The Bloomfield (NM) varsity football team will host Bernalillo (NM) in a home playoff game today at 1 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 Nusenda Credit Union State Football Championships – 4A tournament.

Bloomfield vs Bernalillo Football Game Info:

What: New Mexico High School Football
Who: Bloomfield vs Bernalillo
When: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Time: 1 PM
Bracket: 2024 Nusenda Credit Union State Football Championships – 4A
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Game preview: Bloomfield vs Bernalillo

The 2024 high school football playoff matchup between Bernalillo and Bloomfield promises to be an exciting contest as the two teams head into this high-stakes game with strong records and impressive performances throughout the season.

Team Records and Performance

Bernalillo enters the game with a solid 9-2 overall record and a 5-2 district record. Their success has been largely attributed to their consistent performance at home, where they remain undefeated with a 7-0 record. The team has been averaging 30.2 points per game this season, powered by their strong offensive line and playmakers like Uriel Castro, who leads the team with impressive passing and total yardage.

On the other hand, Bloomfield comes into the game with a perfect 10-0 record, showcasing a dominant performance throughout the season. They have not lost a game, posting a flawless 7-0 district record. With an explosive offense averaging 47.1 points per game, Bloomfield has demonstrated an ability to not only score but also stifle their opponents defensively, allowing just 47 total points across 10 games.

Offensive Firepower

Bloomfield’s offense has been impressive, especially their passing game, where quarterback Blake Spencer has posted 292.7 yards per game, leading the team in total yards (472.4 per game). Their running back Peyton Duncan also excels with 107.9 rushing yards per game. Their offense is complemented by standout players like Kaleb Hutchens and Spencer, who form a dangerous duo in the receiving game, accounting for a substantial portion of the team’s 263.3 receiving yards per game.

Bernalillo, while not quite as explosive, has shown consistent offensive production with 30.2 points per game. Uriel Castro has been key for the team, passing for 209.9 yards per game and helping the offense accumulate 303.4 total yards per game. Joseph Duran has been a reliable target in the receiving game with 78.2 yards per game.

Defensive Comparisons

Defensively, Bernalillo has held its own, with Mario Molinar averaging 11.7 tackles per game and the team posting 73.9 tackles per game overall. While their sack numbers are modest, with 3.6 sacks per game, their defense has been effective at shutting down opposing offenses when it counts.

Bloomfield has a slightly stronger defense in terms of sacks, averaging 1.5 per game, led by Logan Gosnell and Yahir Jimenez. The team also averages 72 tackles per game. Despite giving up more yards than Bernalillo, Bloomfield’s defense has consistently been able to stifle key plays when they need to, particularly in critical situations.

Recent Head-to-Head

In their most recent meeting on October 18, 2024, Bloomfield won decisively 20-7 in a game where they controlled the tempo, especially in the first half. Despite a solid second-half showing from Bernalillo, Bloomfield’s defense and timely offense proved too much to overcome.

Common Opponents

Both teams have had strong seasons against common opponents. Bernalillo is 5-1 against shared teams, with notable wins over Moriarty, Kirtland Central, and Aztec. Bloomfield has been even more dominant, finishing 6-0 against the same set of teams, including impressive victories over Espanola Valley and Grants.

Key Matchup

This game will likely come down to the battle between Bloomfield’s high-scoring offense and Bernalillo’s ability to stymie opposing teams. Bloomfield has the edge in terms of scoring, but Bernalillo’s balanced attack and defensive resilience could help them keep the game close and potentially cause an upset.

With both teams entering the game with impressive playoff resumes, this clash is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2024 football postseason. Will Bernalillo’s defense be able to contain Bloomfield’s prolific offense, or will the perfect season continue for Bloomfield as they march towards a state title?