes out to watch Beverly's sister, Devin, and to just get out of the house.

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A win!
October 13, 9:47 p.m.
Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles pulled off a homecoming win, defeating Yucca Valley 27 to 8.

My blogging curse has officially been lifted!

Not that I was ever really worried about it...

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true fans
October 13, 9:39 p.m.
Sophomore Tyler Gunderson comes to every football game, home and away, and said that a lot of DHS students go to football games too.

"More people will go to it than any of the other sports," Gunderson said.

He likes to watch the game and hang out with friends.

Gunderson said his favorite part of homecoming is "finding out who's going to be king and queen."

The queen this year was princess every other year, so he wasn't very surprised that she was voted queen.

The race for homecoming king is not as predictable, he said.
"It could be anybody," he said.

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Homecoming, no matter
October 13, 9:34 p.m.
Jacob Armijo, sophomore, plays JV football at DHS.

He goes to every varsity football game "because they're fun to watch."

He said the fact that it's homecoming doesn't affect the way he plays."

"It's the same as ever. We should always play hard," Armijo said.

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Freshmen win!
October 13, 9:31 p.m.
The winners of the homecoming float contest were announced and the freshman class is going home with 1,000 spirit points.

"We were like, are they making a mistake," freshman Jazmine Smith said when she and her friends heard the announcement. "Now it's just like, yes, we won!"

She said the freshmen had some trouble assembling their float because they didn't get the flatbed until last night.;

"We didn't go to bed until 3 a.m.," she said.

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Homecoming queen announced
October 13, 9:20 p.m.
Lupe Ibarra was named the 2006 Desert Hot Springs Homecoming queen.

"We're so proud," her father Ruben Ibarra said afterwards.

"Shes had a lot of good things in her short life," he said. "She has a lot of dreams."

Lupe plays soccer, cross country and track and plans on attending San Diego State next fall, Ruben said.

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Interception
October 13, 8:25 p.m.
The Golden Eagles take advantage of an interception and the score climbs to 20 to zero at the close of the second half.

Victor Limon's son Richard Jurado snagged the interception.

"He's been playing like Troy Polamalu," Limon said.

Limon comes out every Friday for the excitment of the games.

His 9-year-old son, Victor Limon, Jr., stands on the sidelines next to the team.

"He may be a water boy now, but he'll be coming here soon," Limon said.

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Their own stadium
October 13, 8:05 p.m.
Mike Grein, former DHS athletic director brought his two daughters out to watch the game and the homecoming festivities.

"We wanted to come to homecoming, plus they've had a win and they've got a really strong team," Grein said.

When he left DHS five years ago, the school didn't have its own stadium.

"It's nice to be able to sit in the stadium and not borrow somebody's," he said.

Grein is confident that DHS can pull off a win.

"They're a little bit stronger team than YV, but taht could change at half so we'll wait," he said.

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extra credit?
October 13, 7:57 p.m.
DHS teacher and cross country coach Aron Lyons said homecoming is the only football game of the year that he comes to.

"I come to the big game," he said. "I get to see all the former students."

Lyons treated his cross country runners to a pizza dinner after practice ended and then the team came out to the game.

"I think it's a good way to show school spirit," runner Alberto Camacho said about homecoming.

Then he called out to a teacher and asked if he got extra credit for coming to the game.

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12-0
October 13, 7:57 p.m.
As the first quarter winds down, the Golden Eagles are ahead by 12.

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Enter the princess
October 13, 7:51 p.m.
Adriana Reyes was voted the Junior class princess.

"I was very shocked actually," she said. "I wasn't even in the country when they nominated me."

The students vote on a princess from the freshman, sophomore and junior classes, and they ride in convertables in the homecoming parade.

Reyes said being a princess isn't as big of a deal as being named king or queen, but she was happy to win.

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Past royalty returns
October 13, 7:48 p.m.
Joe Rivera and Jeni Perez, last year's homecoming king and queen also returned to be grand marshalls of the homecoming parade and to crown this year's king and queen.

The queen is announced tonight at halftime and the king will be named at tomorrow's homecoming dance, so Rivera and Perez will be at both events.

Perez said she feels nostalgic coming back to her old high school.

"It feels like it's been five years when it's really been five months," she said. Perez now goes to school at San Diego State.

"It is an awesome feeling," said Rivera, who is attending UCSB.

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An early lead
October 13, 7:41 p.m.
With more than 5 minutes left in the first quarter, DHS jumps ahead to a 6 to 0 lead.

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Coming back home
October 13, 7:38 p.m.
Candess Tarrant, who graduated from DHS in 2006, sang the national anthem and the crowd grew practically silent. When she hit the high note, however, the crowed broke out in cheers.

She said it was exciting to come back and sing and see her friends again.

"Being gone for so long and coming back to sing for them, it's great," she said.

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Banner troubles
October 13, 7:34 p.m.
The cheerleaders stood at the front of a tunnel created by band members and opened an orange banner that read "Homecoming, beat the trojans."

Unfortunately the wind got to it before the football players did and parts of the paper banner tore off in their hands.

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Professional decorating
October 13, 7:32 p.m.
DHS is preparing for tomorrow night's homecoming dance, but there are no students hanging balloons and crepe paper.

Art Valle and Ralph Reyna of Just Imagine Decorations were alone in the gym, tying balloon bunches onto centerpieces.

The company created a large sign for each class's theme: Roman for freshmen, Arabian for sophomores, Egyptian for juniors and Medieval Times for seniors.

"The client comes up with the theme...and we produce it," Reyna said.

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Predictions
October 13, 6:27 p.m.
Freshman Josh Cecena plays JV football for DHS, but sat out this game after getting in trouble for fighting.

He still kept an eye on the game and enthusiastically updated the other freshman as they put finishing touches on their float.

"DHS is not going to lose a game ever again," he said.

He said they've been on a role, the players and the coaches are good, so they're going to win tonight.

"I think this game is going to be awesome, phenomenal," he said.

Cecena said homecoming will definately help the team. He and Jazmine Smith agreed that this afternoon's pep rally got people excited for the game.

"All the players are hyped," he said.

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Never before
October 13, 6:23 p.m.
The freshman are still keeping some secrets.

Freshman Jazmine Smith said they have a surprise for the halftime homecoming parade.

"Its the first time any class has done it," she said, but wouldn't give away any clues.

"You'll see it."

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First-timers
October 13, 6:16 p.m.
Some sophomores walked down the street to check out the freshman float.

They are confident that theirs is superior, but they remember making a float for the first time.

"Freshman year was really hectic because we didn't know what to do," Courtney Rogers said.

This year they said they worked well together and had an idea about how much time the creation would really take.

"I think we feel better than they did last year," freshman Taylor Moniz said.

She knows they still have a lot to learn from experience.

"Next year we'll know what to look for," she said.

"We went through thousands of conversations and so much drama," Ulises Alvarez said about the planning process.

"Yeah, it's worth it. It's good to help our freshman class out," he said.

The freshman theme is "Roman Times" and their color is purple.

The float features a coliseum, a gladiator DJ and Caesar.



Desert Hot Springs freshman pose on their float.

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the Arabian float
October 13, 6:10 p.m.


Sophomores add some finishing touches to their float before the homecoming game.

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The sophomore float
October 13, 6:08 p.m.
The sophomores have transformed a wooden trailer into an Arabian scene.

This year's homecoming theme is "Once upon a time," and each class has a sub-theme and a class color to incorporate into their float.

"We wanted our float to be unique," sophomore Adriana Phillips said. Rather than just standing and cheering, the people on their floats choreographed a belly dance.

Since the student who helps run the stadium speakers is a sophomore, the Arabian music accompanying the sophomore float will be played through the entire stadium, not just from their float.

"So it keeps people watching our float the whole way around," Phillips said.

Cody Tarrant is a little nervous about his role on the float as an Arabian king.

"It's my first time doing something so open," he said. "I'm usually the guy in the background."

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Guarding the gate
October 13, 5:20 p.m.
Freshmen and sophomores are just outside the stadium, putting the finishing touches on their homecoming floats before the varsity game, but the gate to the road is locked.

I'm waiting with some costumed sophomores who are going to be dancing on their Arabian-themed float until a security guard can let us through.

