Palo Verde eyes history as Yellow Jackets host Semifinal

BLYTHE, Calif. (KYMA) - For the fourth time in school history, Palo Verde High School is playing deep into November, and this time, the Yellow Jackets get to chase a spot in the Division V-AA championship game right at home.

Head Coach Wally Grant says the message all week has been simple: Don't change what got you here.

"We take this like we take every practice," Grant said. "Routine is all the same. I don't hype it too much. I don’t want the kids to get so excited that they lose the meaning of the game."

For Grant, keeping the team grounded goes hand in hand with appreciating just how rare this run is.

"I want the kids to appreciate where they're at, and where a whole bunch of teams in Southern California aren't," he said. "They've already turned in gear. It's special that we're still here."

Palo Verde welcomes Mountain Empire on Friday, a team Grant says mirrors the Yellow Jackets in philosophy and execution.

"They run a handful of plays, and they run them extremely well," he said. "It's basically two teams trying to establish the run and impose their will on each other."

Grant expects Mountain Empire to mix in passing looks, but said the focus is on forcing them into less comfortable options.

"We're going to try to take away what they do best and make them beat us with their fourth or fifth-best stuff," he said. "And I imagine they'll try to do the same thing to us."

Palo Verde's small-town support system is one of its biggest advantages, and Grant knows it.

"Anytime we get to play a home game in this community, it's special," he said. "This community will show out. They'll support these kids because they know the product is being done the right way."

After years of traveling deep into the playoffs, having the semifinal in Blythe means even more.

For Grant, this season goes beyond wins and losses. After stepping away for a time, returning to the sidelines has been deeply personal.

"I can't tell you how much I dreamt about being able to come back," he said. "To watch these kids trust me, watch that bond develop...It's remarkable."

Palo Verde endured a tough midseason stretch, going three straight weeks without the results they wanted. But Grant says the response defined the team’s character.

"They didn't cheat the process," he said. "They kept coming out, getting better, and eventually the wins came. It's been a great ride.

Grant also made sure to give credit where it matters most.

"A shoutout to my wife...she's put up with this for 30 years," he said. 'It's a grind on her and on all my family. Their support means everything."

Palo Verde hosts Mountain Empire Friday at 7 p.m. at Scott Stadium with a trip to the CIF championship game on the line.