College of the Desert Preview

COD seeks gridiron resurrection

COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Roadrunners' coach sees improvements at every position after a 1-9 year.
By ED CASTRO
The Press-Enterprise

PALM DESERT - College of the Desert football coach Dean Dowty got a late start last season.

Hired well into the offseason, Dowty had little time to recruit players or assemble a coaching staff. And he did what he could during summer practices.

His first season as COD's head coach resulted in a less-than-satisfying 1-9 record.

But he expects his 2007 team to be much better and as different from the 2006 squad as "night and day."

"It was extremely difficult," Dowty said of last season. "I've never been through anything like that before in my life."

Dowty said having a full offseason makes the biggest difference.

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Ramon Mena Owens / The Press-Enterprise
Returning sophomore Brent Rausch is one of three quarterbacks competing for the starting job at College of the Desert.
"This season we have had a good offseason of weight training. We had very good spring practices and we've had a year to work with a solid core of returnees," Dowty said. "And we did a real good job of recruiting."

Dowty said COD is bigger and stronger at every position.

"I'm extremely optimistic about the talent we have," Dowty said. "Talent-wise, we are about two levels higher than what we had last year."

The Roadrunners' strength on offense centers on their receivers. Sophomore returnee Quade Soffel (Palm Springs) will be a possession receiver, while deep threats include Mesa State, Colo., transfer Dominic Allen (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) and Edgar Thiler (6-2, 195), from Florida.

"If a defense plays tight on us, they will get run by," Dowty said.

The quarterback job, however, may switch hands early in the season. COD has three competitors for the job -- sophomore returnee Brent Rausch (Palm Springs Desert Chapel), freshman Jacoby Mitchell (Moreno Valley Canyon Springs) and freshman Derrick McGowan, a 2006 Yucca Valley graduate who enrolled in the spring.

Dowty said Rausch took the early lead with a strong offseason. Mitchell, however, is making a strong run with his mobility. McGowan, who threw for 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns two years ago at Yucca Valley, remains in contention.

The 6-4, 220-pound Rausch, who led Desert Chapel to CIF 8-man titles in 2004 and 2005, got the start for COD's scrimmage against Northern Arizona.

"I feel having been here a year has really been important for me," Rausch said. "I feel like I am a better quarterback."

COD's backfield will feature former Riverside King fullback David Thomas (6-2, 250), South Carolina's Queston Clement (6-0, 237) and Deshon Daniels, a 5-10, 185-pounder who rushed for 1,540 yards and 29 touchdowns for Miami Southridge.

"We have some real skilled athletes," Dowty said. "Deshon is very elusive."

The offensive line will feature returnee Mike Cronshagen, a 315-pound sophomore out of Palm Springs, and Moreno Valley freshman Eli Maufau.

Defensively, COD's coaching staff was optimistic about the potential of defensive linemen Lonnell Rice and Floyd Wafer (Moreno Valley) and linebackers Jared Shipley (La Quinta) and sophomore Draye Ersery.

Rice is a 6-6, 290-pound sophomore out of Moreno Valley Vista del Lago.

"I think the defense is going in the right direction right now," Rice said.