Senior Evan Reid and Freshman Steven Dugan are members of the Marine Corps Junior ROTC program and are in charge of guarding the gate, but they have to call a security guard to onlock it.

Evan said he likes working football games, because as a senior his job is to walk around during the game and make sure things are ok.

"It's kind of like hanging out, but at the same time I'm still doing my job," he said.

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Balloons and pom poms
October 13, 5:13 p.m.
Volunteers from the sophomore class are handing out balloons as fans walk in, but their biggest problem is the wind.

The bunches are so hopelessly tangled they have to break the strings to hand out a balloon.

Already several have broken free and flown over the JV game.

They're also selling pompoms in school colors and the sophomore class color for $2 (or get two for $3) to benefit their class.



Viana Leyva and Elizabeth Lopez keep an eye on the balloons they're giving out to kids at the game.

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The Nacho Nana
October 13, 4:57 p.m.


Mary "Nacho Nanna" Strange at work making nachos.

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Open for business
October 13, 4:56 p.m.
As the Junior Varisty football game begins, the concession stand run by the boosters opens its window.

Almost immediately two orders of nachos are served up.

Boosters President Cindy Johnson said nachos are the top seller and they can go through 20 bags of chips and seven 6-pound cans of cheese.

Johnson's mother, Mary Strange, is known as "Nacho Nanna." She stands beside dozens of pre-made trays of chips, waiting to smother them in cheese when the order is called back.

Strange and Johnson have been helping since the school opened seven years ago.

"I think it means a lot to the kids to show that you care," Strange said.

"To me it's all about serving the community," Johnson said. "It helps the kids understand that you need to give back."

They are among the 10 adults helping raise money for all extra-curricular activities at DHS. The boosters also fund four $1000 scholarships for seniors.

These volunteers are already more than 2 hours into their eight hour shift, and Johnson said they are always busy.

"It's a good thing because that's how we make our money," she said.

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Desert Hot Springs vs. Yucca Valley
October 13, 4:17 p.m.
If you're superstitious, Desert Hot Springs has a lot to overcome to win tonight's game: it's Friday the 13th and I'm here.

I'm hoping that the Golden Eagles will snap my bad luck streak tonight and become the first home team to win a game I've blogged.

I'm hoping the momentum of last week's win over Indio and the support of a homecoming crowd will outweigh my presence...

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Too little too late
October 06, 9:07 p.m.
In the last minutes of the fourth quarter, the Rajahs scored a touchdown, bringing the score to 10 to 7, with Desert Hot Springs in the lead.

Not that sports fans are superstitious, but I'm still not entirely convinced that my leaving the Rajah stands had nothing to do with it.

Maybe for Indio's sake I should have gone to the visitor's side earlier.

The final score stands:
Indio 7
Desert Hot Springs 10

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Words from the baseball team
October 06, 9:05 p.m.
Five members of the DHS baseball team drove about 30 minutes to support their friends and their team.

"We came to watch our friends," Derrick Gunderson said.

"To support our eagles," sophomore Tyler Gunderson said.

"I really love Nick Lawler and Luis Landa," Blake Gunderson.

"It's always good when we win," he said. "When they lose it's just a waste of gas money."

They're coming back to Indio tomorrow for a baseball game.

"We think it will be a blowout, for sure," Ben Smalls said.

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Bad luck charm?
October 06, 8:48 p.m.
With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Indio is behind 10 to zero.

I'm getting a little concerned because the home team has lost every game I've covered.

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The freshman team
October 06, 8:42 p.m.
Several members of Indio's freshman football team are sitting in the bleachers wearing their jerseys and you can smell the evidence that they came straight from their game.

"I'm just happy that we won at home, for homecoming," freshman Kevin Pacris said.

Most of the other players were too into the game to talk much, but parent Ted Lozano said he was having fun at the game.

"The atmosphere is friendly," he said. "I haven't seen anybody get into trouble."

Lozano said he was concerned that the coaches were showing favoritism and with the number of players who were ineligible because of academics, but he hasn't given up faith.

"I'm hoping for a comeback," Lozano said.

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The royal family
October 06, 8:33 p.m.
Homecoming queen Soleil Rubalcava was cheered on by 25 members of her family.

"She deserves it," her cousin Marcy Zamudio said. "She's a hard working young lady."

"She plays a pretty big role in overseeing her class," cousin Angel Zamudio said.

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Homecoming court
October 06, 8:33 p.m.
The homecoming court was escorted around the track on six specialized golf carts, led by the Indio Police cart complete with a siren and flashing lights.

As the names were read groups in the stands cheered for their favrites. One group in the stands wore T-shirts that spelled out "We (heart) Rach."

After each court member was introduced, the winners were announced:

King: Jeremy Rodriguez
Queen: Soleil Rubalcava

The winners were crowned and escorted around the track once more on the police cart.

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The flag bearer
October 06, 7:46 p.m.
Celso Gonzalez is easy to spot from anywhere in the stadium because he's waving a flag that's close to 5 feet long.

His wife Carmen sewed on the red and blue stripes and lettering that spells out "Indio Rajahs."

This is the first game they've brought the flag, but they're hoping it will bring the team good luck.

"I will follow my team with this flag," Celso said.

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Rajah potential
October 06, 7:40 p.m.
Frank Marquez, Sr. came out to see his son, Martin, play in tonight's game.

He thinks the Rajah's have a shot at winning tonight.

"They have a lot of potential, they just need to access it," Marquez said.

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Prepping the field
October 06, 7:24 p.m.
Head Groundskeeper Hector Cisneros knows exactly what it takes to get the field ready for a varsity game, and he still has the blue and white paint on his shoes to prove it.

It takes Cisneros all week to get the stadium ready for a varsity game. Monday and Tuesday he mows the grass and cleans up all the trash and lost wallets, watches and phones from that weekend's game.

Then it takes three days to paint the field.

He has a stencil that provides an outline of the football helmet on the 50-yard-line and the lettering in the endzone, but the rest he fills in by hand.

It takes 30 gallons of colored paint and 45 gallons of white paint to prepare the field for a varsity game.

The water-based paint contains a florescent pigment to make the paint stand out under the Friday night lights.

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The stands are glowing
October 06, 7:11 p.m.
IHS cheerleaders are selling glowstick necklaces for $1 throughout the stands to raise money for their program.

Other fans are wearing and carrying around green and yellow glowsticks.

"I just wish them good luck and hope they win like we did," JV cheerleader Cassandra Vasquez said about the varsity team.

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Let the game begin
October 06, 7:07 p.m.
Back at the field, the stands are filling up and the game has begun.

Before kickoff, the band played and the team waited behind a paper banner proclaiming "Homecoming Shanghai Nights." A few balloons escape from the tunnel before the team breaks through to shouts from the crowd.

On first possession, IHS took the ball down to the 10-yard-line, but turned it over on downs.

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Colorguard lets loose
October 06, 6:38 p.m.
The six members of colorguard appear wearing jeans and red tshirts, a change from the usual uniform.

They spray each other's hair red and blue for homecoming school spirit.

"We're let loose tonight," said Brittany Flores.

"It's the first time we're not performing at halftime," Destiny Villalta explained.

Because the homecoming court announcements will take up extra time during halftime the colorguard will just be observers tonight.

"It's better because we can show school spirit," Ruben Tovar said, before letting one of the other members spray his hair blue.


Brittany Flores colors Jesse Basquez's hair before the game.

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All work and no game?
October 06, 6:24 p.m.
"We're going to be working pretty much through the game," ASB member Oscar Verdugo said.

But he still likes being a part of ASB.

"It's good to be involved in your school," he said.

ASB Advisor Aimee Druyon said the group has been planning since June, but homecoming fell earlier this year than usual.

"You do as much as you can and you go with what you have," she said. "They're being good sports about the whole thing."

Michael Cardenas likes homecoming, despite all the work.

"I think it's great becaues it gives the incoming freshmen a feel of what Indio High School is all about," he said.

ASB has 10 minutes during half time to set up and announce the winners, or the football team will get penalized.

"It's a lot of stress on ASB," Junior Vice President Jessica Sanchez said.

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The making of a dragon
October 06, 6:16 p.m.
While the football teams are warming up and getting ready for the game Associated Student Body (ASB) members are steadily working to finish props for the half time show.

