2018 Schedule Preview - COD Football

The upcoming 2018 season puts some new teams in new places as the SCFA reorganized all six Divisions and the College of the Desert Roadrunners looks to return three All-Conference selections.

Under fifth-year head coach Jack Steptoe, Desert looks to bring back three freshman All-Mountain Conference selections for their sophomore seasons, including place kicker and All-State selection Luis Castellanos (Cathedral City H.S.), along with running back Tony Williams (Indio Shadow Hills) and wide receiver Kerrion Ringo (Evansville (IN) F.J. Reitz). While the team finished 4-6 overall and 1-4 in conference, prospects are looking up for the 2018 season.

COD opens the season on the road, at the Pasadena City Lancers on September 1st. The last time the Roadrunners faced the Lancers was 2011, both teams have only faced each other 3 times, with the Lancers holding a 2-1 edge on Desert. The first time either team faced each other was in the 1992 Rose City Classic Bowl game in 1992, where the Roadrunners, then coached by Steve Dostal, fell to the Lancers, 28-27. The lone victory over Pasadena City was in 2011 in Palm Desert, where the Roadrunners skewered the Lancers, 58-28.

The Roadrunners then travel to the Santa Monica Corsairs on September 8th, where Desert is looking to reverse their recent woes against the Corsairs. Since 1986, the Roadrunners are 1-3, winning a 2001 game at Santa Monica, 28-17, but falling at home by a score of 68-25 in 2015 and in 2014, falling at Santa Monica, 53-39.

Finally, after being on the road for two weeks, the Roadrunners return home on September 15th to face a team they have not seen in Palm Desert since 2009, the Cerritos Falcons. Desert has only met the Falcons twice in program history, in 2008 and 2009, falling in both contests, 45-27 and 27-17 respectively.
After an early bye week, the Roadrunners host the L.A. Pierce Bahamas on September 19th. Since 1999, the Brahmas hold a 4-1-1 record over Desert, including a 1-1-1 record in Palm Desert. But the Roadrunners have one of the most lopsided home victories in program history, and the recipient of that offensive barrage was Pierce in 2001, when Desert demolished the Brahmas, 72-13.

Then the Roadrunners welcome in a familiar face on October 6th, as Desert hosts former head coach, Dean Dowty (2006-2013/33-48), and the L.A. Harbor Seahawks. Since 1986, the Seahawks hold a slight edge on the series, with a 3-2 record, and a 1-1 record in Palm Desert. 

Desert heads out on the road for the next two games, as they open up American Division-Mountain Conference play against an old Foothill Conference foe, the Citrus Fighting Owls, in Glendora on October 13th. Both teams have squared off a total of 16 times, with the Owls holding a 10-6 advantage in the series and an 8-1 record in Glendora, with the Roadrunners only win in the series at Citrus arriving in 2009, 17-10.

Then the Roadrunners head out to Lancaster on October 20th, to the home of the Antelope Valley Marauders. In 2017, both teams fought to a four overtime thriller, which the Roadrunners won on a 10 yard run by running back Kamone Best (Goldsboro (NC) Eastern Wayne) and a final score of 56-50 in Lancaster. The Marauders hold a 20-16-1 advantage in the series, which began in 1963, and at Antelope Valley, since 1981, the Roadrunners have a 6-9-1 record.

Desert will return home to take on longtime rival, the Victor Valley Rams on October 27th and then Desert will host the 51st "Palms-To-Pines" trophy game against the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles on November 3rd. The Eagles hold a slight edge in the series, 26-24, which began in 1967 and the Roadrunners have won the last three match-ups with Mt. San Jacinto.

The Roadrunners will wrap up the regular season on November 10th, at the San Bernardino Valley Wolverines and are looking to get back the trophy they lost last two seasons in the annual "COD-SBVC Challenge Trophy" game. The Wolverines hold a slight lead in the all-time series, with an 18-15 record, and the Roadrunners have a record of 6-9 in San Bernardino. Come out and support your Roadrunners this 2018 football season.

Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.