The San Ramon Valley varsity football team will host a home playoff game against California High School today at 7 p.m. This exciting matchup is part of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships in Division 1/Open, as both teams 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: California vs San Ramon Valley
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game preview: California vs. San Ramon Valley

Tonight, the San Ramon Valley (SRV) varsity football team will face off against California High School in a highly anticipated home playoff game at 7 p.m. The matchup is part of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships in Division 1/Open, and both teams are primed for an exciting contest.

Team Records & Rankings:

• California (8-2 overall, 2-2 league): The Grizzlies are coming into the game with an overall strong record, boasting an .800 win percentage. They’ve been competitive both at home (4-1) and on the road (4-1), with a total of 378 points scored and 273 points allowed. Their offensive attack is dynamic, averaging 37.8 points per game, with their highest scoring output in the second quarter (11.8 points). California has demonstrated resilience and a strong finish, scoring 6 points per game in the fourth quarter, which could be key in a tight playoff atmosphere.
• San Ramon Valley (9-1 overall, 3-1 league): The Wolves enter the game as the higher-ranked team in the North Coast Section, with a .900 win percentage. With a dominant 5-0 record at home, they’ve proven themselves formidable on their own turf. SRV’s offense has averaged 32.6 points per game, led by a balanced attack that shines in the first half (9.3 points in the first quarter and 14.7 in the second). With a total of 326 points scored and just 155 points allowed, their defense has been a force, keeping opponents in check all season.

Key Stats & Insights:

While both teams have explosive offenses, SRV has the edge in scoring defense, having allowed just 155 points across 10 games. California, on the other hand, has scored nearly 400 points this season, showing a potent ability to light up the scoreboard. The Grizzlies’ ability to sustain strong offensive production into the second half could give them an advantage, particularly in late-game situations, with their ability to score 7.4 points in the fourth quarter and 6 points in overtime.

As the clock winds down tonight, expect both teams to bring their best, with California looking to pull off an upset and San Ramon Valley hoping to protect their home turf. Whether it’s a defensive battle or an offensive shootout, this game promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the opening round of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships.

As two of the top teams in the region, California and San Ramon Valley both boast impressive records and strong performances across multiple statistical categories. Here’s a closer look at how these teams stack up against each other based on their overall performance, key players, and common opponents.

Offensive Comparison

• Rushing Yards Per Game: California leads in this category, with an impressive 280.1 rushing yards per game, led by their star running back Jhadis Luckey, who averages 198.3 yards per game. In comparison, San Ramon Valley is much more balanced, recording 106.3 rushing yards per game. The difference here indicates California’s strong ground game, making them a powerful force when it comes to controlling the clock and moving the ball on the ground.
• Passing Yards Per Game: On the other hand, San Ramon Valley excels in the air, with Rhett Thompson at the helm, averaging 219.1 passing yards per game. This is significantly higher than California’s 147.5 passing yards per game. However, both teams are well above the national average for passing yards, with California’s passing game still proving effective despite being less of a focal point than their rushing attack.
• Receiving Yards Per Game: Both teams are nearly tied in this category, with California averaging 148.5 receiving yards per game and San Ramon Valley at 228.9 yards. Nic Fox leads California with 91.7 receiving yards per game, while Owen Scott of San Ramon Valley adds 71.5 yards per game. This shows that San Ramon Valley’s receiving game is slightly more potent overall.
• Total Yards Per Game: California dominates in total yardage, averaging 427.6 yards per game, which is a well-rounded mix of rushing and passing. In comparison, San Ramon Valley averages 335.2 yards per game, which is slightly lower, but still a strong showing.

Defensive Comparison

• Tackles Per Game: California’s defense is stronger in terms of volume, averaging 70.4 tackles per game compared to San Ramon Valley’s 51.1 tackles per game. This could indicate that California’s defense is more active, particularly in disrupting the offense and making tackles in the backfield.
• Sacks Per Game: San Ramon Valley has the upper hand in pass rush, with 3.1 sacks per game, which is slightly better than California’s 2.6 sacks per game. San Ramon Valley’s defense may have a bit more pressure on the quarterback, making it harder for opposing offenses to execute their passing game effectively.

Scoring Comparison

• Points Per Game: California averages 37.8 points per game, slightly ahead of San Ramon Valley’s 32.6 points per game. Both teams are well above the national average of 2.6 points per game, reflecting their high-scoring offenses. California’s ability to put up big numbers, especially in the rushing game, gives them the edge in offensive production.

Key Players

• California: The key player for California is Jhadis Luckey, who leads the team in both rushing yards and total yards per game. His explosive running style allows California to control the pace of the game and dominate possession. Additionally, Arjun Banerjee is a reliable passing option, while Jacob Stickevers contributes on defense with 8.9 tackles per game.
• San Ramon Valley: For San Ramon Valley, Rhett Thompson is the standout performer in the passing game, leading the team in both passing yards and total yards per game. Owen Scott is a key receiving target, and on defense, Marco Jones has been impressive with 9.5 tackles per game, while Kaleb Pleis leads the team with 1.3 sacks per game.

Record Breakdown

• California: With an 8-2 overall record, California has proven to be a force in both league and non-league play. Their 6-0 record in non-league games is especially noteworthy, showcasing their ability to compete against teams outside their conference. However, their 2-2 league record suggests that they might face challenges against tougher opponents in their division.
• San Ramon Valley: San Ramon Valley boasts a 9-1 overall record, including a perfect 6-0 record in non-league games. Like California, they have also excelled against common opponents, winning their games decisively. With a 3-1 league record, they are in strong contention in their conference and have the edge in head-to-head matchups.

Common Opponents Comparison

• Both teams share a similar track record against common opponents, each posting a 3-1 record in those matchups. Here’s a breakdown of how each team performed:
  • Granada: Both teams secured wins against Granada, with California winning 35-10 and San Ramon Valley winning 35-6.
  • Monte Vista: California defeated Monte Vista 50-36, while San Ramon Valley secured a 38-7 victory over the same opponent.
  • De La Salle: Both teams faced De La Salle with California losing 48-10 and San Ramon Valley falling 42-14, showing that De La Salle was a tough matchup for both.
  • Amador Valley: Both teams triumphed over Amador Valley, with California winning 54-48 and San Ramon Valley squeezing out a 29-28 victory.

Conclusion

In this matchup between California and San Ramon Valley, it’s clear that both teams are capable of putting up impressive offensive numbers, but they do so in different ways. California’s strength lies in its dominant rushing attack, led by Jhadis Luckey, while San Ramon Valley has a more balanced offensive game, with a stronger passing attack led by Rhett Thompson.

On defense, California’s higher tackle numbers suggest they are more active on that side of the ball, although San Ramon Valley’s pass rush is slightly more effective. Both teams are capable of scoring at a high clip, with California averaging more points per game.

Ultimately, the key to victory for California may lie in its ability to dominate on the ground and control the clock, while San Ramon Valley will likely need to rely on its potent passing attack and better pass rush to disrupt California’s rhythm. Given their impressive records and similar performances against common opponents, this game should be a hard-fought contest, with both teams bringing a lot of firepower to the field.