2023 Season in Review - COD Football

Since helming the program in 2014, Jack Steptoe has led the Roadrunners to three Bowl games. This season, Desert went 6-4 overall and 3-2 in American Division - Metro League play, which was good enough to secure a third-place finish.

The complete list of American-Metro League honorees can be found HERE

The Roadrunners broke some important records and settled some scores from decades past during the course of the 2023 season, as Desert defeated Glendale for only the second time in program history and defeated Los Angeles Pierce for the first time since 2001.

Freshman running back Kannin Boswell (Salina (UT) North Sevier) was named First team All-Metro League. He finished second in League in four major categories, including: rushing yards per game (104.4), rushing touchdowns (14), total carries (171) and yards per rush (6.5). Boswell was also the College of the Desert Student Athlete of the Month for the month of September as he had 3 of 5 games with 155+ yards of rushing, 9 touchdowns in the month of September, averaging 134 yards (rushing and receiving) per game. He rushed for over a thousand yards (1,044) in 10 games this season and probably would have had nearly 200 more had there not been a cancelled game against the Compton Tartars. Boswell's thousand-yard season was the best season by a Desert running back since La Quinta H.S. alum Frederick Collins accomplished the task in 2004, rushing for 1,113 yards in his sophomore season.

Sophomore linebacker Greyson Lafleur (Snohomish (WA) Glacier Peak) was also named First team All-Metro League. He finished tops in 3 of 4 major defensive categories: total tackles (77), tackles per game (8.6) and assisted tackles (49) and fourth in solo tackles with 28. Lafleur was also the College of the Desert Student Athlete of the Month for the month of October as he only two games in the entire month of October and Lafleur made the most of it, collecting 16 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He had his second-best tackle total of the season, 13 total tackles, in a 49-21 rout on the road at Victor Valley on October 28th.

Freshman kicker Dylan Armendariz (Palm Springs H.S.) was also named First team All-Metro League. He was tops in field goals made (9), field goal attempts (14), point after touchdown percentage (93%) and converted the longest field goal in the Conference (54 yards). His best and most impactful game of the season was at home against the Santa Monica Corsairs on September 9. Armendariz was perfect, knocking in four of four extra point attempts and converting field goals of 22 and 39 yards for a total of 10 points in a 46-45 win.

Sophomore defensive back Shyde Elam (Las Vegas (NV) Western) was named First team All-Metro League. He was named top five in solo tackles (30 – 3rd) and sacks (5.5 – 4th) and top ten in assist tackles (26 – 7th), total tackles (56 – 6th) and tackles per game (5.6 – 7th). His best game of the season was at home against the Pasadena City Lancers, where Elam dominated with 11 total tackles, 7 solo, and grabbed 2 sacks for a total of 12 lost yards.

Sophomore wide receiver Frankie Valentino (Cathedral City H.S.) was also named First team All-Metro League. He was a force to be reckoned with at the receiver position, grabbing top five in all offensive categories: receptions (38 – 5th), yards (773 – 2nd), yards per catch (20.3 – 2nd) and touchdowns (8 – 2nd). His best and most impactful game of the season was at home against the Santa Monica Corsairs on September 9. Valentino had 6 receptions for 136 yards, a long of 65 and a score.

Sophomore Offensive Lineman Diego Becerra (Indio Shadow Hills) was also named First team All-Metro League.

Sophomore quarterback Brycen Blankenship (Monroe (WA) H.S.) was named Second team All-Metro League. He finished top three in Conference or higher in seven different categories: completions (124 – 3rd), attempts (213 – 3rd), completion percentage (58.2% - 2nd), yards (1624 – 3rd), yards per game (162.4 – 3rd), touchdowns (15 – 3rd) and pass efficiency (142.7 – 3rd). His best game of the season was at home against the Santa Monica Corsairs on September 9, where he went 21 of 33 for 389 yards and 3 scores.

Freshman defensive tackle Kristian Verdun (McDonough (GA) Union Grove) was also named Second team All-Metro League. He finished above top five in Conference in five different categories: total tackles (50 – 2nd), solo tackles (23 – 4th), tackles per game (5.6 – 2nd), assisted tackles (27 – 5th) and fumble recoveries (2 – 1st). His best game of the season was at the Santa Ana Dons on Veterans Day, November 11, where he had 11 total tackles, 7 solo.

Sophomore running back Ilyas Abdullah (Playa Del Rey Westchester Enriched Sciences) was also named Second team All-Metro League. He completed the "1-2 punch" in the backfield that kept opposing defenses on their heels, finishing Conference play collecting a top five finish in five categories: rushes (79 -5th), yards (541 – 3rd), yards per game (67.6 – 3rd), yards per rush (6.8 – 1st) and touchdowns (5 – 4th). His best game all-around game of the season was at the Glendale Vaqueros on September 2, where he had 17 carries for 99 yards, with 5.8 yards per rush and a long of 22 yards.

Freshman outside linebacker Jermaine Stewart, Jr. (Destrehan (LA) H.S.) was also named Second team All-Metro League and had an amazing game in the Southern California Bowl at Santa Ana on November 19, grabbing a season high 12 total tackles including a season high 7 solo.

Sophomore wide receiver Dylan Maldonado (Rancho Cucamonga H.S.) was also named Second team All-Metro League. He finished above top ten in Conference in four different categories: receptions (23 – 9th), yards (349 – 9th), yards per game (40 – 9th) and touchdowns (2 – 8th). His best game of the season was at home against the Pasadena City Lancers on September 16, where Maldonado gabbed 5 passes for 66 yards, 13.2 yards per catch and a long of 23 yards.

Freshman inside linebacker Nicolas Guzman (Rancho Mirage H.S.) was also named Second team All-Metro League. He finished above top five in Conference in three different categories: assists (41 – 2nd), tackles (62 – 4th) and tackles per game (7.5 – 4th). His best game of the season was at home against the Chaffey Panthers on October 21, where Guzman had 12 total tackles including 10 assisted tackles.

Sophomore offensive lineman Adrian Rabun (Longmont (CO) Skyline) and freshman offensive lineman Manuel Nieto (Streator (IL) Worthy S. Streator Township) were also named Second team All-Metro League.

Freshman defensive end Callum Armstrong (La Quinta H.S.) was also named Second team All-Metro League, ranking top ten in Conference in assisted tackles (12 – 8th) and top five in sacks (5 – 4th) and sack yards (35 – 5th). His best game of the season was at home against the Chaffey Panthers on October 21, where Armstrong had 9 total tackles including 7 assisted tackles.

Freshman corner Myron West (North Las Vegas (NV) Legacy H.S.) was also named Second team All-Metro League, leading the Conference in interceptions with four and stopping receivers with 10 broken up passes. His best and most impactful game of the season was at home against the Santa Monica Corsairs on September 9, where West had 10 total tackles including 7 assisted tackles, including a huge pick in the endzone in the second quarter to keep Santa Monica off of the scoreboard.

Sophomore punter Mauricio Lopez (Laredo (TX) John B. Alexander) was also named Second team All-Metro League. He led the Conference in longest punt of the season, 62 yards, an accomplishment he completed twice. Lopez finished in the top five in Conference in all statistical categories including: punts (26 – 4th), yards (973 – 4th) and inside the 20 (6 – 3rd).

Freshman punt returner John Williamson (Deatsville (AL) Holtville) was also named Second team All-Metro League.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).