The Balboa varsity football team from San Francisco, CA, will host Lowell, also from San Francisco, in a home playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 1:30 p.m. This game promises to be an exciting local rivalry as both teams compete for a spot in the next round of the playoffs.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Lowell vs Balboa
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Balboa vs. Lowell

The 2024–2025 CIF San Francisco Section Football Championships is set for a thrilling playoff game between the Balboa and Lowell varsity football teams on Friday, November 22, at 1:30 p.m. With both teams sporting a 5-5 overall record, this home game for Balboa promises to be a competitive and intense matchup as both teams aim to advance in the playoffs.

Team Records and Rankings

Both Balboa and Lowell have finished their regular seasons with a .500 record, each standing at 5-5 overall. However, their league performances tell a different story. Balboa has excelled in their league play, finishing with a 5-1 record and earning a .833 league win percentage. In contrast, Lowell finished with a 4-2 league record and a .667 win percentage.

Balboa is ranked 686th nationally and 2nd in their section, while Lowell ranks 775th nationally and 3rd in their section. Both teams have shown the ability to compete, with Balboa slightly edging out Lowell in league play, which gives them the edge heading into this playoff clash.

Offensive and Defensive Breakdown

When it comes to scoring, Balboa has been slightly more prolific, averaging 25.9 points per game, with their strongest quarter being the first (13.8 points). They also tend to score consistently early, while their offense tends to slow down in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter (3.5 points).

Lowell has averaged 26.1 points per game, with their strongest quarter coming in the second (7.3 points), though their scoring is more balanced across all four quarters. Their offensive attack is fairly consistent, though they too experience a slight dip in the third quarter (5.5 points).

Key Matchup Insights

While both teams have similar records, Balboa’s high-scoring first quarter gives them an early advantage, which they will need to capitalize on in this home playoff game. Lowell will look to counter with their balanced scoring approach and capitalize on their more consistent second half to stay competitive.

What’s at Stake?

This playoff game is crucial for both teams, as they look to continue their journey toward a section title. Balboa will aim to leverage their strong start to keep Lowell at bay, while Lowell will need to adapt to Balboa’s quick first-half bursts and find ways to close the gap late in the game.

This playoff matchup is sure to be an exciting local rivalry, as both teams battle it out for a chance to advance in the CIF San Francisco Section Football Championships. Fans can expect a hard-fought, high-energy game with both teams eager to move one step closer to a championship title.

As the season winds down, Lowell and Balboa have both shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled with consistency. Let’s dive into their team statistics and key player performances to compare how these two teams have fared across multiple categories this year.

Offensive Comparison

• Rushing Yards: Lowell leads in rushing yards per game with 111.9, while Balboa averages a modest 82.3 yards per game. Elmer Baca has been a key contributor to Lowell’s ground game, racking up 57 yards per game. Balboa’s Joseph Smith leads his team in rushing with 72.3 yards per game, accounting for a significant portion of their total offense.
• Passing Yards: In the air, Lowell averages 139.0 yards per game, just ahead of Balboa’s 90.2. Lowell’s Angelo Ornelas-Rafael has been impressive, averaging 187.5 passing yards per game, which contributes heavily to their offensive production. On the other hand, Balboa’s Rylen Thien-Jones has thrown for 141.0 yards per game, leading the team but still trailing Lowell by a noticeable margin.
• Receiving Yards: Both teams are tied in receiving yards per game with each averaging 139.1 yards. Gage Schopen is Lowell’s top receiver, contributing 43.0 yards per game, while Joseph Smith, who doubles as a rusher, also leads Balboa’s receiving corps with 74.3 yards per game.
• Total Yards: Lowell again outpaces Balboa with 250.9 total yards per game compared to Balboa’s 172.5. Lowell’s passing and rushing game provide a well-rounded offense, while Balboa relies more heavily on Smith’s dual-threat ability to generate yards.

Defensive Comparison

• Tackles Per Game: Lowell averages 51.7 tackles per game, a stronger defensive effort compared to Balboa’s 37.5. Vladyslav Semenenko leads Lowell with 9.0 tackles per game, while Sent Barrera leads Balboa with 7.8 tackles per game.
• Sacks Per Game: Balboa has the advantage in sacks, with 2.3 per game, slightly ahead of Lowell’s 1.9. Balboa’s Mekai Smith has recorded 1.4 sacks per game, contributing to their pass rush efforts, while Lowell’s Gage Schopen has 1.0 sacks per game.

Scoring

• Points Per Game: The two teams are very close in scoring, with Lowell averaging 23.6 points per game and Balboa just behind at 23.3. Elmer Baca is a key scorer for Lowell, putting up 8.7 points per game, while Joseph Smith contributes 12.3 points per game for Balboa.
• Pancake Blocks: Lowell’s offensive line has shown dominance in the trenches, with 16 pancake blocks this season, while Balboa does not report any pancake blocks.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced common opponents with similar records. Lowell holds a 4-2 record against these teams, while Balboa is also 4-2. Here’s a look at how the two teams performed:

• St. Vincent de Paul: Both teams lost to St. Vincent de Paul, with Lowell falling 46-0 and Balboa losing 54-14.
• Burton: Lowell won 62-0, while Balboa also won 53-0.
• Washington: Lowell won 42-15, while Balboa defeated Washington 31-14.
• Lincoln: Both teams struggled here, with Lowell losing 41-21 and Balboa losing a close 14-13 game.
• Mission: Lowell enjoyed a dominant 73-10 victory, while Balboa triumphed 50-0.
• Galileo: Lowell won 2-0 by forfeit, while Balboa claimed a 52-0 victory.

Record Breakdown

• Overall Record: Both teams are 5-5 on the season, showing that they have had their fair share of ups and downs. However, Lowell has a slight advantage in league play with a 4-2 record, while Balboa finished 5-1 in non-league play.
• Home/Away Record: Lowell has a balanced record with 1-2 at home and 4-2 away, while Balboa has a slightly stronger 3-2 record at home and a 2-3 record on the road.
• Playoff Performance: Neither team has qualified for the playoffs this season.

Conclusion

Both Lowell and Balboa have shown their potential but have faced challenges throughout the year. Lowell’s more balanced offensive attack, led by Angelo Ornelas-Rafael’s passing and Elmer Baca’s rushing, gives them the edge in total yards and scoring. However, Balboa’s strength in individual performances, particularly from Joseph Smith, and their ability to generate sacks make them a tough competitor.

With similar records against common opponents, this matchup shows how evenly matched these teams are. As both teams look to build on their performances, the key difference may come down to Lowell’s better passing game and overall offensive production compared to Balboa’s resilience on defense.