The Miramonte (Orinda, CA) varsity football team will face Newark Memorial (Newark, CA) in a home playoff game today at 7 p.m. This exciting matchup is part of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships, Division 6, as both teams aim to advance in the tournament and chase championship honors.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Newark Memorial vs Miramonte
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game preview: High School Football

The 2024-2025 high school football season has been a challenging yet defining period for both Newark Memorial and Miramonte High Schools. With contrasting records and team dynamics, both teams have displayed unique strengths and areas for growth. Let’s take a closer look at their performance in the current season.

Newark Memorial (6-4 Record)

Newark Memorial (CA) has had a solid season, finishing with a 6-4 overall record. Their performance in league play has been equally competitive, finishing 3-2 within their league, which is reflected in their .600 win percentage. The team has been particularly strong in their home games, with a 5-3 win-loss record, compared to a 1-1 record when playing away. With a total of 216 points scored and 178 points allowed, Newark Memorial’s offense has been effective, averaging 21.6 points per game.

Team Scoring Averages:

• Q1: 0 points
• Q2: 2.3 points
• Q3: 4.3 points
• Q4: 6.7 points
• Final: 21.6 points

Newark Memorial’s ability to increase their scoring as the game progresses, especially in the later quarters, highlights their resilience and adaptability. Their average of 21.6 points per game is a solid performance, indicating that their offensive scheme is starting to come together.

Miramonte (4-6 Record)

On the other hand, Miramonte (CA) has faced a tougher season, finishing with a 4-6 overall record. Their league performance was especially challenging, with a winless 0-4 record in league play. The team’s home performance (4-3) was significantly better than their away games, where they struggled to earn victories, ending the season with a 0-3 record on the road. Despite scoring a total of 267 points in the season, they allowed 247 points, resulting in a narrow average margin for the team.

Team Scoring Averages:

• Q1: 3.9 points
• Q2: 6.4 points
• Q3: 5.0 points
• Q4: 5.1 points
• Final: 26.7 points

Miramonte’s average of 26.7 points per game is higher than Newark Memorial’s, but their inability to maintain consistency across the game has been a significant issue. They show promising offensive capabilities, especially in the first two quarters, but their scoring tends to slow down in the latter stages of games, which likely contributed to their losses.

Key Takeaways

Both Newark Memorial and Miramonte have demonstrated different aspects of strength and weakness throughout the season. Newark Memorial’s ability to close games strongly and their competitive record in league play showcase their resilience. Meanwhile, Miramonte’s high-scoring potential suggests they have the offensive tools to succeed, but their lack of consistency and struggles in league play point to areas where the team needs improvement.

As the season progresses, both teams will need to refine their strategies, with Newark Memorial focusing on maintaining their momentum throughout all four quarters and Miramonte working on improving their consistency and overcoming challenges in league games. Ultimately, both schools will look to finish the season strong and lay the groundwork for future seasons.

As the high school football season unfolds, two local teams, Newark Memorial and Miramonte, show distinct playing styles and strengths in their respective statistics. Both teams have had competitive seasons, with Newark Memorial posting a 6-4 overall record and Miramonte finishing at 4-6. Here’s a detailed comparison of their performance.

Offensive Comparison

Newark Memorial has an edge in rushing with an average of 170.0 yards per game, significantly higher than Miramonte’s 107.8 yards. The heart of Newark Memorial’s running game is #10 Jacob Malimban, who leads the team with 82.1 rushing yards per game. On the other hand, Miramonte relies heavily on its passing attack, averaging 232.2 yards per game, nearly doubling Newark Memorial’s 87.9 passing yards per game. The standout for Miramonte in the air is #2 Carson Blair, with a remarkable 228.6 passing yards per game.

Both teams share similar receiving yards per game stats, with Newark Memorial at 101.6 and Miramonte at 232.2, highlighting how Miramonte’s passing game is a major contributor to their offense. However, Newark Memorial excels in total yardage, averaging 257.9 yards per game, compared to Miramonte’s 340.0 yards.

Defensive Comparison

When it comes to defense, Newark Memorial shows stronger performance in tackling with 74.0 tackles per game, compared to Miramonte’s 56.0. Newark Memorial’s #5 Matthias (Leki) Vaka leads in tackles with 11.1 per game, while Miramonte’s #11 Luke Milmoe records 9.7 tackles per game. Both teams are relatively even in the sack department, with Newark Memorial averaging 1.7 sacks per game, slightly ahead of Miramonte’s 1.3 sacks.

Special Teams & Key Players

In terms of pancake blocks, Miramonte leads with 8, while Newark Memorial has 0. Pancake blocks are essential for clearing paths during the run game, so Miramonte’s edge in this area shows their ability to dominate in the trenches.

Key players for Newark Memorial include Jacob Malimban, who leads the team in rushing yards (82.1 ypg), total yards (101.9 ypg), and points scored (5.4 ppg). Meanwhile, Miramonte’s standout players are Carson Blair (passing yards leader with 228.6 ypg) and Jack Quinnild (leading receiver with 83.6 ypg).

Record Breakdown

Looking at their overall records, Newark Memorial holds a slight advantage with a 6-4 record compared to Miramonte’s 4-6. In league play, Newark Memorial holds a 3-2 record, while Miramonte sits at 0-4. Both teams perform relatively evenly in non-league games, each with a 3-2 record. At home, Newark Memorial is 1-1, while Miramonte has a strong 5-3 away record, showcasing their ability to perform on the road.

Conclusion

While both teams exhibit notable strengths, Newark Memorial’s ability to control the ground game and make tackles stands out, while Miramonte’s passing attack and ability to create pancake blocks demonstrate their offensive firepower. The contrast in playing styles—Newark Memorial’s run-heavy offense and Miramonte’s pass-first approach—sets the stage for an exciting matchup should these teams meet in future competitions. As the season progresses, both teams will aim to refine their strengths and overcome their weaknesses in preparation for playoff pushes.