A season in transition
Desert Chapel High School, a small campus in the Coachella Valley, announced that it will field an 8‑man football team for the 2026 season, a drastic reduction from the traditional 11‑player format.
The decision comes after three years in which the program compiled a combined record of just five wins and eighteen losses, a performance that left the team short on bodies for safe competition.
Interim head coach Scott Alvarez said the change was driven by safety concerns and the need to protect players when the roster could not sustain an 11‑player lineup.
Eligibility questions loom
The first scheduled game of the season, slated for August 28 against Whittier Christian, was canceled as the school recalibrates its slate and seeks viable opponents for the reduced format.
Two key players have already moved on. Samuel Mourhess, who started at quarterback last season, transferred to Xavier Prep in Palm Desert, while receiver Jayvon Garcia, who amassed 65 catches for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns, is headed to Desert Christian Academy in Bermuda Dunes.
School officials are in ongoing talks with the CIF Southern Section to address eligibility rules for the transferring athletes and to smooth the transition for the remaining roster.
Community members hope the new approach will revitalize interest in the program and provide a more sustainable path forward, even as the school navigates the logistical challenges of a smaller, safer football operation.