They're blowing up dozens of balloons to create a dragon arch and working out how the cardboard Chinese buildings they created for the "Shanghai Nights" theme will stay standing in the wind.

The small ASB room in the back of the school is crowded with three large helium tanks and the makings of a dragon, a pagoda, and chinese drums.

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Preparation
October 06, 5:56 p.m.
The varsity players are in the locker room, getting ready for tonight's game.

The coaches are lined up along the fence by the field, also waiting for the game to begin.

Coach Gordon said he goes through game situations in his head and gets himself mentalyl ready.

"I sit back and I just pray," Gordon said. He askes for wisdom, unity and that the game ends without injury.

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From the coaches
October 06, 5:55 p.m.
Special Teams Coach George Thomas said he thinks the team is prepared for tonight's game, but they're not taking their competition lightly.

"We just have to take care of our part as special teams and the rest of the team will take care of their part," he said.

"I hope it is a motivating factor for the kids," he said about homecoming. "No one wants to lose on their homecoming."

"They're excited, pumped up," Coach James Gordon said.

He said with the excitement of the crowd, alumni returning and two football players on homecoming court, homecoming really makes a difference to the players.

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Freshmen ahead
October 06, 5:25 p.m.
With two minutes left in the third quarter, the IHS freshman football team is leading Desert Hot Springs 22 to 12.

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Pimp my golf cart
October 06, 5:25 p.m.
Walking away from the concession stand, a black, red and silver golf cart caught my eye.

The cart, boldly painted with silver flames and outfitted with a black and red interior, is one of six donated for the game by Kart Connections, a custom cart company in Palm Desert.

Isaac Ochoa said they got extra carts this week because parents and teachers will drive the homecoming court onto the field in the custom carts.



Isabella Ochoa, 9, and Areli Moreno, 7, play in a customized golf cart.

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The grillers
October 06, 5:18 p.m.

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Happy to help
October 06, 5:12 p.m.
Isaac's daughter Isabella, 9, takes a tray of meat from the grill to the kitchen for burrito assembly.

"I put the carne in the tray," she told me. "And give those people the stuff."

She said her favorite part of helping is "doing the running around back and forth."

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Extra meat
October 06, 5:10 p.m.
The Quarterback Club is still hard at work preparing burritos.

Anticipating bigger crowds for homecoming, they are cooking up 60 pounds of beef for the "best burritos in the DVL."

"We'll probably have it gone by halftime," Isaac Ochoa said.

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The Statement Game
October 06, 4:57 p.m.
Some of the varsity football players are hanging around the stadium before their 5:15 team meeting.

"This is the must-win game," Sophomore Albert Figueroa said. "This is the game when all the fans are here."

"The statement game," Junior Matthew Heredia said.

They said the fact that it's homecoming really makes a difference to the team and helps pump them up.

"There's been a lot of support today and it would be heartbreaking to let them down," senior Robert Barronj said.

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Freshman volleyball players
October 06, 4:44 p.m.


The girls finished practice with a cheer.

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Volleyball support
October 06, 4:39 p.m.
The freshman volleyball team just finished practice and they're getting ready to go to the game.

"We ended a little early so they can go and see the game," Coach Carlos Noriega said.

The girls are excited because one of the players on varsity volleyball is on the homecoming court.

They go right from practice to the football game whenever the Rajah's play at home.

"Our friends are out there, we're just going to support them," Rebecca Rodriguez said.

Kysandra Gomez said she's most looking forward to the homecoming dance.

"Making memories," Natalie Ibarra said.

"For when we get old and gray," Zoe Peralta added.

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Not so quiet...
October 06, 4:21 p.m.
I take back all I said about campus being quiet.

Back by the cafeteria, a dozen students are hanging out before the game.

Michael Woods and Victoria Corona are fighting over a jersey and some glasses. Metal trash cans falling over are the only thing drowning out the shrieks and laughter, but that's high school.

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Homecoming at IHS
October 06, 4:13 p.m.
A few hours before Indio High School's homecoming game against Desert Hot Springs, and the school is quiet.

The freshman team is playing and the boosters are cooking burritos, but everyone else seems to be off preparing for the festivities.

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The black hole reacts
September 29, 9:29 p.m.
The clock winds down and the final score remains 24 to 21, with Paloma Valley in the lead.

The black hole didn't give up their cheering until the bitter end.

They were disappointed in the loss, but not the team.

"I lost my voice," Brett Brown said. "The boys played hard, that's all that matters."

"This is the first game the black hole has lost," Michael Martinez said. "We won in our hearts."

"It was a very painful loss but I know we will walk away with the victory next week," Tyler Flores.

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15 seconds..
September 29, 9:21 p.m.
Everyone in the stands is watching intensely. With 15 seconds left, the Lions are 60 yards from a touchdown.

"They better pull it off, that's all I got to say," sophomore Evelyn Rodill said.

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Still proud
September 29, 9:21 p.m.
"We're still feeling proud," Ashley Calhoun said.

"They played good. By DVL we'll show everyone that we're number one still. One loss isn't going to hurt us," she said.

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Intense
September 29, 9:17 p.m.
With only one minute left in the game, CCHS is trying to hold Paloma Valley.

"It's intense," said junior Magnum Scuro. "They're totally going to pull it off. The defense is strong."

"I'm thinking maybe we can come back," said junior Nicole Abruscato.

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High-fives all around
September 29, 9:11 p.m.
Cousins Anthony Garcia, 7, Marife Gonzalez, 4, Lily Rodriguez, 6, and Alexia Rodriguez collect high fives from everyone walking by the stands.

They're up to 158.

"We just give high fives for the Lions," Alexia said.

The family comes out to every home game, and Anthony even gave up a birthday party to come out tonight, his mom Cecilia Rodriguez said.

He likes coming to the games "because when I'm 8 I'm going to start playing for the Lions," he said.

---

The crowd is on its feet
September 29, 9:07 p.m.
With a little more than 2 minutes left in the game, Cathedral City recovers a fumble and takes over possession at the 45 yard line.

Just about everyone in the bleachers jumps up and the whole team celebrates.

The Lions are down by 3.

---

Burrito review
September 29, 9:04 p.m.
They don't even bother to wrap up the baseball-fundraiser burrito because the mass amounts of meat, beans, rice and cabbage can't be contained in a tortilla.

This snack is served with a fork and might as well be eaten like an open-face sandwich, it's so full.

The mesquite grill gives the meat a good flavor and makes for a filling snack, well worth the $4.

This week's burrito review: 4 stars for the Cathedral City baseball burrito.

---

Carne Asada
September 29, 8:56 p.m.
Why settle for typical concession stand food when you can get a freshly made carne asada burrito and help the CCHS baseball team?

The smell from the wood-burning grill reaches well outside the stadium, as does the burrito's reputation.

"This is the only reason we come on Friday nights," said Heather Bonestell, as she handed over $6 for a $4 burrito.

Sylvia Herrera, who helps make and sell the burritos said some people don't even enter the stadium but buy the burritos over the fence.

"We're just out here to get money from the kids," Herrera said.

---

The founding members
September 29, 8:13 p.m.
Noe Suarez (far left) poses with some of the founding members of "The Black Hole": Brett Brown, Michael Martinez (in helmet), Eric Pendleton and Ashley Calhoun.

---

The Black Hole
September 29, 8:11 p.m.
They don't sit down the entire game.

They're quick to cheer and heckle and immediately stop a conversation after every notable play.

They don't just tap their feet with the music, they jump on the stands.

They're the black hole, and after only one week they've grown from five members to a throng of more than 50.

Senior Ashley Calhoun and juniors Brett Brown, Michael Martinez and Eric Pendleton traveled to the West Valley game, all wearing black shirts.

"We were the only ones really cheering and everyone in the stands was staring at us," Ashley said.

After that they told their friends to wear black to games and even the announcer mentioned them.

"We're always the rowdy ones, and people want ot sit by the rowdy ones," Brett said.

The members of the Black Hole are confident in their Lion football team.

"They're on a roll and we're not stopping," Eric said.

---

Score update
September 29, 7:32 p.m.
Though Paloma Valley pulled ahead in the first quarter to a 7-0 lead, Cathedral City came back in the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter.

The Lions scored with a few minutes left in the first, but missed the extra point.

A few seconds into the second quarter they came back with another touchdown, completing the two-point conversion to bring the score to 14 – 7.

