The ALA – Gilbert North varsity football team will host Campo Verde today at 7 p.m. in a home playoff game. This matchup is part of the 2024 AIA State Football Championships (Arizona) – Conference 5A tournament, where both teams will compete for a chance to advance to the next round.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Arizona High School Football Playoff
Who: Campo Verde vs ALA – Gilbert North
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 AIA State Football Championships (Arizona) – Conference 5A
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Campo Verde vs. ALA – Gilbert North

As the 2024 AIA State Football Championships heat up, one of the exciting playoff matchups in the Conference 5A tournament features Campo Verde High School facing off against ALA – Gilbert North. Both teams have had strong seasons, and this game promises to be a competitive contest as they fight for a spot in the next round of the playoffs.

Campo Verde: Perfect in Section Play, Solid All-Around

Campo Verde enters the game with an 8-3 overall record and a perfect 5-0 record in section play. The Coyotes have shown their strength in section matchups, which culminated in a flawless 5-0 performance against their rivals. Despite a few challenges in away games (3-3 record), Campo Verde has been consistent, especially in their section contests.

On offense, Campo Verde has averaged 23.1 points per game. They tend to get off to a solid start with 8.4 points in the first quarter, but their scoring slows down after that, with just 4.3 points in the second quarter and 2.0 in the third. However, they finish strong, with 6.1 points in the fourth quarter. Campo Verde’s ability to play well in section games and their knack for finishing games strong make them a formidable opponent in the playoffs.

ALA – Gilbert North: High Scoring and Strong at Home

ALA – Gilbert North also enters the postseason with an 8-3 record, matching Campo Verde’s overall win percentage of .727. The Eagles have been particularly dominant at home, with a 5-1 record on their turf, although they’ve faced some challenges on the road, with a 3-2 record in away games.

ALA – Gilbert North’s offense has been a major asset this season, averaging an impressive 32.3 points per game. The Eagles have been explosive, particularly in the latter stages of the game. They average 11.4 points in the fourth quarter, which is a significant advantage when it comes to closing out games. ALA – Gilbert North’s early-game scoring has been solid, with 6.4 points in the first quarter, but their second-quarter production is somewhat limited, averaging just 2.6 points. However, their ability to finish strong, particularly in the fourth, could be key to their success in the playoffs.

Key Matchup Factors

The key to this matchup will likely be ALA – Gilbert North’s ability to capitalize on their high-scoring offense and finish strong in the fourth quarter. They will need to overcome Campo Verde’s strong section play and solid finish to ensure they don’t get outpaced in the second half.

Campo Verde, on the other hand, will need to improve their scoring consistency, especially in the second and third quarters, to stay competitive with ALA – Gilbert North’s powerful offense. With both teams having shown the ability to close games strongly, the fourth quarter could be a critical factor in determining who advances in the playoffs.

As we move deeper into the season, two teams—Campo Verde and ALA – Gilbert North—have stood out with strong performances and high expectations. Both teams boast identical overall records of 8-3, and their respective performances so far reveal intriguing matchups on both sides of the ball. Let’s dive into the statistical comparison between these two teams and analyze how their strengths could shape any future matchups.

Team Stat Comparison

When comparing the teams’ overall offensive and defensive statistics, several key differences emerge.

• Rushing and Passing Offenses: Campo Verde has averaged 149.6 rushing yards per game, showing their reliance on the ground game. However, ALA – Gilbert North is not far behind with 130.8 rushing yards per game. Both teams feature strong running backs, with Campo Verde’s Bobby Blackburn leading the charge with 58.6 rushing yards per game, while ALA’s Kody Thorley averages 54.4 yards per game.However, ALA – Gilbert North has a clear advantage in the passing game. They boast 210.9 passing yards per game, nearly doubling Campo Verde’s 115.2 yards. Conner White has been a key player in the aerial attack for ALA, averaging 136.4 passing yards per game, while Campo Verde’s Karsten Lee leads the passing offense with 102.8 yards per game.
• Total Yards Per Game: ALA – Gilbert North edges out Campo Verde with 341.7 total yards per game compared to Campo Verde’s 264.8. This higher total comes from ALA’s stronger passing game and balanced offensive attack.

