The Cascade Christian (Medford, OR) varsity football team will play a neutral-site playoff game against Banks (OR) on Friday, November 15, at 6:00 PM. This game is part of the 2024 Oregon High School Football Playoff Brackets for the OSAA 3A tournament.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Oregon High School Football
Who: Cascade Christian vs Banks
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
Bracket: 2024 Oregon High School Football Playoff Brackets: OSAA – 3A
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Game preview: Cascade Christian vs Banks

As the high school football season heads into its most critical stages, two teams in Oregon are standing out with impressive records and a head-to-head matchup on the horizon. Banks and Cascade Christian both have strong campaigns so far, and their upcoming contest promises to be one of the highlights of the season. Here’s a breakdown of how these two teams stack up.

Records and Rankings

Banks has been absolutely dominant this season, finishing with a perfect 9-0 overall record. The team has yet to be challenged in league play, as they are 6-0 in the league, including a 5-0 record at home and a 4-0 mark on the road. Their offensive and defensive performances have been equally impressive, with 360 points scored and only 97 points allowed—showing their ability to both put up big numbers and shut down opponents.

On the other hand, Cascade Christian has had a slightly less perfect but still strong season. With a 7-3 overall record, they have been dominant in their league play, going 5-0 in league matchups, though they’ve had some struggles outside the league, with a 3-2 record on the road. Cascade Christian has put up 376 points while allowing 161, indicating they have a potent offense but some vulnerability on defense.

Scoring Averages

Both teams score at a high level, but there are subtle differences in how they distribute their points across the four quarters of the game.

• Banks averages 40 points per game, with a particularly strong second quarter (12 points) and a consistent offensive attack throughout.
• Cascade Christian scores 37.6 points per game, with a very strong start to games, averaging 14.7 points in the first quarter.

This shows that while both teams can strike quickly, Cascade Christian has been particularly lethal in the opening stages of games.

Team Stat Comparison

When comparing the two teams’ key statistical categories, the differences are minimal but still noteworthy:

• Rushing Yards: Banks averages 209.2 rushing yards per game, slightly ahead of Cascade Christian’s 188.8 yards. This suggests Banks might have the edge in controlling the ground game.
• Passing Yards: Banks also leads here, with 150.3 passing yards per game compared to Cascade Christian’s 144.6.
• Total Yards: Banks again holds the advantage with 359.6 total yards per game, compared to Cascade Christian’s 333.4. This shows a more balanced and potent offensive attack from Banks.

Defensively, the teams are fairly comparable:

• Tackles per Game: Banks averages 55.7 tackles per game, slightly ahead of Cascade Christian’s 52.8.
• Sacks per Game: Banks averages 1.3 sacks per game, while Cascade Christian averages just 0.9.

While Banks seems to have the edge in overall yardage and defensive consistency, Cascade Christian’s offense has proven to be explosive at times, especially in their big win against Yamhill-Carlton.

Key Players

Both teams feature star athletes who will be crucial in their upcoming matchups:

• Banks is led by running back Lane Gilbert, who averages 81.8 rushing yards per game, and quarterback Gilbert again with 150.3 passing yards per game. Jarrett Martin is also a major contributor, with 58.4 receiving yards per game.
• For Cascade Christian, Bryson Walker leads with 89.8 rushing yards per game, and quarterback Deryk Farmer is a standout, averaging 147 passing yards per game. Receiver Caleb Scaglione adds another dimension with 50 receiving yards per game.

Both teams have powerful offenses, but it’s likely that the team that controls the trenches and gets consistent contributions from these key players will emerge victorious.

Common Opponents

Looking at their performances against common opponents gives us some insight into how these teams stack up against similar competition. Both Banks and Cascade Christian have faced Yamhill-Carlton and came away with decisive wins:

• Banks defeated Yamhill-Carlton 43-18 on October 18.
• Cascade Christian dominated Yamhill-Carlton 57-7 on November 8.

While both teams won in convincing fashion, Cascade Christian’s margin of victory was notably larger, possibly suggesting their ability to ramp up the score when needed.

Head-to-Head and Playoff Implications

Although Banks and Cascade Christian have yet to meet in this season’s regular schedule, the potential clash between the two could determine league standings and playoff positioning. Banks, with their undefeated record, are clearly the favorites going into any matchup, but Cascade Christian’s strength, particularly in league play, should not be underestimated. Both teams have shown they can win in a variety of ways, making for an exciting potential playoff matchup.

In-state, Banks is undefeated at 9-0, while Cascade Christian is 7-3. The outcome of their head-to-head showdown could be pivotal in determining who has home-field advantage going into the playoffs.

Conclusion

Banks and Cascade Christian have each built impressive resumes this season. Banks is the clear favorite with their perfect record, strong offensive numbers, and solid defense. However, Cascade Christian has shown that they can compete at a high level, and their ability to score quickly could give them the upper hand in a fast-paced contest. Football fans in Oregon should be watching closely as this potential postseason clash approaches—it’s shaping up to be a memorable battle between two of the state’s best teams.