---

Push-ups for points
September 29, 7:23 p.m.
About 30 members of the Air Force ROTC program come out to every home game to help cheer on the team and celebrate every score.

The Respect Squad salutes the team and drops for one push-up for each point the Lions score.

"We're the cool cheerleaders," freshman Amie Gutman said. "No offense to my friends."

"We have fun while we're doing it," Leona Mercer said.

They said hopefully, they'll get to do a lot of pushups at tonight's game (The record is 149 pushups in one 2002 game.)

Just as they finished saying that, the Lions ran more than 80 yards down the field for a touchdown and the Respect Squad happily dropped to the ground.

---

Time to play
September 29, 7:02 p.m.
The Lions run out onto the field between two lines of cheerleaders as music blares and fans cheer.

In previous years, the Cathedral City High School tradition was for parents to line up on the field, forming a human tunnel to welcome the players onto the field, but this is the first year without it.

The team forms a huddle, weaving back and forth before thrusting hands and helmets in the air to shouts from the stands.

They break up and get ready to start the game.

---

Let's go blue!
September 29, 6:55 p.m.
The marching band came out for the pre-game show, getting the crowd involved from the beginning.

Everyone shouted "Let's go blue" in time with the music.

The stands grew silent as the band played the national anthem and soon after the crowd really gets pumped up.

"Let's get ready to rumble" thunders out of the speakers and an announcer shouted, "Are there any lions in the house?"

---

Meet the statisticians
September 29, 6:49 p.m.
In 16 years, Neil and Sandy McElroy have missed 3 football games - home and away.

They've been keeping stats for football for about 6 years.

"Oh we just love it," Neil said.

"Even before our son was in high school we were going," Sandy said.

Neil said he doesn't even watch professional sports, other than baseball.

He and Sandy are both from big high school sports towns in Michigan and Texas.

"This is where you're supposed to be on a Friday night," Sandy said.

---

Freshmen players
September 29, 6:42 p.m.
Cousins Josh Garcia, Dominic Elizando and Daniel Garcia came up to the stands after changing from the freshman football game.

They come to just about every game, and said most of the freshman team does too.

Dominic said they come out "just to watch our positions."

"Learn what we have to do," Daniel said.

Ishmael asked him if maybe he came to the games for the girls.

"Yeah, that too," he said, grinning.

---

Another dedicated family
September 29, 6:35 p.m.
Yissel and Ishmael Elizando snagged seats right on the 50 yard-line to the freshman game to watch their son and nephews play, and then stuck around for the varsity game.

Their daughter is a varsity cheerleader, but they're here for the game, too.

"It's getting exciting because they haven't lost any," Ishmael said.

Susan Mastas, the "proud Nana," is another of the 10 family members who come out every week for the home and away games.

"We have to come and support the kids," she said.

---

Teacher ticket-takers
September 29, 6:09 p.m.
Except for a 15 minute break, these teachers have been working since school started.

They volunteered to collect tickets during the freshman football game, and are just being relieved by the varsity shift.

Teachers are required to volunteer for three "adjunct duties," but they don't mind.

"We love our team," said Tina Murphey. "We purposely picked this duty because we can see the game."

The teachers agreed that they like the opportunity to socialize with each other and see the students.

English teacher Dana Sessions said her favorite part is "seeing the kids outside of the classroom."

---

A dedicated football family
September 29, 5:49 p.m.
The freshman football game just ended and the foot traffic to the field is picking up.

Referees, cheerleaders and some fans wander back toward the parking lot while a few early birds walk up to the ticket booth and claim a seat for the varsity game.

Tony Lomboy, his son and daughter come early to help their mom Lupe, who prepares meals for the team.

Though Aaron Lomboy is only in 5th grade, he's already well aquainted with the Cathedral City High School football team.

His three older brothers played football here and his own games are played on the high school field.

The Lomboys come to every game, home and away, but Aaron said he only likes coming "sometimes."

He doesn't like it if the team doesn't do well, because then his older brother is upset.

---

Colorguard prep
September 29, 5:34 p.m.
"We eat fast and do our hair and makeup and stuff," said Junior Brittany Martinez, sitting in front of a box of ribbons and glitter spray.

The girls in colorguard don't have a regulated hair style, but they try to keep it out of their face.

They sit in pairs, helping each other create fancy buns and neat ribbon bows.

Marty Carbajal started the tradition of the colorguard box this week.

"It might not be a biggie but it's something that I can be in charge of," said Carbajal, whose daughter is in colorguard.

---

Hectic but fun
September 29, 5:29 p.m.
Junior Kris Barranco, who plays tenor sax, said things are hectic before a football game, but fun.

He said the saxophone sections have one pre-game tradition. They butt saxophones for good luck and say "have safe sax, wear a neck strap."

"At the end of the day you know all the hard work you put into marching band is worth it," he said.

---

Band Meal
September 29, 5:18 p.m.
Football players aren't the only ones enjoying a pre-game meal together at CCHS.

"We realized some of the kids were here all day and didn't have any food," said Mary Smith with the band boosters.

The band practices from 3:10 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. and then gets about 30 minutes to eat.

Today the meal was donated by La Casita.

"Please, thank you, sir and ma'am to those who are serving you dinner," Band Director Greg Whitmore instructed before letting the band loose on the food.

"What's really cool about this is they all sit down and eat like a family," band booster Jan Gonzales said.

Band members, dressed in their all black "under-uniform uniforms" sit in small circles to talk and eat before getting dressed for the game.

---

Secrets of pre-game
September 29, 4:49 p.m.
After the team leaves their meal, they head off to the lockerroom for the rest of the pre-game preparations.

"We just try to keep focused, keep the kids thinking about the game," Head Coach Donnelly said.

"I hate pre-game," he said. "I want to get out there and go."

The team gets taped, warms up and has a little pre-game talk. One of their traditions is the Player's Chant, which the team recites before every game.

All details about the Players Chant stay in the lockerroom.

---

Parental support
September 29, 4:42 p.m.
Lupe Lomboy is a big reason the football players have something to eat before and after the games.

Until NY Slice & Ice started catering for the home games this year, Lomboy cooked 20 pounds pasta for the team every Friday.

Now she just does it for away games.

She even takes a half-day or whole-day off of her job as an office manager Desert Medical Advances to prepare all the food, with the help of other families.

"I enjoy it, I have a lot of fun doing it," Lomboy said, before loading up a cooler with fruit to put in the lockerroom during halftime.

"That’s a big part of having a good program is having the support of the parents," Donnelly said.

---

More than football
September 29, 4:35 p.m.
The 47 varsity players are all wearing matching navy blue polo shirts to their meal.

Coach Donnelly said he got tired of fighting with the players to tuck in their jerseys, which they used to wear to school on game days.

“We’re trying to be as classy as possible, teach the kids about the little things in life that are going to make them successful," Donnelly said.

---

Pre-game at Cathedral City
September 29, 4:21 p.m.
At 4 p.m. Cathedral City High School already has all the makings of a night of football.

The freshman football team is playing. The band is on the field practicing. Cheerleaders are pumping up the crowd...for a volleyball game.

And the varsity players are gathered in the gym for a pre-game meal of pasta, salad and garlic bread, catered by New York Slice in Cathedral City.

---

Game over
September 22, 9:10 p.m.
The game is over at Indio High School, with the final score Vista del Lago: 40, Indio: 0.

The fans patiently leave the stands, making plans for after the game or walking over to the back-to-school dance.

The team is still grouped in front of the coaches, listening.

---

At least they didn't give up
September 22, 9:06 p.m.
"I wanted to see my team win," junior A.J. Juarez said, showing off the Rajah Pride written on his forearms.

Sixth-grader Aliquon Ross, came out with his family to watch his brother, Deshawn Carr, play.

"He gets all mad because his team lost," Ross said.

"Especially this one," Juarez said. "At least we're going out strong, not giving up and stuff."

---

Pump it up
September 22, 9:02 p.m.
"We usually pump up the crowd and stuff, that's our job and we love it," said senior drum major Genevieve Lopez.

She said it's not hard to get the crowd excited, even with a low score.

"Sad to say our crowd is usually used to that," she said.

"I like being around the band members, they're my family, and we just love performing" she said.

