College of the Desert football team secured a home victory against Los Angeles Southwest on Oct. 11, kicking off the fall season with a burst of energy that had students and fans cheering well past the final touchdown with a score of 24-23. The win added momentum to the Roadrunners’ season, energizing both players and fans heading into the next round of conference play.
Students filled the bleachers throughout the night, many sharing their excitement about supporting the team and spending time with friends.
“This is the second game I’ve attended, I’m excited to finally start showing some school spirit,” said student Emmanuel Ramos, a physical therapy assistant at College of the Desert. “This is a much better turnout; the results are showing with the score right now.” The team scored multiple touchdowns throughout the game, bringing energy to both the crowd and the players on the field.
Some of the players shared their enthusiasm and insights on their home win. “Going into this week, we were a little shaky, but we had a great practice overall, and we came out and proved it,” said player Noah Vaughn-Israel. “24-23 we should be about 60, personally, but at the end of the day we got it done and we just need to win and keep it going,” said player Latrell Joseph.
When asked about any goals for improvement moving forward, player Ayden Ogilvie emphasized loosening up against rivals, “I can improve on being more physical with the linemen for sure, definitely keep my head up and be more physical.”
Head coach Jack Steptoe also shared his plans for the season. “I would like to win the conference,” he said. “This is a good start. We needed to win this first game for the conference, then go out on the road next week, beat Compton, and come back to win our homecoming game as well. The goal is to win conference, you can’t just lose conference.”
As the Roadrunners look ahead to the rest of the season, both players and supporters express the win as a reminder of how teamwork and campus spirit go hand in hand.
For more information about the game, visit the COD Athletics page.
