Palm Springs football notes

Here are some tidbits about the Palm Springs High School football team as it prepares to host Carter at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Central Division playoffs.

As healthy as possible: After playing 12 games, the Indians definitely have their share of bumps and bruises, but they have been fortunate not to lose any key players for the season to injuries.

Wind shouldn’t be a factor: According to weather.com, it’s warmer in San Francisco than Palm Springs right now at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Although it will be cool Friday, the wind that’s been whipping around the desert will die down by Friday night.

Home sweet home: The Indians have won 22 consecutive games at home. Their last defeat was in 2008 to Colton (20-10). That is significant if they beat Carter and advance to the CIF Central Division championship game. Rancho Verde, the No. 1 overall seed, is favored to beat Colony at home Friday. If the bracket holds true to form, Palm Springs will host the Mustangs next week because it won the coin flip between the two schools.

Bowl berth possible?: One week after the CIF Southern Section championship games, the CIF hosts five state championship bowl games at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Palm Springs is currently ranked No. 7 in Division II South in the latest Cal-Hi Sports bowl rankings.  Rancho Verde is No. 2. If Palm Springs were to defeat the Mustangs, could it earn a bowl berth? Helix,  a San Diego Section school located in La Mesa, is No. 1 in the Cal-Hi Sports poll. If Helix wins the San Diego Section title, it looks like the favorite to earn a bowl berth regardless of whether Palm Springs wins the Central title. If Helix loses, and the Indians have a 14-0 record, they will have to be considered.