With a playoff berth and local bragging rights at stake, crosstown rivals Dos Pueblos High School and San Marcos High School football teams will face off Thursday night at Warkentin Stadium. This historically heated Channel League matchup will determine which team will claim the final spot in the 2025 CIF playoffs.
“The biggest challenge is going to be the mental aspect of it,” said Micah Barnhart (12), DPHS football’s wide receiver and team captain. “Playing in their stadium, it could be our last game of the season, and that adds a lot of pressure. It’s win or go home.”
Both teams enter the matchup tied 2-2 in Channel League play, with the Chargers seeking redemption after falling short in previous rivalry matchups.
“For us, it’s another exciting opportunity,” said Alexandros Pateras, DPHS head coach. “We’ve lost to San Marcos the past three years, but this year we feel we’re the better team, and we want our players to go out there confidently and play our game.”
However, that opportunity won’t come easily. In recent years, the rivalry has long favored SMHS, with the Royals dominating the Chargers 42-0 last season, 28-7 the year before, and 34-14 in 2022–a streak Barnhart is determined to break.
“Since I’ve been in high school, we’ve never beaten San Marcos,” Barnhart said. “So to beat them my senior year as my last game would mean everything to me.”
Growing up in the same community, many Chargers and Royals have known each other for years, adding another layer of heat to the matchup.
“It’ll be intense,” said Rafael Molina, SMHS head football coach. “A lot of these guys know each other, they’ve known each other for years, and that adds to it, that just makes the game that much better. It’ll be a fun time.”
DPHS defensive tackle and football captain, Kaarlo Malik Anderson (12), said he hasn’t fully grasped the potential of Thursday’s game being his last.
“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” Anderson said. “It probably won’t until the buzzer sounds, but I’m ready to go out–lay it all on the line, and have a great time doing it.”
Along with Barnhart and Anderson, the rest of the team has been feeling a mixture of emotions that come with a high-stakes matchup.
“I told them they need to acknowledge their emotions,” Pateras said. “We need to embrace our emotions, play with confidence, and be the best version of ourselves this week. If we do that, we’ll put ourselves in a good position for the playoffs.”
Barnhart said despite the “strong sense of rivalry,” the Chargers aren’t allowing their intense emotions to take over.
“The main focus is that it’s not about [San Marcos], but it’s about us,” Barnhart said. “So staying focused on ourselves and our jobs instead of getting all caught up in the trash talk online or the fact that we’re playing in such a big game.”
To prepare for the upcoming game, both coaching staffs have filled practices with film study, workouts, and mental preparation.
“It just comes down to execution, guys doing their job,” Pateras said. “Everybody has a role, from starters to backups. It’s about understanding play calls, knowing formational tendencies, and reacting the right way.”
While both teams have been preparing for Thursday’s matchup on the field, the rivalry also extends onto the stands, fueling excitement across both campuses for what’s expected to be an “electric” student section.
“I think the game is going to be really fun this year,” said Nika Entezari (10), SMHS Sophomore ASB President. “SM students see DP as a big rivalry.”
With the added pressure from the students, players on both sides feel the weight of the anticipated game.
“I think the pressure from the community will be hard, especially going to SM, and being in that environment, it’s gonna be hostile,” DPHS quarterback Grady Felix (10) said. “It’s just gonna be a lot of pressure and feeling like we have something to prove.”
The historic rivalry between DPHS and SMHS will be felt both on the field and on both sidelines during Thursday’s matchup. The teams are set to kick off at 7 p.m. for the final playoff spot.
SMHS running back Cole Dominguez did not respond to the request for an interview before the deadline
