The Palos Verdes varsity football team will face Foothill in a neutral-site playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) – Division 5 tournament. Both teams will look to advance in this highly competitive postseason matchup.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Foothill vs Palos Verdes
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) – Division 5
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Foothill vs. Palos Verdes

As the 2024-2025 high school basketball season comes to a close, the Foothill and Palos Verdes teams have both shown moments of excellence on the court, but with distinct differences in their performance. Let’s take a closer look at both teams’ rankings, records, and scoring patterns to get a better sense of how they’ve fared this season.

Team Overview:

• Foothill High School (24-25)
  • Section Ranking: 121
  • Section Division: 4
  • Overall Record: 7-5
  • League Record: 2-3
  • Home Record: 1-2
  • Away Record: 5-3
  • Neutral Record: 1-0
  • Winning Percentage: .583
  • League Winning Percentage: .400
  • Points For (PF): 367
  • Points Against (PA): 414
• Palos Verdes High School (24-25)
  • Section Ranking: 89
  • Section Division: 3
  • Overall Record: 7-5
  • League Record: 3-2
  • Home Record: 5-0
  • Away Record: 1-5
  • Neutral Record: 1-0
  • Winning Percentage: .583
  • League Winning Percentage: .600
  • Points For (PF): 208
  • Points Against (PA): 234

Scoring Averages:

• Foothill Scoring Breakdown:
  • Q1: 6.3 points
  • Q2: 9.0 points
  • Q3: 5.9 points
  • Q4: 7.0 points
  • OT1: N/A
  • Final Average: 30.6 points
• Palos Verdes Scoring Breakdown:
  • Q1: 5.8 points
  • Q2: 5.7 points
  • Q3: 2.7 points
  • Q4: 6.3 points
  • OT1: 6.5 points
  • Final Average: 17.3 points

Analysis:

Foothill’s Performance: Foothill has had a balanced season, with a winning percentage of .583 and a slightly stronger performance on the road (5-3 away record). Despite their relatively average overall league standing (2-3), the team has been competitive in their matches, putting up a solid 367 points across their games. Their scoring distribution shows strong first-half performances, particularly in the second quarter (9.0 points), but their scoring tends to drop off slightly in the second half (5.9 in Q3 and 7.0 in Q4), which could be an area to focus on for improvement.

Palos Verdes’ Performance: Palos Verdes also boasts a .583 win percentage, mirroring Foothill’s overall performance, but with a higher league winning percentage of .600. One of their standout features is their home court dominance, finishing 5-0 in home games, although they have struggled more on the road with a 1-5 away record. Their overall points for and against total, 208 PF and 234 PA, indicates they tend to play lower-scoring games compared to Foothill. The team’s scoring is more even across quarters, but their third-quarter performance (2.7 points) stands out as an area where they have struggled significantly. The team shows signs of life in overtime, with an average of 6.5 points in the extra period.

Head-to-Head Comparison:

When comparing both teams, Foothill has a noticeable edge in scoring, with an average of 30.6 points per game, significantly higher than Palos Verdes’ 17.3 points per game. However, Palos Verdes has demonstrated stronger consistency, particularly with their league performance, which could be a testament to their ability to perform under pressure in divisional matchups.

In terms of strategy, Foothill may benefit from increasing their offensive consistency in the second half of games. On the other hand, Palos Verdes will need to address their third-quarter slump to ensure they remain competitive throughout the full duration of their matches.

As the season draws to a close, the upcoming matchup between Foothill and Palos Verdes promises to be an exciting one. Both teams share identical 7-5 records, and while they each have their strengths, their contrasting playing styles and statistical performances will play a crucial role in the outcome. Below is a breakdown of the team statistics, key players, and record analysis as these two teams prepare to face off.

