Desert View’s 5–0 Start Is Just the Beginning of a Bright Future

If you've watched Desert View for even a quarter this fall, you feel it right away: this is a group that knows exactly who it is. Five weeks in, they're 5–0 with an average margin of victory right around 30 points. That isn't smoke-and-mirrors, that's a team controlling games front to back.   The defense is living in the plus column with two takeaways a night (already 6 INTs and 4 fumble recoveries), and the offense is the kind of balanced that coaches dream about — 14 rushing TDs / 789 yards on the ground paired with 11 passing TDs / 1,154 yards through the air. They've already logged two 300‑plus passing nights as a team and three games with 149+ rushing yards, which tells you this isn't a one‑trick pony. Whatever you try to take away, they've got a counter.   The tape backs up the scoreboard. It's not just the points; it's the way they're getting them.    Vasavilbaso is exactly the kind of quarterback a team like this needs. He doesn't wow you with a cannon arm or highlight-reel scrambles, but his 72% completion rate is no fluke. He's poised, sees leverage clearly, and puts the ball where it needs to be with a steady rhythm that keeps the offense ahead of the chains. When the play design calls for a quick hitter, it's out on time; when the defense shows a crease downfield, he drops it in with touch. That consistency means Desert View isn't wasting possessions — they're finishing drives, chewing clock when needed, and giving their playmakers chances in stride. In a season defined by youth stepping into the spotlight, Vasavilbaso's calm decision-making and steady hand are what make it all click.     Every team needs a receiver who knows how to get open when it matters most, and Soto has been that guy. He's not relying on blazing speed — though he can separate vertically when needed — but on strong hands, sharp routes, and situational awareness that makes him invaluable. On third downs, he's fighting through contact to move the sticks. In the red zone, he understands spacing and timing to box out defenders for six. And when things break down, he has the knack for working back to his quarterback and bailing the play out. That kind of reliability can't be overstated; it's what keeps drives alive and gives this young roster a foundation. Soto may not always be the flashiest stat line, but he's the guy defenses have to respect every snap, and his presence steadies the offense in a way that doesn't show up in the box score.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Building Blocks of Tomorrow</h2>   Here's the fun part for the program: even if this season takes a left turn — injuries, weird bounces, you name it — there's plenty of optimism about the future because so much of the production is coming from underclassmen. They're not just filling spots, they're being relied on at key positions. A sophomore bellcow at running back. Sophomore tone‑setters in the front seven who can wreck a play before it starts. A freshman receiver who already looks like he's been on varsity for years. That combination — seniors setting the standard while the next wave is already making plays — is how you build something that lasts beyond a hot start.    13 touchdowns in five games isn't an accident. Abraham brings the kind of suddenness that makes free rushers whiff in space and turns "uh-oh" backfield visits into "oh wow" chunk gains. He's got the short‑area pop to cut on a dime, but what sets him apart is how he runs through arm contact and lands forward. Despite a smaller frame, he's comfortable living between the tackles and trusting the crease before exploding through it. You can see defenses committing extra hats to him, and that's when Desert View punishes teams with play‑action. He's also a real receiving option, not a novelty swing-pass guy — which expands the play sheet on third downs and in the red zone. He's a sophomore now; add another year of hitting the weight room and a little more size, and you're looking at a real problem for the rest of the region.     Medrano is the kind of athlete who ruins the best-laid plans. He's already got two interceptions this year, and here's the twist — both came while he was rushing off the edge. That's length and timing to get in the lane, plus the hands to finish the play. As a run defender, he closes space fast, knifing into gaps and blowing up schemes that look clean on the whiteboard. You can stand him up, walk him down, or let him scrape from off the ball, and he still finds the action. The stat line tells a story (second on the team in tackles, leading in TFLs), but the film tells an even better one: this is a sophomore who already changes protections and forces quarterbacks to blink.     Morando's get-off jumps out immediately. He's out of his stance and into the fight before most linemen have uncoiled, and he pairs that burst with some great instincts — if the guard in front of him pulls, he's on a string, chasing the block into the alley and inserting right where the ball is headed. And if the first move doesn't land, he doesn't fade away. He just keeps grinding — the motor stays on, the hands keep battling, and a play that looked lost can flip because he won't let a blocker off easy. You won't always see it in sack numbers, but you see it in hurried throws, messy pockets, and drives that stall out because he forced a second-and-long.     It's not normal for a freshman to be your second‑leading receiver, but Rodarte doesn't move around like a freshman. He's got length and strong hands, always finishing plays — especially when the ball's in the air and there's contact coming. You can see the trust building: when defenses widen out to handle the run and Soto, Rodarte sneaks into voids and turns targets into explosives. He's already shown the speed to finish once he's behind coverage and the poise to secure deep shots through hits. The wild part? He's got three and a half seasons of high school football in front of him. The ceiling here is sky high.

If you've watched Desert View for even a quarter this fall, you feel it right away: this is a group that knows exactly who it is. Five weeks in, they're 5–0 with an average margin of victory right around 30 points. That isn't smoke-and-mirrors, that's a team controlling games front to back.