High school sports coverage plan for 2022: Don't sleep on us!
Shad Powers
We do a lot of preseason lists, predictions and projections when it comes to our desert high school teams: The Elite 11 football players, the Top Fall-Winter-Spring athletes, power rankings, etc.
And there's a phrase we hear a lot from athletes who feel snubbed if they are not on these lists, or teams that don't like where we predict them to finish. And that phrase is: "You're sleeping on us!"
Those players and teams think their efforts and hard work aren't being appreciated. We get it. It makes perfect sense to us, because we feel the same way.
In fact, we're using that phrase ourselves this year. For those of you out there who don't already have a subscription to The Desert Sun, I'll just go ahead and say it: "You're sleeping on us!"
More:He's No. 11 on the 2022 Elite 11 football team: Meet Xavier Prep defensive end Kyle Hill
More:Here's what we'll be watching closely this football season in the Coachella Valley
More:High school insider: The 10 best games on the 2022 football schedule
Here's what high school sports fans can expect with their subscription this year:
Football
Our reporters and photographers are all award-winning journalists working hard, often in the heat and often at odd hours. None of us will have a Friday night off for the foreseeable future. Here's what we will provide gridiron fans this year.
Lists: Our Elite 11 preseason players list, our weekly power rankings and our All-Desert Sun end-of-the-year football team foster tons of discussion, passion and controversy.
Friday Night Hero: Our weekly top players which you can vote for on Instagram
Team previews: A closer look at all 14 desert 11-man teams, including players to watch and schedules
Game stories: We're on the scene giving you the play-by-play, the analysis and the interviews that go beyond the score.
Social media: If you aren't already, follow us on Instagram (@desertsunsports), Twitter (@desertsunsports) and Facebook (Desert Sun Sports). We love to show off our photos and stories, and to interact with players and fans.
Live scoring: You'll find live scoring updates every Friday night during the season on our website
Amazing photography: Our award-winning photographers are shooting the shots that athletes then share on social media or use as their icons. We love to see it.
Feature stories: We unearth those unusual and fascinating stories that showcase our gridiron stars off the field.
Predictions: Reporter Andrew John and myself pick every game all year long. You can then remind us how wrong we are when the game is over.
New for 2022: We have a new partnership with Deadline Sports that will help us provide updated desert statistical leaders, rosters, schedules and scores throughout the season
Non-football sports
We are increasing our dedication to the sports that don't use a helmet as well.
This year you can expect the same amazing photography and feature stories, but much more of the always-popular and controversial preseason and postseason lists.
For every sport this year, you'll find a preseason players-to-watch list and a postseason All-Desert Sun team.
Between those, you'll find weekly coverage including our running list of athletes of the week, big-game coverage, action photos, feature stories and more.
We're dedicated to making sure your favorite high school athlete gets the coverage he or she deserves.
It's content you're going to want to see. And it is in no way expensive. Right now, for example, you can get the first three months for $1. That will get you through the high school football season. A whole year is less than $1 a week, and there are always special deals throughout the year.
Click right here to subscribe. You'll be glad you did.
In other words: Don't sleep on us.
Shad Powers covers high school sports for The Desert Sun. Have a question, suggestion or story idea for him? Reach him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.
