The Palo Alto varsity football team will face off against Aptos in an exciting neutral playoff game on Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 CIF Central Coast Section Football Championships, Division III. Both teams will be battling for a spot to advance in the tournament.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Aptos vs Palo Alto
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF Central Coast Section Football Championships (California) – Division III
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Aptos vs. Palo Alto

The 2024-2025 high school football season has presented notable performances from both Aptos and Palo Alto, showcasing competitive spirits and commendable efforts. Here’s an analytical breakdown of their season stats and team dynamics.

Overall and League Performance

Aptos concluded the season with a 6-5 overall record, highlighting a balanced performance but showing areas for potential improvement within league play. Their league record stood at 2-4, translating to a .333 winning percentage in that category. This indicates that while Aptos managed to perform well outside league competition (4-1 at home), they struggled within their league, impacting their sectional ranking of 312 in California.

Palo Alto, with a similar overall record of 6-5, demonstrated comparable results but faced significant challenges in league games, recording a 1-4 league performance (.200 win percentage). Despite an impressive away record of 4-2, their difficulties in home games (2-3) and league matchups contributed to their CA sectional ranking of 260.

Offensive and Defensive Highlights

When examining points for (PF) and points against (PA), Aptos scored 278 points over the season while conceding 318, revealing a slight deficit that underscores areas for defensive enhancement. Their scoring differential hints at competitive games that ultimately fell short due to lapses, particularly in league play.

Palo Alto, on the other hand, accumulated 249 points while allowing 235. This closer margin between PF and PA suggests tighter game results, showcasing Palo Alto’s relatively stronger defensive efforts compared to Aptos, albeit with challenges in sustaining offensive pressure throughout matches.

Scoring Averages by Quarter

An analysis of scoring averages per quarter provides further insights:

• Aptos exhibited consistent scoring across quarters, peaking in the second (9.0) and maintaining steady contributions in the third (6.7) and fourth (6.0). Their final average score per game was 25.3 points.
• Palo Alto showed a different trend, with their highest output in the second quarter (11.2) followed by matching third-quarter figures (6.7) but a noticeable drop in the fourth (4.3). Their final game average was 22.6 points.

This scoring breakdown suggests that Aptos demonstrated balanced efforts throughout their games, maintaining competitiveness from start to finish. Conversely, Palo Alto struggled to maintain momentum, particularly in the latter stages of games, which may have contributed to their league play challenges.

As the 2024-2025 football season continues to build excitement, the upcoming clash between the Aptos Mariners (6-5) and the Palo Alto Vikings (6-5) is set to be a tightly contested battle. Both teams hold identical records and have showcased their strengths throughout the season in different areas. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how these two teams compare ahead of their face-off.

Team Stat Comparison

The Aptos Mariners bring a strong ground game to the table, averaging an impressive 272.7 rushing yards per game. Their run-first approach has been their hallmark, supported by a modest 51.2 passing yards per game, resulting in a total offensive output of 323.9 total yards per game. Defensively, the Mariners have shown resilience, though their average of 7.5 tackles per game and 0.4 sacks per game indicates room for improvement.

Palo Alto, on the other hand, boasts a more balanced offensive strategy with 137.7 rushing yards per game and a stronger passing game at 150.5 passing yards per game. This combination brings their total yardage to 288.2 yards per game, slightly trailing Aptos. Defensively, Palo Alto has shown more consistency with 77.1 tackles per game and 1.1 sacks per game, giving them an edge in stopping the opposing offense. The Vikings have also racked up 176 pancake blocks, showcasing their strong offensive line play.

Points Per Game is almost neck-and-neck, with Aptos averaging 23.5 and Palo Alto close behind at 22.6, indicating that this matchup could come down to which team executes better under pressure.

Team Leaders to Watch

• Aptos:
  • #21 Desean Gomez is the backbone of Aptos’ rushing attack, averaging 88.3 rushing yards per game. His ability to break tackles and find gaps will be crucial.
  • #2 Joshua Bermio, the quarterback, averages 43.4 passing yards per game. While the passing game is not their primary focus, Bermio’s precision will be key in critical moments.
  • #42 Owen Warmerdam leads in receiving with 18.0 yards per game, providing a reliable, albeit limited, passing option.
  • #52 Buck Caris anchors the defense with 5.0 tackles per game, playing an essential role in halting Palo Alto’s varied offense.
• Palo Alto:
  • #22 Joseph Kessler contributes on both sides of the ball, averaging 55.1 rushing yards per game and leading the defense with 12.1 tackles per game, making him a two-way threat.
  • #2 Justin Fung is a standout quarterback, averaging 150.5 passing yards per game and 154.5 total yards per game. His performance will be vital in challenging Aptos’ defensive secondary.
  • #10 Jeremiah Fung, the team’s top receiver, averages 75.9 receiving yards per game and scores 5.3 points per game, underscoring his importance in key offensive drives.
  • #75 Jeremiah Stallworth leads with 38 pancake blocks, showcasing his role in protecting the quarterback and creating running lanes.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced King’s Academy and emerged victorious:

• Aptos defeated King’s Academy convincingly 28-6 on 8/30/24.
• Palo Alto secured their win against King’s Academy with a similar outcome, 27-6 on 9/27/24.

This shared success against King’s Academy highlights the competitive parity between the two teams, adding an extra layer of anticipation to their upcoming matchup.

Record Breakdown

Both teams sport a 6-5 overall record, but their paths to this point reveal some differences:

• Aptos holds a 2-4 league record, indicating struggles within their conference but compensates with a strong 4-1 non-league record. Their away performance has been solid at 4-2, which could bode well for playing in different environments.
• Palo Alto has a 1-4 league record but a robust 4-1 non-league performance. They’ve been more balanced at home (2-3) and away (4-2), suggesting adaptability.

Both teams also boast 1-0 playoff records, showing their potential to deliver in high-stakes situations.

Conclusion

The Aptos Mariners and Palo Alto Vikings bring unique strengths to this matchup. Aptos’ formidable rushing attack, led by Desean Gomez, will face a test against Palo Alto’s sturdy defense. Meanwhile, Justin Fung’s passing prowess and the offensive line strength of Palo Alto, highlighted by Jeremiah Stallworth’s pancake blocks, could provide the Vikings an edge in maintaining offensive momentum.

With both teams averaging nearly identical points per game, this showdown promises to be a tightly contested battle where every play counts. Aptos’ ground game versus Palo Alto’s balanced attack sets the stage for a thrilling encounter that will be decided by execution, defense, and key individual performances.