2021 Schedule Preview - COD Football

After a season off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Roadrunners Football looks to return with the upcoming 2021 season putting 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 sixth-year head coach Jack Steptoe, Desert looks to bring back three freshman All-Mountain Conference selections for their sophomore seasons, including linebacker Isaiah Sierra (Tucson (AZ) Empire), along with defensive end Tyrell Harvey (Springfield (MO) Central) and defensive lineman Toney Davis (Rockford (AL) Central of Coosa County). While the team finished 2-8 overall and 1-4 in conference in 2019, prospects are looking up for the 2021 season.

COD opens the season on the road, on September 4th at the San Bernardino Valley Wolverines and are looking to get back the "COD-SBVC Challenge Trophy" in the 36th season of this contest. The Wolverines hold a lead in the all-time series, with a 15-20 record, and the Roadrunners have a record of 7-11 in San Bernardino.

The Roadrunners then travel to an old Foothill Conference foe, the Citrus Fighting Owls, in Glendora on Patriot's Day, September 11th. Both teams have squared off a total of 18 times, with the Owls holding an 11-7 advantage in the series and an 9-1 record in Glendora. The Roadrunners grabbed a win last season over Citrus in Palm Desert when the Fighting Owls had to forfeit a 35-31 win over Desert.

Finally, after being on the road for two weeks, the Roadrunners return home on September 18th to face a team they have not seen in Palm Desert since 2016, the Los Angeles Valley Monarchs. Desert has faced off with the Monarchs eight times, each team splitting a 4-4 record, including a 2-2 record in Palm Desert. The most recent time the Roadrunners knocked off LA Valley was in 2011 and the last time Desert defeated the Monarchs at home was in 2010, by a score of 21-19. Fun Fact: Roadrunners Football head coach Jack Steptoe is in the LA Valley Athletics Hall of Fame, inducted in July 2017. You can read the story linked HERE.

Your Roadrunners will wrap up their non-Conference schedule hosting a team they have not seen in two decades, the Glendale Vaqueros. First meeting the Vaqueros in 1972, Desert looks to change their fortunes around, as the Roadrunners are winless in each of the four games that they have faced against Glendale.

After mid-season bye week, the Roadrunners will open up American Division-Mountain Conference play by traveling to the Pasadena City Lancers on October 9th. Both teams have only faced each other five times, with the Lancers holding a 4-1 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.

Then on October 16th the Roadrunners welcome in a team they have not played since 1989, the Los Angeles Southwest Cougars. Since their first meeting in 1971, Desert is a perfect 3-0 at home against the Cougars, leading the all-time series with a 5-2 record. One of those five wins over LA Southwest is more memorable than most, as the Steve Dostal coached Roadrunners defeated the Cougars in the 1989 Southern California Bowl, 17-3.

Desert will host the 53rd "Palms-To-Pines" trophy game against the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles on October 23rd. The Eagles hold a slight edge in the series, 27-24-1, which began in 1967 and the Roadrunners are looking to get the trophy back after last holding the vaunted hardware in 2017.

Desert heads out on the road for the next two games. Traveling to the Compton Tartars for a Halloween Eve matinee, taking on the Tartars for only the third time in program history, where Desert is undefeated.

Then the Roadrunners travel to the city of La Mesa on November 6th to face off with the Grossmont Griffins for the first time since 2013. Both teams have squared off a total of 26 times, with the Griffins holding a 16-7-3 advantage in the series, which stretches back to 1965, and an 9-3-2 record in La Mesa. The Roadrunners most recent win in the series was in 2008, at home, where Desert won, 47-40.

The Roadrunners will wrap up the regular season on November 13th, at home to take on longtime rival, the Victor Valley Rams for the 58th Homecoming Game. Desert has faced the Rams nearly every single season since 1967, with the Roadrunners holding a dominating 32-10 overall record against Victor Valley. Desert grabbed their most lopsided victory in program history against the Rams in 1987, defeating Victor Valley 72-0. Come out and support your Roadrunners this 2021 football season.

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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).