2017 Season in Review - COD Football

Under fourth-year head coach Jack Steptoe, Desert finished the regular season with a record 4-6 overall and 1-4 in conference. The team was bestowed with three first team All-Mountain Conference honors and two second team All-Mountain Conference honors.

Named first team All-Mountain Conference was freshman place kicker Luis Castellanos (Cathedral City H.S.). He was selected as the SCFA Special-Teams/All-Purpose Player of the Week in weeks one, five and seven, leading the team in nominations. Castellanos connected on 10 of 17 field goal attempts and was automatic on extra points, going 22 of 25. He added an impressive 49-yard field goal in a game at home against San Diego Mesa on October 28th for his longest field goal of the season. Although not awarded as a punter, Castellanos punted a total of 1,406 yards, averaging 32.7 yards per punt, with a long of 57 yards in a game at home against Santa Barbara City on September 30th.

Also being named first team All-Mountain Conference offense was sophomore offensive line Angel Gloria Gonzalez (Thermal Coachella Valley), helping the Desert running backs to collect 1,617 yards and giving the quarterbacks enough time to pass for 1,960 yards.

Also being named first team All-Mountain Conference defense was sophomore inside linebacker Austin Holt (Palatka, FL) finishing in the top 10 in conference in sacks with five, totaling 22 yards lost. He had 57 total tackles, 27 solo on the season and taking 14th in conference for tackles per game. Holt was named Southern California Defensive Player of the Week in weeks one and three. His most notable game of the season was a home game against West LA where he marked seven tackles, two assists, a sack for a loss of ten yards and assisting in two more for a total loss of 29 yards.

Named second team All-Mountain Conference offense was freshman wide receiver Kerrion Ringo (Evansville (IN) F.J. Reitz), collecting 35 catches for 569 yards and 5 touchdowns and finishing 1st in conference with an average of 63.2 yards per game. Ringo's longest reception being a 49 yard go-ahead score at Mt. San Jacinto in the 49th annual Palms-to-Pines Trophy game, helping the Roadrunner retain the trophy for the fourth consecutive season. He had a season high 213 yards on 11 receptions with two touchdowns on October 21st at home against San Bernardino Valley.

Also being named second team All-Mountain Conference offense was freshman running back Tony Williams (Indio Shadow Hills) who placed top five in conference in all aspects of the game. He placed 3rd in yards per game average with 87.8, carrying the ball 136 times for 777 yards and six visits to the end zone. Williams' best game of 2017 was at the 49th annual Palms-to-Pines Trophy game when he rushed for 207 yards and had two touchdowns. His longest carry of the season was in the same game, where he scampered 62 yards for the first touchdown at Mt. San Jacinto on October 14th.

Story by Ashtyn Lyneis (COD Sports Information)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.