She said the band doesn't have many traditions, but they wish each other luck by locking pinky fingers before the game.

---

Just water...
September 22, 8:53 p.m.
The band doesn't get to eat during the game - in an effort to save their uniforms - but they get together with friends after the game and head out to PizzaHut or another restaurant.

"We usually pig out before or after," Smithe said.

---

At least it's not myspace
September 22, 8:50 p.m.
Sophomore Jeza Bernal, who plays baritone, isn't a big fan of football, but she likes to coming to the game.

"It's fun because I get to run out with a very heavy instrument," she said.

"It's a fun sport to play, boring to watch," she said. "I do pay attention when I'm bored, but I'm usually talking with my friends."

"I think coming to football games is a way for people to get off Myspace," Bernal said.

---

Baritone blues
September 22, 8:39 p.m.
Ralph Rodriguez, who plays baritone in the marching band, said he likes coming out to watch the game.

Fellow baritone-player Paul Smithe said he likes to come to the games, but gets frustrated with the lack of crowd participation.

"I get all negative about all this," senior Paul Smithe said about the team's losing streak.
"I don't want to though," he said.

"We just hope for one day for a victory, hopefully against Coachella," Rodriguez said.

---

Keep the seat
September 22, 8:21 p.m.
Indio resident and IHS alum Jessie Moralez said she's been to every home game, except for the time she was in the hospital.

"Other than that I'm sitting here," she said.

She and McDaniel have been sitting in the same seats for two years.

Two of her four children are at the game tonight - one in colorguard and band and one in the Cadet Corps.

---

Halftime
September 22, 8:16 p.m.
As the clock runs out and the band takes the field, fans file out of the stands, heading off to grab a burrito, meet up with friends or just stretch their legs.

But there are still a lot of people sticking around to watch the band, cheering loudly at the end of every song.

"I come to support the game, but I'm hear for halftime," said Cheryl McDaniel whose son plays baritone sax.

"I'm actually seeing some of the parents, they're alumni also," she said. "It's pretty neat, it's like we never leave."

---

They'll pick it up
September 22, 8:03 p.m.
Sophomores Lily Anaya and Laura Alvarez took two days to decorate their T-shirts with red and blue puffy paint.

"We're going to make another one for the JV game," Alvarez said.

She came to the game to watch family and friends. Her cousin, Osvaldo Lua, plays on the varsity team.

"We're disappointed," Anaya said.

"That's sad, that's our school," Alvarez said to her. "They can play better. They'll pick it up."

"They better," Anaya said.

---

A young team
September 22, 7:56 p.m.
"Our whole varsity team is a young team," said sophomore Alex Collins, who also used to play football until low grades kept him off the team.

He said there are a lot of sophomores playing varsity because numbers were short.

"We'll get it together," he said.

---

Not even going to the dance
September 22, 7:55 p.m.
"I wouldn't want to go, not after a loss like that," Zamudio said about the back-to-school dance.

"I go home and think about football, what I can do to get back there next year," he said.

---

looking to next year
September 22, 7:49 p.m.
"By the second half we should pick it up," sophomore Arlina Jaime said.

"They're good but everybody just puts us down," she said.

"I think that we need to improve on our, everything, the whole game plan," Andy Leija said, who has played football since he was 8-years-old.

"The biggest obstacle to overcome is to build self-confidence again," Leija said.

"They're going to get yelled at when they get to the lockerroom, that's for sure," Zamudio said as the score increased to 26-0.

"We may lose all these games but the CV game, we'll win that one," he said. "That's the game we step it up."

"I feel that next year's our year," Leija said.

---

Players in the stands
September 22, 7:43 p.m.
With six minutes left in the first half Indio is down 20 to 0.

Sophomore Jerry Zamudio said the Rajahs should have a good team this year.

"Half of the football players are up here and we wish we were down there," Zamudio said.

He played last year, but had to quit because of grades.

"Hopefully we can come back," he said. "Hopefully we can at least score."

"We need to bring the glory days back."

---

Be nice to this guy tomorrow
September 22, 7:38 p.m.
Security Agent Justo DeLaCruz will be spending a very long time at Indio High School today.

He arrived at 6 a.m. and got only a short break because there was no game at 4 p.m. today.

When most parents and volunteers go home after the game, DeLaCruz will stick around to work at the back-to-school dance.

He'll finally be done around 1 a.m., just in time to get a few hours of sleep before starting at 6 a.m. again tomorrow.

DeLaCruz shrugs it off.

"We'll be all right," he said.

---

National Anthem
September 22, 7:29 p.m.
Matt Springstead (left) and Andrew Guerro listen to the National Anthem.

---

Running 6.2 miles...for fun
September 22, 7:23 p.m.
First Sgt. Matt Springstead and 2nd Lt. Andrew Guerro told me a little about the Cadet Corps.

Many of their activities sound pretty intense - like a 10 day training camp and plans to do a "mud run" - 6.2 miles of an obstacle course.

But the group also does community service, fundraisers and guard duty at the home games.

"We've loved it ever since we joined," Guerro said.

Springstead said guard duty gets a little crazy during the bell game - Coachella Vally vs. Indio.

"We try to keep it civilized and everything, keep people off the field so nothing bad happens," he said.

---

Game time
September 22, 7:13 p.m.
With more spirited shouting from number 70, the Rajah's run through a red and blue blow-up tunnel to start the game.

They aren't the only ones doing any running, as a group of students lines up and takes off running around the track, following a leader wearing camouflage pants.

Turns out they are the Cadet Corps and they're not in trouble, they're just running to get to their position by the flag before the colorguard comes out.

Still seems like a pretty intense after-school activity.

---

Taking the tickets
September 22, 6:43 p.m.
Debbie Canero has worked for Indio High School for 28 years and is still taking the time to help collect tickets at the entrance of tonight's game.

She said she does it "for the spirit of the school."

One of her daughter's is a senior at Indio, but that doesn't mean she's done with the school yet.

Canero still has three children to go through high school, so she said she'll be here a while.

She works at the gate until they close down the ticket sales, usually some time in the third quarter.

"You can still see the game from here, you can see the score," Canero said.

---

Burrito review
September 22, 6:37 p.m.
After hanging out in the concession stand for so long, salivating over the smells of fresh-grilled beef and seasoned rice, I must have looked hungry.

The boosters volunteers were kind enough to let me sample a burrito. While I'm no food critic, I have to say that this is best football game fare I've had this season.

That may be because my former game-day choices have consisted of candy bars and old hot dogs, but don't let that knowledge taint your impresion of the burrito.

Small enough to carry around with a laptop and large enough to make a filling snack, I'd give the DVL burrito 4 stars.

---

happy helper
September 22, 6:15 p.m.
No one is safe from being put to work at the snack bar.

Leli Moreno, who turns 7 tomorrow, is keeping busy by taking water to her mom and handing trays of meat to her dad, who is grilling.

She said she comes to every game, but doesn't get sick of it "because it's fun."

"I get to help my mom and dad," Leli said.

---

It's game time
September 22, 6:07 p.m.
"Let's go baby, it's game time!" one of the players shouted as the team walked out to warm up.

"That number 70, he's intense all the time," Andrew Valenzuela said.

---

More boosters
September 22, 6:06 p.m.
"Whatever he does, I do too," said Andrew Valenzuela. "And it gives us something to do on Friday nights."

His son, a sophomore, plays special teams for JV and Varsity.

Since he's in the snack bar most of the game, Valenzuela doesn't get to see much of the game, but he gets to see his son in all of the JV games.

---

prep time
September 22, 5:59 p.m.
More meat, more meat!

Hold off on the tortillas for now.

Volunteers shout directions as well as cooking jokes as the burrito assembly begins.

Things are in full swing in the booster's kitchen, scooping rice and beans and wrapping it all up.

---

Early birds
September 22, 5:52 p.m.
Even though the snack bar doesn't officially open for another half hour, the boosters have already sold a handful of the famous DVL burritos.

Get them while you can because they are already short by halftime.

The players may try to convince you to not buy any, though.

"Whatever's left we give to the players," Leonard Corral said.

---

On the house?
September 22, 5:43 p.m.
A couple of football players came up to get a pre-game burrito, but the workers didn't have change yet.

Despite pleas for a complimentary snack, they just waited for the right change.

