The Pioneer varsity football team from Whittier, CA, will face Ganesha from Pomona, CA, in a neutral playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) – Division 14 tournament, marking a crucial matchup in the postseason.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Ganesha vs Pioneer
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) – Division 14
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Ganesha vs. Pioneer

The Pioneer High School varsity football team will face off against Ganesha in a crucial neutral-site playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) – Division 14 tournament, and both teams are entering with similar records, each holding a 7-5 overall mark.

Team Records and Rankings

Ganesha, representing Pomona, CA, has had a strong season with a 7-5 record. The team finished with a 4-1 league record, securing second place in their league and a spot in the playoffs. Their performance has been solid, scoring 353 points while allowing 362. Their overall win percentage stands at .583, with their biggest strength being their ability to perform in neutral-site games (1-0).

Pioneer, from Whittier, CA, also boasts a 7-5 record, with a 1-2 league record. Despite their league struggles, they have been a competitive team all season, outscoring their opponents 371 to 266. Their win percentage is also .583, and like Ganesha, they have a perfect record in neutral-site games (1-0).

Scoring Averages

Ganesha’s offense has averaged 29.4 points per game, showing they can generate consistent scoring throughout the game. While specific quarter-by-quarter data isn’t provided, they’ve proven to be an offensive threat, with their ability to close out games likely being a significant factor in their success.

Pioneer, however, has a more unique scoring pattern, averaging 30.9 points per game. Their scoring is heavily weighted in the second quarter (14.0 points), though they struggle in the first, third, and fourth quarters, as they haven’t managed to score in the first quarter and have minimal outputs in the third and fourth quarters (0 points in both). This could be a point of concern, as they’ll need to maintain consistency throughout all four quarters in this playoff game.

Key Matchup Insights

Both teams come into this game with nearly identical records and scoring averages, making this matchup all the more exciting. Ganesha’s balanced offense will be tested against Pioneer’s high-scoring potential, particularly in the second quarter. Pioneer will need to find ways to avoid slow starts and late-game droughts to challenge Ganesha’s offensive firepower.

What’s at Stake?

With both teams looking to make a deep run in the playoffs, the stakes are high. A win would propel one of these teams into the next round of the CIF Southern Section Football Championships, where they will face even more formidable competition. Fans can expect a hard-fought battle between these two evenly matched teams as they vie for playoff glory.

As the season draws to a close, Ganesha and Pioneer stand with matching 7-5 records, each showcasing strengths across various aspects of the game. Both teams have demonstrated resilience, especially in their league matchups, and each has their own unique approach to how they manage offense and defense. Let’s dive into how these two teams compare across several key categories.

Offensive Comparison

• Rushing Yards: Ganesha averages 158.8 rushing yards per game, with standout running back Shamon Farley leading the charge, accumulating 125.7 yards per game. Pioneer isn’t far behind, averaging 147.2 yards per game. Adrian Lopez is the leading rusher for Pioneer with 68.7 yards per game. Both teams rely on their ground games, but Ganesha’s rushing attack is more dominant.
• Passing Yards: Ganesha averages 98.0 passing yards per game, with Albert Kelsey contributing 74.0 yards per game. Pioneer, however, has a more potent passing attack, averaging 127.3 yards per game, led by Amiri Resendiz who contributes 135.9 yards per game. Pioneer’s passing game provides a more balanced offensive approach compared to Ganesha, which leans more on its rushing attack.
• Receiving Yards: Ganesha records 104.6 receiving yards per game, with Ja’den Lea leading the team at 46.2 yards per game. Pioneer has a slightly higher average with 127.6 receiving yards per game, with Jose Rojas leading the team with 66.5 yards per game. Pioneer’s receiving corps appears to have a greater impact on their offense than Ganesha’s.
• Total Yards: Ganesha totals 256.8 yards per game, which is less than Pioneer’s 274.5 yards per game. While both teams rely on a balanced mix of passing and rushing, Pioneer’s higher total yardage suggests they are more versatile on offense, with a stronger passing game complementing their rushing attack.

Defensive Comparison

• Tackles Per Game: Pioneer’s defense excels in this category, averaging 61.8 tackles per game, significantly higher than Ganesha, whose tackle stats aren’t listed. Pioneer’s top tackler, Eduardo Gonzalez, averages 8.4 tackles per game, showing strong individual efforts on defense.
• Sacks Per Game: Pioneer also outperforms Ganesha in the sack department, averaging 0.6 sacks per game, with Gavin Garcia contributing 0.2 sacks per game. Ganesha’s defense doesn’t report its sack statistics, but Pioneer’s ability to disrupt the quarterback with regular sacks gives them an edge in this category.

Scoring Comparison

• Points Per Game: Ganesha averages 25.3 points per game, with Shamon Farley leading the team with 11.1 points per game. Pioneer scores slightly more with 30.3 points per game, and their top scorer, Jose Rojas, averages 9.5 points per game. Pioneer’s ability to score more consistently could be an important factor in close games.

Common Opponents

Both teams faced the same common opponents this season and have similar records against them:

• Rowland: Ganesha lost 37-26 to Rowland, while Pioneer also fell short 32-21 in their matchup.
• Bassett: Ganesha won 35-0, while Pioneer dominated 55-0.

Both teams split their matchups against common opponents, showcasing competitive play, but Pioneer’s more dominant victories (especially over Bassett) suggest a slightly higher overall performance against these teams.

Record Breakdown

• Overall Record: Both teams finished with identical 7-5 records, demonstrating comparable levels of performance over the course of the season.
• League Record: Ganesha had a strong 4-1 record in league play, while Pioneer posted a 1-2 record in their league matchups. This difference shows Ganesha’s dominance in their league games.
• Non-League Record: Pioneer had a better non-league record, finishing 4-3, compared to Ganesha’s 1-4. This indicates that Pioneer may have faced more challenging opponents in their non-league schedule.
• Home/Away Record: Both teams performed well at home, with Ganesha posting a 2-3 record at away games and Pioneer at 4-2. Ganesha’s success at home may have been a key factor in their league dominance.
• Playoff Record: Both teams are playoff-bound, with Ganesha boasting a 2-0 playoff record and Pioneer also maintaining a 2-0 record in postseason play.

Conclusion

The matchup between Ganesha and Pioneer reveals two teams with contrasting styles. Ganesha thrives on the ground with a strong rushing attack led by Shamon Farley, while Pioneer leans more on a balanced offensive approach with a potent passing game led by Amiri Resendiz. Defensively, Pioneer holds the advantage with more tackles and a solid sack presence.

Both teams have shown resilience, with Ganesha excelling in league play and Pioneer performing well against non-league opponents. With similar overall records and playoff appearances, this rivalry promises to be a thrilling contest with both teams poised for success in the postseason.