DESERT BURIES THE PAST; ENTHUSIASM HAS PROGRAM WINNING.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Randy Bennett and Casey Jordan are the last links to Desert High's dark days in football.

Bennett and Jordan were among the survivors of an 0-10 season two years ago. It was the third consecutive winless season, a span of 30 defeats for the Scorpions.

At the end of the year, sophomores Jordan and Bennett were among a varsity roster that numbered all of 13 players. The Scorpions lost games by lopsided scores like 63-0 and 55-7.

Bennett remembers showing up at practice and not running any offensive plays for two weeks.

``Everyone had just given up. Nobody really cared,'' Bennett said. ``(Former coach Dana) Coleman didn't even care anymore.''

For Jordan, his lasting memory of the streak was the apathy on campus at this tiny school located inside Edwards Air Force Base.

``Everyone was against us. They'd always tell us, `You suck' and stuff like that,'' Jordan said. ``And that was tough because there were guys like Randy and me . . . who worked hard every day.''

Two years later, losing is no longer a given at Desert. Bennett and Jordan are seniors, two of the leaders on a team with 30 members.

One season after breaking the streak and finishing 4-7 with a playoff berth, the Scorpions lost another game last Friday, hardly anything new here.

Except that the 42-20 High Desert League defeat at Mojave was the Scorpions' first of 1999. Desert had started the season 7-0 and was ranked fifth in the Southern Section Division XII poll.

This was not the continuation of a dubious losing skid, but the snapping of a seven-game winning streak, and the Scorpions were fuming after the loss that dropped them two spots in the poll.

``A lot of the guys were walking off the field shouting, `We don't lose football games. We don't lose anymore,' '' Bennett said.

Second-year coach Mike Reno knows no other way but winning. He has assisted two of the area's most successful head coaches, Canyon's Harry Welch and Antelope Valley's Brent Newcomb.

Desert doesn't have such tradition. And convincing his Scorpions that losing isn't acceptable is an on-going challenge.

The Scorpions, who admittedly played a watered-down nonleague schedule, blew out Frazier Mountain 58-10 in their High Desert League opener.

Reno found himself making sure his players knew not to run up the score against the outmanned Falcons.

``We're not used to that,'' Reno said. ``These guys are used to being on the other end of those kinds of games.''

Reno said the older players, the ones who watched the struggles of 1997, reverted back to the past in the Mojave game.

``I feared that I'd be getting them too high for the game,'' Reno said. ``There were a lot of people in the stands. It was homecoming, it was Khoury Davis' birthday,'' said Reno, referring to the Mustangs' star running back who died shortly before the start of the season. ``We were a little too relaxed probably.''

Bennett said the atmosphere at Monday's practice following the Mojave loss was more focused, and the Scorpions were working harder than the week before.

It's a necessity with the Scorpions hosting 8-0 Rosamond, Division XII's top-ranked team, on Friday.

If his team hustles like in practice, Bennett said Desert has a good chance to upset the Roadrunners.

And even if Desert loses for a second consecutive week, the Scorpions are already guaranteed a winning season and are closing in on a playoff berth.

While depth is still a concern, the Scorpions no longer worry about finding 11 able volunteers to field a team like two years ago.

``I've got a lot of kids telling me they're going to come out for football next year,'' Reno said.

And there are five freshmen and two sophomores on the varsity, all of whom are key contributors, including standout sophomore quarterback Justin Dion and versatile freshman Rudy Burgess, who has played running back and wide receiver on offense, starts in the defensive secondary and blocked a last-second field goal to preserve a 37-35 win over Bishop on Oct. 22.

The young talent should provide a foundation that could make Desert a consistent winner.

``We're getting a lot of experience playing as freshmen. Normally you play on the JV team your first year, and I consider it a privilege to play varsity as a freshman,'' Burgess said. ``I know we're taking football more seriously here.''

Nobody at Desert is aware of this more than Bennett and Jordan, both defensive and offensive linemen.

Jordan's memories of the `You suck' taunts by his classmates have been replaced by a rejuvenated school spirit on Friday nights.

``The stands are a lot more full for games now. And the students are going to the games and buying the T-shirts,'' Jordan said. ``We're showing that Desert High School does have a good football program.''

DESERT SWARM

Desert High, which lost 30 straight games between 1995 and '97, is now 7-1 entering Friday's game against Rosamond. Here is a look at the Scorpions' year-by-year performance since 1995:

1995: 0-10

1996: 0-10

1997: 0-10

1998: 4-7, advanced to Southern Section playoffs; lost 42-22 to Paraclete in first round

1999: 7-1 overall, 3-1 in High Desert League; ranked seventh in Division XII; have outscored opponents 324-132

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Sophomore quarterback Justin Dion is one of the underclassmen with which Desert High is building a strong foundation.

(2 -- color) Assisting at successful programs has helped Desert coach Mike Reno instill a winning attitude.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Box: Desert Swarm (see text)