Football Game Preview: Rancho Mirage Rattlers vs. Palm Desert Aztecs + How To Watch

Two dominant signal callers in Julian Hernandez and Alfred 'AJ' Rivera Jr. are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Rancho Mirage Rattlers will venture away from home to challenge the Palm Desert Aztecs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.

Things were looking good for Rancho Mirage after they put the first points on the board on Friday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They took an 18-14 hit to the loss column at the hands of Shadow Hills. The Rattlers were up 14-0 in the first quarter but couldn't hold on to the lead.

Although Rancho Mirage took the loss, they still got scores from Pedro Padilla and Aniken Castrejon.

Even if they lost, Rancho Mirage's defense still kept up the pressure with three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Josiah Casillas, Lytrell Cavers, and Evan Machuca, who each picked up one sack apiece. Padilla got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

The home team had won the previous three meetings between Palm Desert and Xavier Prep, and Xavier Prep kept the tradition alive. The Aztecs fell 19-14 to the Saints on Friday. While the Aztecs had to settle for second, they closed the game well in the third quarter, where they outscored the Saints 14-0.

Rancho Mirage's record now sits at 3-3. As for Palm Desert, their record is now an identical 3-3.

Rancho Mirage was able to grind out a solid win over Palm Desert in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, winning 17-10. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Rattlers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.