The King/Drew (Los Angeles, CA) varsity football team will face Kennedy (Granada Hills, CA) in a neutral playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 CIF LA City Section Football Championships – Division I tournament, where both teams will compete for a spot in the next round.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Kennedy vs King/Drew
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF LA City Section Football Championships – Division I
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Kennedy vs. King/Drew

The high school basketball season is always filled with drama, passion, and excitement, and this year, Kennedy and King/Drew stood out with impressive performances. Both teams made notable contributions to their respective leagues, but how do they compare when it comes to overall performance, scoring, and win-loss records? Here’s a detailed breakdown of their season statistics.

Kennedy (24-25 Season)

• Overall Record: 10-2
• League Record: 6-0
• Home Record: 5-1
• Away Record: 4-1
• Neutral Record: 1-0
• Winning Percentage: .833
• League Percentage: 1.000 (undefeated in league play)
• Points For (PF): 510
• Points Against (PA): 259

Kennedy has been dominant throughout the 2024-2025 season, securing a strong 10-2 record. They have proven themselves especially strong in league play, with a perfect 6-0 record. Their overall performance, including a solid 5-1 home record and 4-1 away performance, has earned them a remarkable .833 winning percentage. Offensively, they’ve averaged 42.5 points per game, with their highest scoring periods coming in the second and third quarters. However, their fourth-quarter performance is where they tend to lag, averaging only 4 points in that period. Nonetheless, their overall defense and offense, including a strong points-for total of 510, highlight their dominance.

King/Drew (24-25 Season)

• Overall Record: 8-4
• League Record: 4-1
• Home Record: 4-2
• Away Record: 3-1
• Neutral Record: 1-1
• Winning Percentage: .667
• League Percentage: .800
• Points For (PF): 368
• Points Against (PA): 156

King/Drew, while not as dominant as Kennedy, has also had a solid season, finishing with an 8-4 record. They have been strong in league play, finishing with a 4-1 record, but they are less consistent overall, with a .667 win percentage. Their defensive prowess stands out, as they’ve allowed only 156 points throughout the season, which equates to an average of 13 points per game. Their offensive output has been less impressive compared to Kennedy, averaging just 30.7 points per game. Their scoring is especially concentrated in the first half of games, with a higher output in the first and third quarters. However, their fourth-quarter performances have been weak, averaging only 1.2 points in the final period.

Scoring Breakdown

• Kennedy Scoring Average:
  • Q1: 11.4
  • Q2: 17.2
  • Q3: 10.2
  • Q4: 4.0

Kennedy excels in the first half of games, especially in the second quarter, where they average over 17 points. This momentum is crucial in helping them build early leads, although their scoring diminishes in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they only average 4 points.

• King/Drew Scoring Average:
  • Q1: 3.5
  • Q2: 5.7
  • Q3: 7.8
  • Q4: 1.2
  • OT1: 7.0

King/Drew’s scoring is significantly lower than Kennedy’s, especially in the opening quarters. They average only 3.5 points in the first quarter, which puts them at a disadvantage early in games. Despite this, they show some improvement in the third quarter, where they average 7.8 points. However, their biggest challenge is finishing games strong, with a mere 1.2 points per game in the fourth quarter. Their overtime performance (7.0 points) indicates they can sometimes find new energy, but the overall scoring struggle is clear.

As both teams head into their respective games, a detailed comparison of their stats offers a glimpse into how the two squads measure up in different areas of the game.

Offensive Performance

• Rushing Yards Per Game: Kennedy has a significant edge in rushing, averaging 222.7 yards per game, far ahead of King/Drew’s 143.3 yards. Kennedy’s strong running game is led by #8 Diego Montes, who averages an impressive 115.3 rushing yards per game.
• Passing Yards Per Game: Kennedy again outpaces King/Drew, with 204.1 passing yards per game compared to King/Drew’s 179.3. Kennedy’s #8 Diego Montes also leads the team in passing, with 197.6 yards per game.
• Receiving Yards Per Game: Kennedy leads once again with 204.1 receiving yards per game, narrowly surpassing King/Drew’s 180.9. Giovanni Nelson (#11) is Kennedy’s top receiver, averaging 82.0 yards per game.
• Total Yards Per Game: Kennedy’s offense is more potent overall, with 426.8 total yards per game, significantly outgaining King/Drew’s 322.6 yards per game.

Defensive Performance

• Tackles Per Game: Both teams have relatively close defensive performances in terms of tackles per game. Kennedy averages 54.1 tackles per game, while King/Drew is slightly behind at 51.8. Martin Trujillo (#9) leads Kennedy in tackles with 5.3 per game.
• Sacks Per Game: King/Drew outperforms Kennedy in this area, with 4.3 sacks per game compared to Kennedy’s 1.5. Chinedu Onyeagoro (#0) leads King/Drew in sacks, averaging 1.5 per game, highlighting the team’s strength in pressuring the quarterback.

Scoring Ability

• Points Per Game: Kennedy has a stronger scoring offense, averaging 42.5 points per game, compared to King/Drew’s 30.7. Diego Montes (#8) is the driving force behind Kennedy’s high-scoring offense, contributing 12.3 points per game.

Team Leaders: Key Players

• Kennedy:
  • Diego Montes is the standout player, leading in rushing, passing, total yards, and points. His versatility on offense makes him a constant threat.
  • Giovanni Nelson (#11) is a key contributor in the receiving game, leading the team with 82.0 receiving yards per game.
• King/Drew:
  • Jahmir Torres (#1) is King/Drew’s top offensive player, leading in rushing, receiving, and total yards, with an average of 83.1 rushing yards per game and 65.4 receiving yards per game.
  • Keenan Jackson (#7) is another offensive weapon, contributing heavily in the passing game with 176.8 yards per game.
  • Chinedu Onyeagoro (#0) is the defensive leader, both in tackles and sacks, making a significant impact on the field.

Record Breakdown: Season and Home/Away Performance

• Overall Record: Kennedy has a slightly better overall record at 10-2 compared to King/Drew’s 8-4.
• League Record: Both teams performed well in league play, with Kennedy finishing 6-0 and King/Drew going 4-1.
• Non-League Record: Kennedy’s 2-2 non-league record is slightly ahead of King/Drew’s 2-3.
• Playoff Performance: Both teams performed strongly in the playoffs, with Kennedy posting a 2-0 record and King/Drew going 2-0 as well.

Home and Away Performance:

• Home: Kennedy has a strong home record at 5-1, while King/Drew performs slightly better on the road with a 4-2 record.
• Away: King/Drew is solid on the road with a 4-1 record, whereas Kennedy’s away performance is 4-1 as well.

In summary, while Kennedy appears to have a slight edge overall in terms of offensive production and scoring, King/Drew stands out defensively, especially with their sack ability and strong individual performances. The two teams are close in terms of season records, and this matchup is shaping up to be a highly competitive one.

Conclusion

Kennedy has clearly had the upper hand this season, with a stronger overall record and much higher scoring output. Their league dominance and consistent performances in the first half of games have made them a formidable team. King/Drew, while more defensively sound, struggles with offensive consistency, particularly in the first and fourth quarters. If they can improve their scoring in these critical moments, they could become a more dangerous opponent in the future.

Despite their differences, both teams have shown great potential this season, and it will be exciting to see how they perform in the remainder of their league matches and potential postseason play.