---

Is dinner ready, mom?
September 22, 5:40 p.m.
Athletic Director Paul Thompson walked into the snackbar looking for what he called the best burritos in the Desert Valley League.

He said everyone who comes to Indio for a football game always asks about the famous burritos.

In addition to his other duties of getting the field ready for tonight's game, Thompson said he likes to visit the concession stand.

"I come over to harass these people all the time," Thomspon said.

"As you notice, we have fun," he said as they joked back and forth.

"With a group like this you don't ever have to worry about snack bars, they just run it for you."

---

Warm-ups
September 22, 5:31 p.m.
The special teams players jog out to the field to warm up.

---

The first burrito is served
September 22, 5:26 p.m.
Elva Corral loads up some rice on Coach Gordon's burrito.

---

Coach's words of wisdom
September 22, 5:16 p.m.
James Gordon, varsity offensive coordinator, said the team is just getting mentally ready for the game, just like studying for a test.

They listen to music and relax before getting a little pep-talk from the coach.

This week Gordon said he's using a quote from Gerald Ford in his speech.

"You come together, that's the beginning. The second step is you keep it together, you make progress. The third step is you think together, which leads to unity and the foruth step is you work together, which leads to success."

"We've taken those steps to work together, now it's time for success," Gordon said. "We can't afford to lose another game, especially at home."

---

What goes into a DVL burrito
September 22, 5:07 p.m.
First the boosters order about 40-60 pounds of meat on Wednesday before the game, depending on how big the game is.

Today they picked up about 30 pounds from Stater Brothers. It was already cut up and ready to go for them.

Around 5 p.m. they fired up the grill, seasoned the meat and started grilling. Other helpers are helping prepare

After it's grilled, they start the assembly line.

They wrap up the meat, rice, beans and cabbage and they're ready to sell.

---

Best burritos in the DVL
September 22, 5:00 p.m.
Elva Corral, Nydia and Ramon Moreno and Isaac Ochoa have been here since about 3 p.m. to start making "the best burritos in the DVL," according to Elva.

Corral and Nydia Moreno are putting homemade salsa in individual cups to go along with the burritos.

"What we have now, we have good help. Before it was hard to find help," Ochoa said.

---

Pre-game playing
September 22, 4:45 p.m.
Derron Pollard and his friends fight to catch a football before the game this afternoon.

---

Senior pride
September 22, 4:40 p.m.
Senior Karina Hernandez is waiting around for her ride, but she's just going to come right back to the school in a couple of hours for the game.

She said there is usually a lot of family support at the games, but this year's senior class has been going to a lot of the game.

"It's our last year, we usually go to everything," Karina said. "We go to all home games."

She and her volleyball teammates are also going to the back-to-school dance in the mini-gym after the game.

---

Basketball players, football fans
September 22, 4:34 p.m.
After getting kicked out of the gym after basketball practice, sophomores Derron Pollard and Jamil Santiel played some football outside the locker room before the game.

They told me what to expect for tonight's game.

Number 5 (Rasheem Johnson) is going to "run it down their throat like there's no tomorrow," Jamil said. He's the next Reggie Bush, they said.

Number 7 is going to get a few interceptions.

Number 44 is going to hit some people, hard.

---

To the locker room
September 22, 4:24 p.m.
Suddenly, all the football players stop talking and disappear into the locker room to get dressed for the game.

A few stragglers are still coming in, but the school campus is looking more deserted.

---

A whole lot of fun
September 22, 4:21 p.m.
Sophomore Dashawn Carr said he thinks tonight's game is going to be lots of fun.

"It's going to be a whole lot of competition, but it's going to be fun," Carr said.

His favorite part of the game is "hitting people."

---

Game prep from the players
September 22, 4:15 p.m.
Senior Raul Vega said he tries to eat right the night before a game and gets mentally prepared.

"Just start thinking, going through the plays in your mind," he said.

James Silva, junior, said he drinks gatorade mixed with Pedialite - an electrolyte-filled concoction he heard about from a friend.

"It tastes nasty but when you mix it with gatorade it's all right," Silva said.

---

Already busy
September 22, 4:11 p.m.
Three hours before the game, Indio High School is already busy with activity.

Horns are honking in the parking lot and students run out to get a ride.

And football players are hanging out, tossing a ball around with some basketball players who just got out of practice.

They're already ready for tonight's game.

---

They'll bounce back
September 15, 9:35 p.m.
A fourth-quarter touchdown by Serrano brought the score to 26-13, which ended up as the final.

Tyler Davis, a junior who plays JV football saw first-hand how tough Serrano's team was last night during the JV game.

"This was a tough game," he said. "It's going to be tough coming off the undefeated last year, but they'll bounce back."

---

And fresh popcorn
September 15, 9:22 p.m.
Meanwhile, the football boosters were cleaning up from their kettlecorn sale.

The popcorn is popped, seasoned and bagged on site and sold for $3 and $5.

Lori Trainer explained that her parents used to make popcorn for a business, but when they took a break from that the kettle was just gathering dust in the garage.

"They decided this was a great way to give back," Trainer said.

---

Free hot dogs, but no drinks
September 15, 9:19 p.m.
With only two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the concession stand is literally giving food away.

Drinks, on the other hand, are a much more precious commodity.

Water was gone by half time, and just as I walked up to get a ticket for a Coke, the metal screen came down over the concession window.

I settled for a complimentary hot dog instead.

---

Six more points
September 15, 9:07 p.m.
The Aztecs don't disappoint their dedicated fans, running in another touchdown.

A false start delays the extra point kick, leaving the cheerleaders waiting in a pyramid formation a little longer.

A high snap keeps Palm Desert from making the extra point, but Serrano's lead has been reduced to 6 points.

Eight minutes left, and the crowd is still cheering.

---

Still hope
September 15, 9:01 p.m.
The aluminum stands shake with the foot-stomping chants of de-fense, de-fense.

But the Diamondbacks run in for a touchdown. After a failed two-point conversion, the score rests at 19 to 7 in the fourth quarter.

Aztec fans are sticking by their team.

"I have hope, I have confidence in our Aztecs," said Kathryn Cortese.

Cortese and her dauther traveled to the first two away games and she said she's excited for the first home game.

"We're coming to support our team and we're Aztec fans," she said like so many other Palm Desert fans.

---

Touchdown
September 15, 8:45 p.m.
Lori and Brad Wardle come to every home game to watch their daughter Shana cheer, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care about the game.

"Come on we want to win," Brad Wardle, "But I can't tell until the last two minutes."

As if on cue, the Aztecs ran a pass in for their first touchdown of the game.

"You never know!" Lori shouted over the cheers.

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The wisdom of a 12-year-old
September 15, 8:40 p.m.
Cheyenne Gordon has been to a lot of football games in a lot of places in her 12 years, but said so far she likes Palm Desert best.

"The crowd is more involved in the game and not just into food and talking," she said.

She's here to watch junior Charles Scicli, a friend of her family.

"I love football," she said.

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Another A cappella performance
September 15, 8:19 p.m.
The Palm Desert dance team stood poised in the middle of the field, ready for the song to start.

But nothing happened.

After a minute of nothing but scratching sounds coming from the speakers, the girls forged ahead and did their entire routine without music.

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Halftime rush
September 15, 8:06 p.m.
Lines are building at the snack bar, which features football game standards like hotdogs, popcorn, pizza and candy.

Just make sure you stop and buy tickets first, the people at the concession stand don't accept cash.

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Two minute warning
September 15, 7:55 p.m.
The Diamondbacks are up 10 to 0 with two minutes left in the first half, but Aztec fans haven't given up or even quieted down.

The stands are full and every big play brings them to their feet.

With plenty of time left in the game, the Aztec fans don't seem discouraged at all.

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Screaming fans: atmosphere or a headache
September 15, 7:50 p.m.
"We started coming out last year for the freshman games and we love watching the Aztecs," said Jennifer Sarrazin from Bermuda Dunes.

Her son, Nicholas, plays JV and is off with his girlfriend, too cool to be with his parents, she said, smiling.

"It's funny becaues when I was in high school i didn't ever go," Sarrazin

"It's got to be the atmosphere, the support you feel from all the people here," she said about why she keeps coming back.

Her son Robby, thinks just the opposite. The John Glenn Middle School student likes football, but can't handle all the people screaming.

