The Campolindo varsity football team will host Berkeley High School in a home playoff game today at 7 p.m. This exciting matchup is part of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships in Division 3. Both teams are ready to battle for a spot in the next round of the tournament.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Berkeley vs Campolindo
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game preview: Berkeley vs. Campolindo

As the high school football season draws to a close, two Bay Area teams, Berkeley and Campolindo, are showcasing their talent and competitive spirit. Both teams have posted identical overall records, finishing the season with a 5-5 mark, but their paths to this record and their performances tell distinct stories. Here’s a closer look at both teams, their statistics, and what each brings to the field.

Berkeley High School: A Balanced but Struggling Campaign

Berkeley’s football team finished the season with an overall record of 5-5, which reflects a mixed performance across both league and non-league games. In league play, Berkeley managed just a 2-4 record, which placed them in the middle of the pack in their section. However, the team’s home record of 4-1 showed that they were able to take advantage of playing on their own turf, while their away performances left much to be desired with a 1-4 road record.

When it comes to scoring, Berkeley averaged 18.5 points per game. They had their best offensive quarter in the first, scoring an average of 6.5 points per game. However, their scoring dwindled in the second (3.8 points), third (3.5 points), and fourth (3.3 points) quarters, which may have been a factor in their struggles, particularly in close games. Despite these challenges, the team scored a solid 185 points over the course of the season, while conceding 158.

Campolindo High School: A Competitive and Resilient Effort

Campolindo’s season also ended with a 5-5 record, but their performances in league play were notably more balanced, finishing with a 2-2 mark. The Cougars’ overall performance showed a bit more consistency, with a respectable 3-2 record in away games, but they only managed a 2-3 mark at home. Their scoring average of 19.5 points per game was slightly higher than Berkeley’s, suggesting a more potent offense.

Breaking down their scoring by quarters, Campolindo had a more balanced attack throughout the game, with their highest average scoring output coming in the fourth quarter (7.3 points). This shows that the team had a tendency to come alive late in games, likely contributing to several close, competitive matchups. Their offense scored 195 points over the course of the season, while allowing 187 points. While the Cougars’ defense may have given up a few more points, their ability to perform late in games made them a difficult opponent.

Comparison and Conclusion

Both Berkeley and Campolindo ended the season with the same 5-5 overall record, but the teams’ respective records in league play tell a slightly different story. Berkeley’s struggles in league games (2-4) were marked by inconsistencies, particularly in their away games. On the other hand, Campolindo’s more balanced league performance (2-2) showed a stronger ability to compete within their section.

In terms of scoring, Campolindo had a higher overall average, scoring an additional 10 points over the course of the season. While Berkeley started strong in the first quarter, their inability to sustain that momentum in the second, third, and fourth quarters limited their ability to close out games. Campolindo, by contrast, seemed to find its stride later in games, particularly in the final quarter.

In conclusion, both teams demonstrated their competitive abilities, but Campolindo’s slightly more consistent offensive performance and stronger late-game execution could give them the edge moving into the postseason, assuming they can improve defensively. Berkeley, meanwhile, will need to find a way to maintain their early-game intensity and finish strong in future seasons.

In a showdown between two evenly matched teams, Berkeley and Campolindo both carry 5-5 overall records into this contest. Despite their similar records, the teams differ in their offensive and defensive approaches. Let’s dive into a detailed comparison of the teams based on key statistics, player performances, and their records.

Offensive Comparison

• Rushing Yards Per Game: Campolindo has the edge in the running game, averaging 115.9 rushing yards per game, compared to Berkeley’s 61.7 yards per game. Berkeley’s lack of a strong rushing attack has likely placed more pressure on their passing game to carry the offense, while Campolindo has been able to establish a more balanced offensive approach.
• Passing Yards Per Game: In the passing game, Berkeley holds a clear advantage with 225.1 passing yards per game, a substantial increase over Campolindo’s 134.3 passing yards per game. Idan Wade-Curiel, Berkeley’s quarterback, has been key to their aerial attack, helping the team achieve high yardage despite a lack of ground game. Campolindo, however, has struggled to move the ball through the air, with Reid Habas leading the passing game, but still falling well short of Berkeley’s yardage totals.
• Receiving Yards Per Game: This is another category where Berkeley shines, averaging 220.8 receiving yards per game—far outpacing Campolindo’s 134.3 receiving yards per game. Ashton Dotson has been the primary receiving threat for Berkeley, while Joe Revelos has been the standout for Campolindo, contributing 65.7 receiving yards per game.
• Total Yards Per Game: Berkeley leads in total yardage with 286.8 total yards per game, while Campolindo averages 250.2 total yards per game. This again highlights Berkeley’s strong passing game, while Campolindo’s more balanced offensive attack results in lower overall yardage.

