The Minarets varsity football team from O’Neals, CA, will host Mira Monte High School from Bakersfield in a home playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 CIF Central Section Football Championships in Division VI, offering a thrilling matchup between two competitive teams.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Mira Monte vs Minarets
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF Central Section Football Championships – Division VI
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Minarets vs. Mira Monte

The Minarets High School varsity football team is set to host Mira Monte High School in a pivotal Division VI playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. as part of the 2024 CIF Central Section Football Championships. This game will be a thrilling contest between two teams with contrasting records and styles of play.

Records and Rankings

Minarets enters the game with an impressive 10-2 overall record and a .833 win percentage. Ranked 566th in California and 67th in their section, they have been dominant at home with a 7-1 record. Their offense has been explosive, scoring 457 points on the season, while their defense has limited opponents to just 241 points. Their 4-2 league record shows their strength in a competitive section.

Mira Monte, with a .500 win percentage (6-6 overall), has had a more mixed season. Ranked 679th in California and 81st in their section, they finished league play with a 2-2 record. While their offense has matched their opponents’ production, with 316 points scored and 316 allowed, their inconsistent results in both home and away games make this matchup a challenge.

Scoring Breakdown

Minarets has been particularly strong early in games, averaging 13.8 points in the first quarter. Their offensive strength continues through the third quarter, where they average 12.8 points, and they consistently score 7.8 points in the fourth quarter, averaging 38.1 points per game overall.

Mira Monte, on the other hand, averages 26.3 points per game, with their highest-scoring quarter being the first (7.6 points). While their offense can be explosive, particularly early, they will need to maintain that momentum throughout the entire game, especially in the second and fourth quarters where their scoring slows to 5.4 points per quarter.

Keys to Victory

For Mira Monte, sustaining offensive consistency will be key, particularly in the second half. They will need to capitalize on their early-game scoring, while also improving their defense to contain Minarets’ high-powered attack. Ensuring they remain competitive in the later quarters will be essential to securing an upset.

Minarets, with their high-scoring offense and solid defense, will look to assert control early. Their ability to score quickly and efficiently in the first and third quarters, combined with maintaining strong defense, will give them the advantage. Minimizing Mira Monte’s chances to build momentum will be critical in this matchup.

What’s at Stake

This game is crucial for both teams as they look to advance in the CIF Central Section Football Championships. Minarets enters as the favorite, but Mira Monte’s ability to play strong in the first half could make for a competitive game.

With both teams showing offensive potential, this Division VI playoff contest promises to be an exciting and intense matchup. The outcome will depend on which team can maintain their momentum and execute their game plan through all four quarters. Fans can expect a thrilling playoff atmosphere under the Friday night lights.

As the football season progresses, the contrasting styles of two standout teams—Mira Monte and Minarets—have become evident. Both squads are looking to make their mark, but their performances and team statistics reflect different strengths. Let’s dive into a detailed comparison of these teams based on their offensive and defensive stats, key players, and overall records.

Team Statistical Comparison

The statistical comparison between Mira Monte and Minarets reveals some distinct differences in how each team approaches the game:

• Rushing Yards Per Game: Mira Monte excels in its rushing game, averaging 208.4 rushing yards per game. Minarets, on the other hand, has a much lower rushing output, averaging 111.0 yards per game. This shows that Mira Monte relies heavily on its ground attack.
• Passing Yards Per Game: Minarets leads in the passing game, averaging 217.0 yards per game, a significant difference compared to Mira Monte’s 82.9 yards. This suggests that Minarets prefers to move the ball through the air, while Mira Monte is more committed to a run-heavy offense.

Team Leaders

Both teams have key players who have been instrumental to their success this season:

• Rushing Yards Per Game: Nathan Gonzales leads Mira Monte with 169.6 rushing yards per game. Minarets relies on Torin Wolf, who averages 38.8 rushing yards per game.
• Passing Yards Per Game: Mira Monte’s Fabian Carrillo has thrown for 82.5 yards per game, while Minarets’ Torin Wolf is the more prolific passer, recording 217.0 passing yards per game.
• Receiving Yards Per Game: Christopher Salazar of Mira Monte leads with 31.5 receiving yards per game, while Caden Larsen of Minarets leads his team with 89.6 receiving yards per game, further highlighting Minarets’ pass-first approach.
• Total Yards Per Game: Nathan Gonzales of Mira Monte leads with 196.9 total yards per game, while Torin Wolf of Minarets racks up 255.8 total yards per game, making him a dual-threat for Minarets in both the passing and rushing games.
• Tackles Per Game: Jayden Sanbia of Mira Monte contributes 3.5 tackles per game, while Matthew Carlton of Minarets leads with 7.5 tackles per game, helping anchor the Minarets defense.

Common Opponents

When comparing how both teams performed against common opponents, both Mira Monte and Minarets were victorious in their respective matchups:

• Yosemite: On August 30, 2024, Mira Monte defeated Yosemite 62-35. Minarets also faced Yosemite on November 1, 2024, and won decisively 49-6. Both teams showed strong offensive performances against the same opponent.

Record Breakdown

• Overall Record: Mira Monte finished the season with a 6-6 record, while Minarets had a much stronger record at 10-2. This disparity in overall performance reflects Minarets’ consistency and dominance.
• League Record: Mira Monte posted a 2-2 league record, while Minarets excelled with a 4-2 league record, showing their ability to perform against tougher competition within their league.
• Non-League Record: Mira Monte had a 2-4 non-league record, while Minarets excelled in non-league play with a 4-0 record, indicating that Minarets had better success in games outside of their conference.
• Head-to-Head: The two teams have not yet faced each other, so any future matchup could be crucial to settling the score.
• Home vs. Away: Mira Monte has a balanced 1-4 home record and a 5-1 away record, while Minarets is impressive at home (7-1) and also strong away (5-2).
• Playoffs: Minarets has had a stronger playoff performance, going 2-0, while Mira Monte was not as successful in postseason play.

Conclusion

Mira Monte and Minarets offer contrasting styles of play. Mira Monte relies heavily on its strong rushing game and a more balanced offense, while Minarets showcases a potent passing attack and high-scoring offense. Minarets’ overall success, highlighted by their impressive 10-2 record and effective passing game, gives them a clear edge in terms of total offense.

Mira Monte will need to rely on its ground game and improve defensively to compete with Minarets in any potential postseason matchup. While Minarets has been the more dominant team this season, Mira Monte’s ability to run the ball effectively could pose a challenge to Minarets’ defense. It will be exciting to see how these teams perform as the season progresses, particularly if they meet on the field in the future.