Desert Mirage football short on numbers, not on heart

With the sun beating down on the east valley a small but tight knit family continues to push on.

“We have 26 kids out here that love being here. Here everyday working their butts off. We’re going to coach them up. We don’t look out in the parking lot waiting for more to show up,” Eric Perry said.

Just 26 players on the Desert Mirage football team that all believe the time is now.

“It is this year, I’m going to say it now, it is this year,” Manny Ridge said.

Last year 2-8 but fought through the final game till the final whistle. They lost to their rival Coachella by less than a touchdown.

“Find too many positives in losing but the kids saw they could compete with the league champion. It really spilled over into the off season,” Perry said.

Everything starts with Manny Ridge, their work horse senior tail back in the back field.

“He led the state in carries, 44 a game. Would carry the ball 44 times and be out here Monday the first guy running sprints,” Perry said.

“My mom had to get me up out of bed, so that was pretty much how I felt,” Ridge said.

The little engine that could.

“Just a tough durable kid who has a motor that doesn’t stop,” Perry said.

“If I have to I will try to go through you. Might not work but I will try it cause I am man enough to do it,” Ridge said.

The Rams know if they want to be successful they will have to balance between handing the ball to Ridge and letting the ball fly.

“Fake the ball to him, he draws a lot of attention on the defense. Which leaves a lot of wide outs open or at least man on man coverage,” Perry said.

“Possibly make it to CIF if that is possible. Making memories with my brothers that is nothing else I could ask for,” Anthony Marmolejo said.

There is just two freshman and no sophomores on this roster, so they do need people but not just anybody can wear the Rams’ jersey.

“Come to the sport and if you do you better have the will to stay in the sport. If you don’t you aren’t going to make it. Don’t come if you don’t have the will,” Ridge said.

The 2018 high school football previews will air up until the season starts, which is Friday, August 17th for some of our area teams.

Blake Arthur and Cody Krupp will have complete coverage. Follow them on Twitter for more @BlakeArthurKESQ @CodyWKrupp