The San Marcos varsity football team from San Marcos, CA, will face El Camino from Oceanside, CA, in a neutral-site playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 CIF San Diego Section Football Championships (California) – Division I tournament.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: El Camino vs San Marcos
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF San Diego Section Football Championships (California) – Division I
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: San Marcos vs. El Camino

The 2024–2025 CIF San Diego Section Football Championships (California) – Division I tournament is heating up as San Marcos and El Camino square off in a highly anticipated neutral-site playoff game. With both teams bringing distinct strengths to the field, this matchup promises to be an exciting and intense contest.

Team Records and Rankings

San Marcos enters the game with a commanding 10-1 overall record, having dominated both at home (5-0) and on the road (4-1). With a perfect 5-0 league record, they hold the sixth position in California and the 47th spot nationally. Their formidable offense has been a key factor in their success, scoring 421 points this season.

On the other hand, El Camino boasts a 6-5 overall record but has struggled in league play, finishing with a 1-4 mark. Despite their 2-3 record at home, they’ve shown resilience on the road with a 3-2 record. Ranked 83rd in California and 8th in their section, El Camino has averaged 264 points over the season.

Offensive and Defensive Breakdown

San Marcos has been an offensive powerhouse, averaging an impressive 38.3 points per game. Their strength lies in their explosive first-half performances, with 16.3 points in the first quarter and 17.2 in the second. Their defense has also been outstanding, allowing just 141 points on the season.

El Camino, meanwhile, averages 24.0 points per game, with a noticeable drop-off in the first quarter (3.0 points). They tend to pick up the pace in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they average 7.0 points. Despite a solid offensive effort, their defense has been more vulnerable, conceding 218 points over the season.

Key Matchup Insights

San Marcos enters this playoff game as the favorite, with a dominant overall record and a perfect league performance. Their high-scoring offense and solid defense present a tough challenge for El Camino. However, El Camino has shown the ability to compete, particularly on the road, and will need to capitalize on their late-game scoring to stay competitive.

What’s at Stake?

With both teams vying for a spot in the next round of the CIF San Diego Section Football Championships, this game is critical for advancing. San Marcos will look to continue their dominant play, while El Camino will need to pull off an upset to keep their playoff hopes alive.

This clash of styles—San Marcos’ explosive offense versus El Camino’s late-game push—ensures an exciting and hard-fought playoff battle that fans won’t want to miss.

As the season draws to a close, the matchup between El Camino and San Marcos is set to be a thrilling contest. While San Marcos has had a standout season with a 10-1 record, El Camino has faced challenges, posting a 6-5 record. Nevertheless, both teams have demonstrated strengths in different areas, setting the stage for an exciting showdown. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how these two teams compare across key statistics, individual player performances, and common opponents.

Team Stats Comparison

When comparing the two teams, we see distinct differences in offensive and defensive performances.

• Rushing and Passing Yards: El Camino has been more reliant on its rushing attack, averaging 140.8 yards per game, compared to San Marcos, which averages 108.0 yards per game. On the other hand, San Marcos excels in the passing game with 277.1 yards per game, a significant lead over El Camino’s 111.6 passing yards per game. This contrast in styles suggests a battle between a run-heavy offense from El Camino and a pass-oriented offense from San Marcos.
• Total Yards: San Marcos has accumulated more total yards per game (385.1) compared to El Camino’s 252.5 yards. This indicates a higher offensive output from San Marcos, driven by its strong passing game.
• Points Per Game: San Marcos also leads in scoring, averaging 38.0 points per game, significantly higher than El Camino’s 18.3 points per game. This reflects San Marcos’ ability to generate more offense and convert opportunities into touchdowns.
• Tackles and Defensive Impact: On defense, San Marcos has the upper hand in tackles per game, averaging 58.5 tackles, compared to El Camino’s 48.2 tackles per game. San Marcos also has a stronger pass-rushing presence with 2.9 sacks per game, while El Camino averages just 1.4 sacks per game.

Individual Leaders

Both teams feature key players who have been instrumental in their success this season.

• El Camino’s Leaders:
  • Leo Bell has been the driving force on offense, leading the team with 59.8 rushing yards per game and 71.8 total yards per game. Bell is also the team’s top scorer, averaging 5.5 points per game.
  • Vinny Simon has contributed significantly in the passing game, averaging 52.1 passing yards per game.
  • Jathan Bejarano leads the team in receiving yards, with an average of 35.2 yards per game.
  • On defense, Jake Williams leads in tackles, with 13.5 tackles per game, while Zack Ballow has been the team’s top pass rusher with 0.5 sacks per game.
• San Marcos’ Leaders:
  • Kreet Makihele is a dual-threat player for San Marcos, leading the team with an outstanding 270.9 total yards per game, including 41.5 rushing yards and 270.9 passing yards.
  • Jase Nix has been the team’s top receiver, with 74.4 receiving yards per game, while also contributing significantly to the scoring.
  • On defense, Elijah Bechtel has been a standout with 6.9 tackles per game, and Ty Sagaser has contributed with 1.0 sack per game.

Common Opponents

Both El Camino and San Marcos have faced several of the same opponents, providing insight into how each team has performed against similar competition.

• Rancho Buena Vista: Both teams had convincing wins, with El Camino winning 48-12 and San Marcos winning 53-8.
• Mt. Carmel: El Camino won 22-9, while San Marcos dominated 38-0, showcasing San Marcos’ superior defensive play.
• Torrey Pines: El Camino narrowly lost 7-6 to Torrey Pines, while San Marcos won 20-19 in a close battle.
• Mission Hills: Both teams had contrasting outcomes, with El Camino falling 21-11 to Mission Hills, while San Marcos lost 17-14, demonstrating some common struggles against this opponent.

Record Breakdown

• Overall Record:
  San Marcos has had an exceptional season with a 10-1 overall record, while El Camino has posted a 6-5 record, indicating a more challenging year for El Camino.
• League and Non-League Performance:
  San Marcos has been dominant in league play with a perfect 5-0 record, whereas El Camino has struggled in league matchups with a 1-4 record. Both teams performed better in non-league games, with San Marcos holding a 4-1 record and El Camino a 4-1 mark as well.
• Home and Away:
  San Marcos has been nearly perfect at home with a 5-0 record, while El Camino has posted a solid 2-3 record at home. On the road, San Marcos remains strong with a 4-1 record, while El Camino has struggled with a 3-2 record away from home.
• Playoff Performance:
  Both teams have performed well in the postseason, with San Marcos having a 1-0 playoff record, while El Camino also holds a 1-0 record, suggesting that both teams have the potential to perform in high-stakes games.

Conclusion

This game between El Camino and San Marcos presents a contrast in playing styles—El Camino with a more traditional, run-focused offense and strong defensive play, and San Marcos with its high-powered passing attack and solid all-around game. San Marcos has been the more consistent team this season, outpacing El Camino in both offensive production and scoring. However, El Camino’s strong rushing attack and solid defense could pose a challenge if they can control the clock and limit San Marcos’ opportunities.

Ultimately, San Marcos enters as the favorite, but El Camino will look to exploit any weaknesses and create an upset in this highly anticipated matchup. Fans of both teams can expect a compelling and competitive contest as both teams aim to finish their seasons on a strong note.