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Steelers fans rooting for Palm Desert
September 15, 7:39 p.m.
Don Eisenacher comes to every home game to see his son, Jim, play.

"I want to suit up and play sometimes," said Eisenacher, who played football at Indio High School "many moons ago."

Unfortunately, Eisenacher is also a life-long Pittsburgh Steelers fan, which makes it difficult for me as a Browns fan to continue this conversation.

I was going to let it go, when another fan decked out in a Roethlisberger jersey walked by.

Luckily the Aztecs got a first down at that moment, and the crowd erupted, drowning out their gloating.

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What, what
September 15, 7:25 p.m.
"It's cause we're the best," Cassie Costales said, about her shirt emblazoned with "what?" on the front and "Aztecs" on the back.

The exact meaning isn't something that's easily translated without hearing her emphasis on the words.

"I made them in like 10 minutes," Costales said.

"And we're seniors and we just have a lot of school pride," Ashten Goodenough said.

Goodenough and Costales - along with the rest of the crowd - break into cheers as the Aztecs complete a long pass, bringing them to the 20-yard-line.

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school spirit
September 15, 7:13 p.m.
Friends Alexis Richardson and Nyckole Morales said they came out to the game for the school spirit.

"It's been getting bigger and bigger," Morales said about Aztec school spirit.

She came for the game, not necessarily just to socialize.

"We can see all these people at school, it's about the game," she said.

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Into the stands
September 15, 7:08 p.m.
Less than three minutes into the game, the Aztecs have made it to the 8 yard line and the crowd is going crazy.

I venture into the stands, front and center at the 50-yard line where the varsity dance team sits in black skirts and white Aztec jerseys.

The team is mostly a competition squad, but sophomore Ashley Stahl said she likes the football games.

"It's good practice for our competition, and it's very exciting," she said.

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Picture-perfect plesant Palm Desert night
September 15, 6:58 p.m.
The announcer's words boom out of the loudspeaker, as time runs out on the pre-game scoreboard.

Freshman Kevin Francis belts out a cappella the national anthem.

The crowd is nearly silent, but breaks into a cheer as hi hits those high notes.

The Aztecs set up to receive the kick-off.

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School pride face paint
September 15, 6:49 p.m.
The Anime Club is painting faces and spraying hair with gold glitter for $2 each.

This is the club's first fundraiser and they're hoping to raise enough money to go to the Anime Expo in Anaheim next summer.

It all washes off with water, so stop by for a temporary Aztec painted on your face.

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And the beat goes on...
September 15, 6:49 p.m.
The band cadences into the stadium and takes its place next among the growing crowd.

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Colorguard
September 15, 6:17 p.m.
The colorguard and Cadet Corps wait just outside the stadium.

Sophomore Matt Collacott shows off some of his rifle skills for the camera.

This group also acts as "gate-watchers" during the game they said.

They may be dressed up, but they're not there just for show.

Last year they had to break up a fight between Palm Desert and Indio.

"We do actually guard," Aaron Muller said.

One advantage of being in this group is the seats right on the field.

"We always get to watch the game," Aaron Muller said.

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the eye of the tiger
September 15, 6:16 p.m.
The warm-up music starts blaring from the speakers as parents and fans trickle into the stadium.

The teams are on the field, stretching and running some passing drills.

Cheerleaders are gradually entering the stadium, lubbing bags and boxes onto the track in front of the home stands.

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The fan club
September 15, 5:53 p.m.
"I'm going there for one reason, to see my man Demetrius Ramos," junior T.C. Troupe said.

"Don number 84, Don number 84," Daniel Johnson yelled, making sure I heard his favorite player.

He had to go ask someone to find out Don's last name.

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Don't forget the freshmen
September 15, 5:50 p.m.
Members of the freshman football team hung out by the gym after practice, waiting for the game to start.

They explained that they were essentially required to watch varsity.

Freshman Jeremy Beard said it was worthwhile.

"You see what a better person does in your position," he said.

Lisa Marie, a sophomore, just stuck around because she didn't have a ride to go anywhere between school ending and the game.

"I like watching the games too," she said.






Left to right: freshmen Jeremy Beard, Parker Paveloff, Daniel Johnson and Devantae Johnson and sophomore Lisa Marie.

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Security
September 15, 5:41 p.m.
Football players in various degree of uniform are now roaming around the campus, getting taped and ready for the game.

The Serrano players have arrived and were escorted to their locker room by Tom Andi, a security guard with the school distrct.

"We make sure our kids don't harass them," Andi said.

"Most of them know not to do it," said Angel Santiago, who also works security.

No crazy stories of working with the students from these two, though.

"The kids know us so they give us pretty good respect," Andi said. "We're here for their safety."

Except for a dinner break, Andi and Santiago have been here since school started, so play nice, kids.

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ASB gets to work
September 15, 5:13 p.m.
Leaving the pounding drums behind, I walked across the mostly deserted campus and came across three Associated Student Body(ASB) members.

Senior Blane Amidei, senior Christine Scarcella, and sophomore Emily Prest said ASB helps set up things like balloons and posters. They are also in charge of the music, so if you like tonight's soundtrack, thank ASB.

Their job is mostly before the game, so they still get a chance to sit in the stands and watch the action.

"We get to see what actually goes into getting ready for a game," Prest said.

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Fundraising
September 15, 5:07 p.m.
If you're looking for a new charitable cause, the Marching Aztecs have a program called Aztec F.A.N.S. (Financial Assistance for Needy band Students)

Money goes toward new instruments or helping individual members with their dues.

The band director's wife, realtor Laura Lake, will donate $500 to the band for every referral that mentions the music program.

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Fire and Ice
September 15, 4:52 p.m.
This season's half time show was written exclusively for the Palm Desert marching band by Gary Gilroy at Fresno State College.

"No one has played it before and no one will play it again until next year," Lake said.

Lake said that after coming in second in their division last year, the band has moved up a division.

Lake said the band will win this year.

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The band comes out
September 15, 4:46 p.m.
Anyone who knows a drummer knows that they are almost constantly drumming, and that's what led me to the baseball fields where I found the band.

The Marching Aztecs and color guard came out for one last practice before the game.

"We just wanted to make sure that the freshmen don't freak out and flip over," Band Director Guy Lake said.

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Set up
September 15, 4:19 p.m.
Though the players, cheerleaders and marching band have a break before the game, Athletic Director Christina Osbourne is hard at work.

She's in charge of everything from unlocking the bathrooms to checking on the scoreboard to setting up VIP parking.

Here at Palm Desert, booster members who donate a certain amount have the privilege of parking just outside the endzone, practically right on the field.

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Not much to find yet...
September 15, 4:18 p.m.
Athletic Director Christina Osbourne told me that there's really nothing happening this early.

The team already had its pre-game meal at Applebees around 2p.m. The players and coaches won't be returning for about an hour.

As for comments before the game, don't expect much of anything. Osbourne explained that the coaches don't like to discuss the game so close to kickoff, which means the players won't be talking either.

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No surprise...
September 15, 3:56 p.m.
At 4 p.m. the Aztec football field is deserted, except for one man walking around the track.

There are still plenty of cars in the parking lot though, so I'm off to find out what happens before a Palm Desert home game.

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Final predictions
September 08, 9:13 p.m.
At the end of the third quarter, the Blackhawks have had some close calls, but haven't been able to score yet.

"Their only hope is to get a break, something to get some momentum going," said La Quinta resident John Shelden.

Shelden comes to a few games a season just to support the team that his step-sons used to play on.

He said overall it was a typical first game with a lot of mistakes.

"La Quinta's defense looks really good," Shelden said.

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Visit from Italy
September 08, 9:08 p.m.
As the second half begins, the drum line and cheerleaders got the crowd pumped up.

Every person in the bleachers stands up, as they do for every kickoff in Blackhawks' stadium.

Nicole Duarte, Jackie Ramirez, Celina Alcocer and Erendira Hernandez sit and talk during the beginning of the second half.

The friends graduated from La Quinta last year, but came back to show the Italian exchange students they are hosting an American football game.

Anna Veranda and Alice Volpato said they don't have anything like that at their school in Italy.

"It was wonderful to see the cheerleaders and the band," Volpato said.




