The Desert Sun's Week 1 high school football picks. Do you agree?

The picks are in for Week 1 of the high school football season in the Coachella Valley.

Our coverage team is back with their picks for this week's games, starting Thursday and extending into Friday.

Sports reporter Andrew John and sports editor Shad Powers will share their picks each week and keep a running tally of how their picks perform throughout the season.

For now, we're looking at just Week 1 games. We'll start with Andrew's picks and then see if Shad agrees.

Thursday's games

• Hemet 21, Palm Springs 13
• Desert Mirage 27, Duarte 25

Friday's games

• Santa Rosa Academy 34, Cathedral City 20
• Desert Hot Springs 21, Tahquitz 17
• Indio 28, San Bernardino 19
• Desert Christian Academy 34, Twentynine Palms 23
• Rancho Mirage 26, Yucca Valley 20
• Palm Desert 24, Brawley 18
• Rim of the World 27, Xavier Prep 26
• Esperanza 34, Shadow Hills 31

Andrew's Game of the Week: Rancho Mirage at Yucca Valley — I'll be at this game and I'm looking forward to seeing some of the fastest and most athletic players in the valley matchup. I think Yucca Valley's Ian Jarrett and Aiden Pope will be electric, but I'm leaning toward the Rattlers in this game because I think the athletes they have in Jesse Valle, Zavier Washington, Josiah Casillas and Jadarius Hester can match up well with Jarrett and Pope.

Aug. 20 (Thursday)

• Palm Springs 27, Hemet 21
• Desert Mirage 44, Duarte 22

Aug. 21

• Santa Rosa Academy 31, Cathedral City 14
• Tahquitz 38, Desert Hot Springs 27
• Indio 38, San Bernardino 14
• Desert Christian Academy 48, Twentynine Palms 21
• Rancho Mirage 30, Yucca Valley 27
• Palm Desert 33, Brawley 6
• Xavier Prep 27, Rim of the World 23
• Shadow Hills 37, Esperanza 12

Shad's Game of the Week: Twentynine Palms at Desert Christian Academy — I think a question a lot of valley football fans have is "How good is Desert Christian Academy, really?" I'm happy they are playing more other valley teams this year like 29, Cathedral City, Yucca Valley. That helps gave a reference point. This opener should be fascinating. the Conquerors have a high-octane offense, but don't sleep on the Wildcats QB Josh Reynoso. I like DCA to win but the Wildcats to hit on some big plays.

Andrew John covers sports and recreation in the Coachella Valley at The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Find him on Instagram at @desertwriter.

Shad Powers is the sports editor at The Desert Sun. Email him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The Desert Sun's Week 1 high school football picks. Do you agree?