Among the players who should make a huge jump in production from 2025 to 2026, place Coachella Valley High School’s senior quarterback Ivan Garza near the top of the list.
Garza is not only coming off a strong junior season, where he helped lead the Arabs to a Desert Valley League title and a run to a CIF Southern Section semifinal, but he now steps into even more of a starring role and with the offense squarely on his shoulders.
Last season, Garza wasn’t expected to be the clear leader of a very good offense. He had a 2,000-yard rusher in Ivan Camargo playing in the backfield with him. Garza was more of a game-manager, and he did that very well, with 1,795 yards and 19 touchdown passes and just four interceptions in 10 games. He missed three games due to injury.
For that reason, Garza checks in at No. 6 on The Desert Sun’s preseason Elite 11, highlighting the top players in the valley ahead of the 2026 season.
This season, with Camargo graduated, Garza will carry more of the offense on his shoulders, and he should be ready for it. In addition to the experience of last year, Garza added about 15 pounds and still managed to increase his speed and jumping ability during the spring track season.
The question now shouldn’t be whether Garza has a more productive season. It should be how much more productive will it be.
Andrew John covers sports and recreation in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com and find him on Instagram at @desertwriter.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: This Coachella Valley QB checks in at No. 6 on the 2026 Elite 11
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