Defensive Comparison

Defensively, both teams are quite similar, though ALA – Gilbert North holds slight advantages in several key areas:

• Tackles Per Game: ALA – Gilbert North averages 59.2 tackles per game, compared to Campo Verde’s 48.7. This indicates that ALA is more aggressive in stopping plays and is often involved in more defensive stops.
• Sacks Per Game: Both teams are competitive here, with ALA averaging 2.7 sacks per game, slightly ahead of Campo Verde’s 2.2 sacks per game. Porter Keime of ALA leads the way with 0.9 sacks per game, while Campo Verde’s Peytyn Weimer has recorded 0.5 sacks per game.
• Pancake Blocks: ALA – Gilbert North also wins in the pancake block category, with 5 compared to Campo Verde’s 0, suggesting stronger play in the trenches for the ALA offensive line.

Points Per Game

The scoring margin also favors ALA – Gilbert North, with an average of 32.3 points per game compared to Campo Verde’s 22.8. This could be a reflection of ALA’s more balanced offensive attack and higher yardage production, particularly in passing, which often leads to more scoring opportunities.

Key Players

Both teams have standout players contributing to their success:

• Campo Verde:
  • Bobby Blackburn (58.6 rushing yards per game)
  • Karsten Lee (102.8 passing yards per game)
  • Wyatt Rauch (31.6 receiving yards per game)
  • Drew Pollard (5.9 tackles per game)
• ALA – Gilbert North:
  • Kody Thorley (54.4 rushing yards per game)
  • Conner White (136.4 passing yards per game)
  • Isaac Massey (68.5 receiving yards per game)
  • Kody Thorley (10.5 tackles per game)

For Campo Verde, Karsten Lee and Bobby Blackburn have been integral to their offensive strategy, with Blackburn leading the charge on the ground. On the other hand, ALA’s Conner White has been dominant in the passing game, complemented by the solid rushing efforts of Kody Thorley and the playmaking ability of Isaac Massey.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced common opponents this season, though the outcomes have varied:

• Higley: Campo Verde lost 42-3 in their opening game, while ALA – Gilbert North managed to pull off a close win, 16-14.
• Desert Mountain: Campo Verde suffered a tough 45-0 defeat, while ALA also lost, but in a closer contest, 17-7.
• Skyline: Campo Verde triumphed with a 31-14 victory, while ALA – Gilbert North won 42-13.
• Gilbert: Campo Verde came out on top with a 27-14 victory, while ALA also won, defeating Gilbert 20-10.

These results demonstrate that while both teams have had competitive games against similar opponents, their paths have diverged in terms of score margins, reflecting differing strengths in how they execute game plans.

Record Breakdown

The records for both teams are strong, standing at 8-3 overall. Here’s how they break down:

• Campo Verde:
  • 5-0 in league play
  • 2-3 in non-league play
  • 3-3 at home, 5-0 away
• ALA – Gilbert North:
  • 3-2 in league play
  • 4-1 in non-league play
  • 5-0 at home, 3-2 away

Both teams have shown resilience on the road, but ALA – Gilbert North has been particularly dominant at home with a perfect 5-0 record.

Conclusion

As we move towards the end of the season, both Campo Verde and ALA – Gilbert North have proven themselves as formidable teams in their respective regions. Campo Verde has a strong rushing game, led by Bobby Blackburn, while ALA – Gilbert North’s balanced offense, particularly their passing attack with Conner White, gives them a slight edge in overall yardage and scoring.

Defensively, both teams are solid, with ALA – Gilbert North having the upper hand in tackles and sacks. The teams’ common opponents have shown competitive battles, but ALA – Gilbert North’s balanced playstyle and strong passing game could give them the edge in a future matchup. Regardless, both teams are in a strong position heading into the latter part of the season, and fans can expect an exciting contest if these two teams meet again.