Defensive Comparison

• Tackles Per Game: Berkeley’s defense is much more active, averaging 48.8 tackles per game, which is a stark contrast to Campolindo’s 10.5 tackles per game. This suggests that Berkeley’s defense is more engaged and potentially more effective in slowing down opposing offenses.
• Sacks Per Game: Berkeley also has a significant advantage in pass rush, averaging 4.0 sacks per game compared to Campolindo’s 1.0 sacks per game. This ability to pressure the quarterback could be key to disrupting Campolindo’s offensive rhythm, especially given their struggles in the passing game.

Scoring Comparison

• Points Per Game: The teams are closely matched in scoring, with Berkeley averaging 19.5 points per game and Campolindo averaging 19.9 points per game. This demonstrates that despite their differences in offensive yardage, both teams manage to score similarly, though Campolindo’s slightly higher scoring average suggests a more efficient offensive system.

Key Players

• Berkeley:
  • Idan Wade-Curiel has been instrumental in Berkeley’s offense, leading the team with 140.0 passing yards per game and a total of 146.8 yards per game.
  • Ashton Dotson has emerged as a top target, leading the team with 74.9 receiving yards per game and contributing 4.5 points per game.
  • On defense, Lucas Cord has been the tackle leader with 7.8 tackles per game, while Jin Jones leads the team with 1.7 sacks per game.
• Campolindo:
  • Reid Habas has been the focal point of Campolindo’s offense, recording 140.2 passing yards per game, while also contributing 142.3 total yards per game.
  • Joe Revelos has been Campolindo’s top receiver with 65.7 receiving yards per game and a team-leading 5.3 points per game.
  • On defense, Mack Fisher has been a standout with 3.4 tackles per game, while Teo Antonios-Mccrea leads the team with 1.0 sack per game.

Record Breakdown

• Berkeley: Despite their offensive advantages, Berkeley’s 5-5 record reflects a team that has been inconsistent. Their 2-4 league record suggests they’ve faced challenges against stronger teams in their conference, though their 3-1 non-league record shows they can compete with out-of-conference opponents. They are also 4-1 at home, showcasing a strong presence in front of their fans, but they are just 1-4 away from home, which has hurt their chances in road games.
• Campolindo: Campolindo’s 5-5 record mirrors Berkeley’s overall performance. They also show a 2-2 record in league play and a 3-3 non-league record. Campolindo’s 3-2 record at home is strong, but their 2-3 away record has kept them from performing consistently on the road. However, they remain competitive in both league and non-league play.

Head-to-Head and Common Opponents

Both teams have yet to face each other this season, but their common opponents show similar outcomes. They each faced a mix of victories and losses, with neither team dominating their shared opponents. Both Berkeley and Campolindo were able to win games against non-league teams but struggled in key league matchups.

Conclusion

In this matchup, Berkeley enters with a more potent passing game and a defense capable of generating significant pressure on the quarterback. Their Idan Wade-Curiel-led passing offense and Palenapa Mataafa-led rushing game give them a multifaceted attack, though their lack of a strong rushing attack could be a limitation. On the defensive side, Berkeley’s ability to rack up tackles and sacks gives them a clear edge in disrupting the opposing offense.

Campolindo, while averaging fewer yards, is a more balanced team. They are not as reliant on one facet of the game, but instead focus on a more even distribution of yards between rushing, passing, and receiving. While their defensive numbers are less impressive, they still manage to score nearly as much as Berkeley, meaning they can keep games close.

Ultimately, this game may come down to Berkeley’s ability to dominate in the passing game and defensive pressure, versus Campolindo’s need for balance and efficiency. Berkeley’s strong defense could be the key to stopping Campolindo’s offensive drives, but Campolindo’s experience in keeping games tight might give them an advantage in a close contest.