Imperial Valley Football Action Begins Friday Night

By
Chris Furguson
The Imperial Valley League Football Season begins in earnest this Friday, September 3 for most of the schools with a series of non-league preseason games.
Last year’s IVL champion Central Spartans (8-2 regular season, 5-0 in IVL) won the championship outright at last year’s Bell Game against the Brawley Wildcats.  For their first game of the football season, the Spartans, coached by Kevin Bird, will take on Lucky Arvizo’s Cibola Raiders in Yuma on Friday.  Game time is 7 pm.
The Brawley Wildcats (8-2 regular season, 5-0 IVL) lost the overall IVL title at the Bell Game against the Spartans at Cal Jones Field.  This is also the final season for Brawley head coach John Bishop, who has been the Brawley Coach since 1996.  Brawley’s first game will be an away game against the Cathedral City Lions.  The Lions (1-9) hope to bring a fresh start to their football program in 2010 with new coach Rich McClure.  Game starts in Cathedral City at 7 pm.
The Palo Verde Valley Yellowjackets (6-4 regular season, 3-2 IVL), which went home with third place overall in the IVL last year by a single point last year looks to try to match up to either Central or Brawley this season.  Their first opponent in the 2010 season will be the Parker Broncs in Parker.  Gametime is 7 pm.
The Southwest Eagles (6-4 regular season, 1-4 IVL) nearly ended up in the cellar of the IVL in 2009 despite a 5-0 record in pre-IVL games, hopes that with a new season comes a better record in the league.  Dave Drury and the Eagles head towards the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks, who come off a 50-7 win over the Kofa Kings.  Gametime is 7 pm.
Last year’s “dogs” of the IVL standings, the Calexico Bulldogs (1-8 overall, 0-5 IVL), have already had a coaching controversy prior to the school year starting.  Cal Armstrong will lead his Bulldog team against the San Diego Cavers in San Diego on Friday.  Gametime is 7 pm.
The Imperial Tigers (3-7 regular season, 2-3 IVL), which missed out on third place by a single point in their first run in the Imperial Valley League in many years last season, hopes to improve on their record this year.  Their season begins with a home win against the Horizon Panthers next week, on September 10, at Shimamito-Simpson Stadium.  Game starts at 7 pm.
The three non-IVL teams will also see football action this week in pre-Pacific League play.
The Holtville Vikings (1-9 regular season, 1-6 Pacific League) look to improve on last season’s record with returning coach Keith Smith Jr. at the helm and ten returning offensive starters and six returning on defense.  Holtville’s first game in 2010 will be against the Calvary Murrieta Warriors in Murrieta, CA.  Gametime is 7 pm.
The Calipatria Hornets (6-4 regular season, 3-4 Pacific League) look to make an even better showing than last year.  The team, led by David Shaw, will have a home game against the Julian Eagles.  Gametime is 7 pm.
Vincent Memorial’s Scots (0-9 regular season, 0-7 Pacific League) will also look to improve their record from last year, starting off this Friday at home against the Rock Academy Warriors.  Gametime is 7 pm.