Jackie Ramirez, Celina Alcocer, Nicole Duarte and Erendira Hernandez (left to right)

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Halftime
September 08, 8:54 p.m.
The score remained 13 to zero with Rancho Cucamonga in the lead when the teams left the field for halftime.

The dance team took over the field first, followed by the Blackhawk Brigade with their rendition of songs from the musical Evita.

"It's art what they do," said Mario Sepulveda as he watched the dance team.

Sepulveda said he came out to the game just to be with friends.

Melinda Ozel agreed.

"I haven't seen everyone all summer and everyone comes," she said.

One of their friends, Mark Gilpatrick, was full of praise for the sport of football.

"I love the football team, they're absolutely amazing," he said.

Gilpatrick, who used to play football, said it teaches "teamwork, commitment and other stuff."

When asked to give his prediction for the game's outcome, Gilpatrick emphatically pronounced "I think we're going to smash them into the ground."

Then after looking at the score, he revised to his position.

"I think it's going to be close."

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Football is fun for everybody
September 08, 8:19 p.m.
Melissa Vance recently moved to Palm Desert from West Virgina and said she's having fun even though she doesn't know anything about football.

"I'm so glad it's cooler than it was earlier," Vance said.

"I didn't know my cousin had such a following," Vance said, gesturing to a line of girls wearing shirts decorated with number 10.

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Fans trying to remain positive
September 08, 8:08 p.m.
After Rancho Cucamonga Cougars jumped ahead to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, some Blackhawk fans are feeling the frustration.

"Well, it's better when we win," junior Alvaro Rivera said.

"Right now I'm a little pissed off it's six zero. But it's ok, we'll come back," Rivera said.

His friend Michael Mortenson went a step further.

His prediction was "domination."



From left to right: Daniel Gonzalez, Alvaro Rivera, Samantha Lietz, Michael Mortenson and Lauren Hunter watch the game.

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Even the teachers are here
September 08, 7:47 p.m.
Nancy Norton and Mary Brown, who both teach Math at La Quinta came out for a tailgate party with faculty and staff around 6 p.m.

The administrators do the cooking, so teachers just show up and chip in a couple of bucks Mary said.

Norton and Brown estimated that about 50 teachers and school staff came out for hot dogs and brats.

Norton said she is going to start coming to more games now that her son is at the high school.

"My son is a very involved freshman, so i'll be here to support him in supporting the team," she said. Her son is a member of the Associated Student Body and came to the game early today to help with ticket sales.

"It's nice to go back to the classroom after having been to the game and see your students," Norton said. "It helps for creating connections."

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Senior pride and boyfriend pride
September 08, 7:35 p.m.
Amy Kirby, Gianna Gigoux and Amanda Pierson arrived at the stands around 6 p.m. dressed in decorated t-shirts and visors.

"We made a really big trip go Michaels," Gigoux said, who guessed that the girls spent about $100 on the outfits they've been working on all week.

"If you're gonna do it, better go all the way," Kirby said.

"We have senior pride, Blackhawk pride, and boyfriend pride," she said as the girls waited excitedly for the team to run onto the field for kickoff.

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Oh say can you see
September 08, 7:27 p.m.

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15 minutes
September 08, 7:13 p.m.
The clock drops down to 15 minutes and both teams run off the field.

The students are beginning to arrive en masse.

It's time for the pre-game show as cheerleaders wait on the field and the band marches past the stands.

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Talking with David Woods' family
September 08, 7:10 p.m.
As quarterback Ryan Woods tosses a few passes on the field, his mom Lisa points him out.

She said Ryan's dad, David, still holds records at Indio High School from his football days, so he is very proud of his son, who is being recruited by several colleges.

She said he didn't seem too nervous before the game.

"He's just a teenager who knows everything and he's cool," Woods said. "But you know what, he's got a good head on his shoulders."

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The stands are filling up
September 08, 7:06 p.m.
The sun has dipped below the mountains so La Quinta fans can see the field without squinting now.

It's still warm, but a cool breeze makes the stands comfortable.

More and more fans are arriving and staking a place in the bleachers.

A small contingent of fans gathers to cheer on Jesse Felix.

Leticia Amador said Felix is in her husband Ray's youth group and 15 people from Pentecostal Church of Philadelphia came out to cheer him on.

"This brings back memories," Leticia said. In 1991 Leticia was a high school cheerleader and Ray was a quarterback.

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Warm-ups
September 08, 6:45 p.m.
With a little less than an hour on the clock, the La Quinta Blackhawks jogged onto the field for warmups as the slowly growing crowd cheered.

The game was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. but Clifford Smith, who runs the clock at La Quinta said Rancho Cucamonga called and asked for the start time to be pushed back.

Lorena and Robert Cuevas of Indio were among the early arrivals.

"It's our last football season with him," Lorena said.

The Cuevases are dedicated fans and supporters, last year when their son played JV and Varsity they were at the field nearly every Thursday and Friday night.

"We love our son so we have to be there for him," Robert said.

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Be kind to the ticket takers...
September 08, 6:41 p.m.
...they haven't left La Quinta High School since the school day began this morning.

"Everybody's pretty excited about the first game," said Rosanna Ferraro who sells tickets and also works in the school's accounting office.

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Drumroll please
September 08, 6:06 p.m.
About an hour before showtime the marching band begins warming up.

Daryl Slawnikowski drove all the way from Napa Valley to see his son, who plays bass drum.

"It's well worth it to see these kids doing something meaningful for them, something meaningful for the school, and something that's keeping them out of trouble," Slawnikowski said.

The Blackhawk Brigade will perform a halftime show to music from Evita tonight.



Daryl Slawnikowski takes a picture of his son and other drummers as the band warms up.

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Not your ordinary concession stand food
September 08, 5:44 p.m.
Get your burritos!

The La Quinta Bandboosters are in the middle of preping about 300 carne asada burritos for tonight's game.

Wes Schmid and Doug Ballard, who both have children in the band or colorguard, are in charge of grilling the meat.

About 12 volunteers take about three hours to prep the burritos, then they sell them in the stands for $4 after the game starts.

"This offsets the expenses for our competitions," said bandboosters president Darlene Nelson.

Get your burritos!

The La Quinta Bandboosters are in the middle of preping about 300 carne asada burritos for tonight's game.

Wes Schmid and Doug Ballard, who both have children in the band or colorguard, are in charge of grilling the meat.

Volunteers will sell the burritos in the stands for $4 after the game starts.

"This offsets the expenses for our competitions," said bandboosters president Darlene Nelson.



Doug Ballard flips meat on the grill.

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Meet the sports medicine assistant trainers.
September 08, 5:19 p.m.
The players may have left the building, but the gym is far from quiet.

A handful of the assistant trainers eat their pasta while some boys play a pick-up basketball game.

Senior Michelle Redding said the assistant trainers had some down time to eat, then they had to get their supplies ready and organized.

The girls organize first aid kits, helmet repair kits, fill coolers and make sure everything is set on the sidelines.

Senior Lily Orozco said when they are working on the sidelines it's hard to watch the game.

"It's still fun," she said.

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Dinner's over.
September 08, 5:02 p.m.
It doesn't take long for high school football players to scarf down a plate or two of pasta. The team has retreated to the locker room to start getting ready for tonight's game.

Before they left the gym some players talked about tonight's game.

Defensive end Nick Grotsky echoed Coach Armstrong's words, saying he didn't know what to expect from the game.

"You have no idea whatsoever how the team's going to be in a game situation," Grotsky said.

Defensive tackle Ruben Camarillo moved to La Quinta recently from Texas.

"We got a lot of heart, got a lot of soul," Camarillo said.


Nick Grotsky and Ruben Camarillo finish eating before heading off to the locker room.

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The coaches speak
September 08, 4:42 p.m.
"It's hard to predict in the opening game," said head coach Dan Armstrong.

He said in the end the game will come down to the team that makes the fewest turnovers and mistakes.

Armstrong said he thinks his team is ready.

"If they're not, we're in for a world of hurt," Armstrong said.

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Two and a half hours until kick-off
September 08, 4:34 p.m.
The stands are empty and the field is silent, but that doesn't mean La Quinta High School isn't getting ready for its first home game tonight.

The marching band is out back practicing and the varsity football players are just sitting down to a carb-filled meal of pasta and garlic bread.

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