Offensive Comparison

• Rushing Yards: Foothill has a noticeable advantage in the running game, averaging 171.6 rushing yards per game compared to Palos Verdes’ 119.4 yards. Nathan Gouvion has been the standout player for Foothill, rushing for 116.5 yards per game, a key contributor to their strong ground attack. On the other hand, Palos Verdes’ rushing game has been less productive, with Andrew Habif leading the team with 59.0 yards per game. Foothill’s ability to establish the run will likely give them control of the clock and help wear down Palos Verdes’ defense.
• Passing Yards: Palos Verdes holds a slight edge in passing yards, averaging 180.0 passing yards per game, compared to Foothill’s 179.1. Ryan Rakowski has been the top passer for Palos Verdes, throwing for 173.3 yards per game. Gino Marchetti leads Foothill in passing with 148.9 yards per game. While the passing games are quite similar, Palos Verdes’ ability to produce through the air more efficiently will give them an edge if they need to air it out late in the game.
• Receiving Yards: Both teams have strong receiving corps, with Palos Verdes averaging 179.5 receiving yards per game and Foothill averaging 179.1. Morley Boyd leads Palos Verdes with 43.6 receiving yards per game, while Nico Mancini has been a top target for Foothill, contributing 74.3 receiving yards per game. Both teams will rely on their wideouts to make big plays, especially when the running game isn’t as effective.
• Total Yards: Foothill’s offense has been more explosive, averaging 350.7 total yards per game, while Palos Verdes averages 299.4 total yards per game. Foothill’s higher yardage is primarily due to their balanced attack with both rushing and passing yards contributing to their overall success. The combination of Nathan Gouvion’s rushing and Gino Marchetti’s passing will be difficult for Palos Verdes to contain.

Defensive Comparison

• Tackles Per Game: Both teams are nearly identical in tackles per game, with Foothill averaging 60.4 and Palos Verdes averaging 60.3. This suggests that both teams are equally engaged on defense and will likely be in position to make tackles throughout the game. The defenses will need to step up and stop the other team’s offensive production, especially in critical situations.
• Sacks Per Game: Palos Verdes has a slight advantage in generating pressure, averaging 2.3 sacks per game compared to Foothill’s 1.5. Josh Williams has been the primary pass rusher for Palos Verdes, recording 0.7 sacks per game. For Foothill, Porter Elms has contributed 0.3 sacks per game. The ability of Palos Verdes to disrupt the quarterback and force mistakes will be crucial in keeping Foothill’s offense in check.

Scoring Comparison

• Points Per Game: Foothill has a significant advantage in scoring, averaging 31.1 points per game, more than double Palos Verdes’ 14.3. Nico Mancini leads Foothill with 8.3 points per game, while Palos Verdes’ top scorer is Evan Aguirre with 3.0 points per game. Foothill’s explosive offense will likely be the key factor in this game, as they have shown the ability to score quickly and efficiently.

Record Breakdown

• Overall Record: Both teams have finished the season with a 7-5 record, making this matchup one of near equals. Despite their equal records, Foothill’s higher offensive output could give them the advantage.
• League Record: Foothill ended their league play with a 2-3 record, while Palos Verdes posted a 3-2 league record. Palos Verdes had slightly more success in their league games, but both teams were competitive throughout the season.
• Non-League Record: Foothill and Palos Verdes both struggled in non-league games, with Foothill finishing 3-2 and Palos Verdes finishing 2-3. Non-league games often serve as a litmus test for a team’s performance against tougher competition, and both teams faced similar challenges outside their league.
• Home/Away Record: Foothill had a solid 5-1 home record, while Palos Verdes finished 5-3 at home. On the road, Foothill struggled with a 1-5 record, while Palos Verdes had a much stronger 1-0 record. The home-field advantage will be important for Foothill, especially considering their strong performances at home.
• Playoff Record: Both teams have shown resilience in the playoffs, with Foothill having a 2-0 record in postseason play and Palos Verdes finishing with a 2-0 record as well. This experience in high-stakes games will be invaluable for both teams as they face off in a critical game.

Conclusion

Foothill enters this matchup as the more balanced team, with a stronger offensive showing and a more potent rushing game. Their ability to move the ball through both the air and on the ground will challenge Palos Verdes’ defense. However, Palos Verdes’ slightly better passing attack and their edge in sacks may help them in certain situations.

Foothill’s explosive scoring offense, led by Gino Marchetti and Nathan Gouvion, will be tough to contain. Palos Verdes will need to find ways to keep up offensively, especially if they are forced to rely heavily on the passing game. The game will likely come down to whether Palos Verdes’ defense can slow down Foothill’s offensive production while their offense can generate enough points to stay in the game.

With both teams having similar overall records, this matchup promises to be closely contested, with Foothill’s higher scoring potential potentially giving them the edge.