The Summerville (Tuolumne, CA) varsity football team will face Big Valley Christian (Modesto, CA) in a neutral playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs – Division 7 tournament, as both teams compete for postseason advancement.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Big Valley Christian vs Summerville
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs – Division 7
Live stream: Watch Here
Game Preview: Big Valley Christian vs. Summerville
As the 2024 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs – Division 7 tournament intensifies, the neutral-site game between Big Valley Christian and Summerville promises to be an exciting battle. Both teams come into the matchup with different season histories, but both have their strengths that make this game highly anticipated.
Big Valley Christian: A Team Looking to Build Momentum
Big Valley Christian enters the playoffs with a 7-5 overall record, having finished 3-3 in league play. While their record is a bit more modest, they’ve shown resilience on both home (4-2) and away (2-3) fields, and they remain unbeaten in neutral-site games (1-0). With a win percentage of .583 and a league percentage of .500, Big Valley Christian is looking to capitalize on their playoff opportunity.
Offensively, Big Valley Christian averages 33.3 points per game. Their strongest quarter comes in the second, where they average 15.8 points. However, their scoring tends to dip in the third and fourth quarters, making late-game adjustments important. With 400 points scored and 271 allowed, Big Valley Christian will need to play disciplined football to keep up with Summerville’s high-powered offense.
Summerville: A High-Flying Offense and Dominant Season
Summerville enters this playoff contest as one of the most dominant teams in the region, boasting a 10-1 overall record and an impressive 5-1 league mark. The team has been exceptional at home (6-1) and on the road (3-0), with a perfect 1-0 neutral-site record. Summerville’s win percentage of .909 and league percentage of .833 demonstrate their overall strength this season.
On offense, Summerville has been exceptional, averaging a staggering 43.4 points per game. They start strong with 11.0 points in the first quarter and 16.6 points in the second, but they continue to perform throughout the game, maintaining an average of 7.4 points in the third quarter and 5.4 in the fourth. With 477 points scored and only 121 points allowed, Summerville has been a powerhouse, showcasing both their offensive firepower and defensive dominance.
Key Differences in Scoring Trends
The most significant difference between these two teams is their offensive output. Summerville’s offense is explosive across all four quarters, especially in the first half where they average nearly 28 points. On the other hand, Big Valley Christian has a strong second quarter but experiences a dip in the second half, particularly in the third and fourth quarters. Summerville’s ability to consistently score throughout the game, coupled with Big Valley Christian’s inconsistency in the second half, could prove to be a decisive factor in this matchup.
Looking Ahead
As the two teams prepare for their neutral-site showdown, Summerville’s dominant season and high-scoring offense make them the clear favorites. However, Big Valley Christian’s ability to score in bursts and their resilience in tight games should not be underestimated. If Big Valley Christian can find a way to control the tempo and slow down Summerville’s fast-paced offense, they could keep the game competitive.
As the 2024 football season comes to a close, Big Valley Christian and Summerville are two teams with very different styles of play but both with successful seasons under their belts. Big Valley Christian, with a 7-5 overall record, will face Summerville, which boasts an impressive 10-1 record. This matchup promises to be a clash of high-powered offense against disciplined defense. Let’s dive deeper into the team stats, key players, and their path to the postseason.
Team Stat Comparison
Big Valley Christian comes into the game with a solid offensive output, averaging 338.2 total yards per game, including 221.8 rushing yards per game and 116.4 passing yards per game. The team has been dynamic in both phases of the offense, with a strong running game led by Jeremie Jourdan (82.0 rushing yards per game) and a balanced passing attack orchestrated by Travis Lema (115.4 passing yards per game).
On defense, Big Valley Christian has averaged 50.6 tackles per game, with Titus Beers leading the team with 8.0 tackles per game. They have also managed to generate some pressure, with Beers recording 0.8 sacks per game. Despite giving up an average of 33.2 points per game, their offense has often been explosive enough to outscore opponents.
In contrast, Summerville has relied more on its defense, limiting opponents to only 6.3 points per game—a testament to their strong defensive unit. However, the team has been more conservative on offense, with Summerville averaging 335.3 total yards per game, mostly relying on their rushing game. Their offense is less dynamic in the passing game, averaging just 72.6 passing yards per game, but their defense has been the standout feature of the season.
Key Players
Big Valley Christian’s success largely hinges on the playmaking abilities of Jeremie Jourdan and Travis Lema. Jourdan has been a force in the running game, averaging 82.0 rushing yards per game, and has shown the ability to make big plays when needed. Lema’s dual-threat capabilities have made him a key player, as he’s responsible for 115.4 passing yards per game and 118.8 total yards per game.
Titus Beers has also been a standout on both sides of the ball, contributing not only as a receiver, with 56.5 receiving yards per game, but also as a top tackler and a disruptive force in the backfield, with 0.8 sacks per game. His ability to impact both the offense and defense makes him a key player in this matchup.
On Summerville’s side, the team has not been as reliant on individual stars as much as it has on team-wide defensive dominance. Bryson Benites has been the team’s leading scorer, with 6.9 points per game, but Summerville’s real strength lies in its defensive depth. With such a low points-against average, it’s clear that this team thrives on stopping opponents rather than high-scoring shootouts.
Record Breakdown
Both teams have had successful campaigns this year, with Summerville at 10-1 and Big Valley Christian at 7-5. Summerville has dominated their league with a 5-1 record, while Big Valley Christian has had a mixed run with a 3-3 league record. Despite their .500 league record, Big Valley Christian’s strong non-league performance (4-2) has kept them in contention.
In contrast, Summerville has been nearly flawless outside of league play, going 4-0 in non-league games. Their only loss of the season came in a close matchup with Calaveras, a 35-34 defeat, which showed that even strong defenses can be challenged under the right circumstances.
Common Opponents
The two teams share several common opponents, which provides some insight into how they stack up against similar competition. Big Valley Christian and Summerville both defeated Denair early in the season, with Big Valley Christian winning 36-30 on August 24, 2024, and Summerville dominating 38-0 on August 30, 2024.
Another key win came for both teams against Waterford, with Big Valley Christian winning 55-25 on November 15, 2024, and Summerville securing a 46-12 victory on September 6, 2024. These results show that both teams can handle their non-league opponents with relative ease.
Conclusion
As Big Valley Christian and Summerville prepare to face off, it will be interesting to see which team’s strengths will prevail. Big Valley Christian brings a high-powered offense, led by a dynamic rushing attack and an efficient passing game. Meanwhile, Summerville’s exceptional defense, which has allowed them to give up less than 7 points per game, will look to stifle Big Valley Christian’s offense and keep the game low-scoring.
The game will likely hinge on whether Big Valley Christian can maintain its offensive rhythm against a tough defensive opponent, while Summerville will need to generate some offense of their own to complement their elite defense. With both teams showing resilience and determination, this matchup promises to be an exciting contest to watch as they look to continue their journey in the postseason.
