The Murrieta Valley varsity football team (Murrieta, CA) will host Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA) in a home playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships, Division 2, as both teams vie for a spot in the next round.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Oaks Christian vs Murrieta Valley
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) – Division 2
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Oaks Christian vs. Murrieta Valley

As the 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships heat up, the Murrieta Valley (Murrieta, CA) varsity football team is set to host Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA) in a thrilling home playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. Both teams have had impressive seasons, and their matchup promises to be an exciting battle for a spot in the next round of the Division 2 tournament.

Oaks Christian: A Balanced and Resilient Team

Oaks Christian enters the game with a solid 9-3 record, reflecting their strength and consistency throughout the season. The Lions finished 4-1 in league play and have shown resilience on the road with a 3-2 away record. With 340 points scored and 189 points allowed, Oaks Christian has displayed a well-rounded team with solid offense and defense.

Offensively, the Lions average 28.3 points per game. Their scoring is spread across the game, with a strong first-quarter performance (13.5 points per game), although their output dips in the third quarter (3.2 points). They are most dangerous in the second and fourth quarters, scoring 9.3 and 12.0 points, respectively. For Oaks Christian to succeed in this game, they will need to find a way to maintain offensive balance and avoid prolonged scoring droughts, especially in the middle of the game.

Murrieta Valley: High-Powered Offense and Strong Defense

Murrieta Valley has been one of the most dominant teams in the section this year, boasting a 10-2 overall record with an impressive win percentage of .833. The Nighthawks finished 4-1 in league play and have excelled both at home and on the road, with identical 5-1 records in both categories. Murrieta Valley has been a scoring machine this season, racking up 509 points while allowing 292, which gives them a point differential of +217.

The Nighthawks’ offense has been explosive, averaging a staggering 42.4 points per game. Their first-quarter performance is strong (15.1 points), and they also remain consistent in the second quarter with an average of 12.8 points. Although their scoring dips slightly in the second half, with 7.5 points in the third and 7.0 points in the fourth, Murrieta Valley’s ability to dominate early in games and create a strong lead will be key against Oaks Christian.

Key Matchup: High-Scoring Offense vs. Balanced Attack

Murrieta Valley enters this matchup as the clear offensive powerhouse, with their high-scoring offense that averages more than 40 points per game. However, Oaks Christian has been able to find a balance in their attack, particularly in the first and fourth quarters. For Oaks Christian to compete, they will need to capitalize on their early-game success and keep pace with Murrieta Valley’s explosive offense. They will also need to prevent the Nighthawks from getting comfortable and building a large lead.

Murrieta Valley’s defense, which has allowed just 292 points this season, will be tasked with slowing down Oaks Christian’s offense. While Oaks Christian has shown they can score in bursts, Murrieta Valley’s defense will need to tighten up in the second half to ensure they don’t allow the Lions to mount a comeback.

Final Thoughts

Murrieta Valley enters this game as the favorite, with their potent offense and well-rounded team. However, Oaks Christian’s balance and ability to start strong in the first quarter make them a dangerous opponent. This game will come down to whether Oaks Christian can match Murrieta Valley’s offensive firepower and whether the Nighthawks can shut down Oaks Christian in the middle quarters. Fans can expect a thrilling and high-paced playoff matchup between two talented teams as they battle for a spot in the next round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 Football Championships.

As the season heads into its final stages, the upcoming matchup between Oaks Christian and Murrieta Valley is generating significant excitement. Both teams have enjoyed successful campaigns, with Oaks Christian posting a 9-3 record and Murrieta Valley entering the game with a 10-2 record. The two teams bring different offensive and defensive strategies to the field, setting up an intriguing contest. Below is a detailed breakdown of their respective team stats, standout players, and key matchups.

Offensive Comparison

• Rushing Yards: Oaks Christian has a more balanced offensive attack with 105.9 rushing yards per game, led by Deshonne Redeaux who averages 114.2 rushing yards per game. In contrast, Murrieta Valley has been explosive on the ground, averaging 247.0 rushing yards per game. Dorian Hoze, with 153.5 rushing yards per game, is the standout back for Murrieta Valley and a key figure in their high-powered rushing offense.
• Passing Yards: Oaks Christian averages 186.3 passing yards per game, with Trey Towns Jr. leading the passing attack, amassing 169.2 yards per game. Murrieta Valley, on the other hand, has a more efficient passing game, with Bear Bachmeier throwing for 228.3 yards per game. While Oaks Christian relies more on a balanced approach, Murrieta Valley’s passing game has been a significant factor in their overall offensive success, helping them generate 397.4 total yards per game.
• Receiving Yards: Both teams have solid receiving units, with Oaks Christian averaging 186.3 receiving yards per game, while Murrieta Valley averages 150.4 receiving yards per game. Stevie Amar leads Oaks Christian’s receiving corps with 41.5 yards per game, while Murrieta Valley’s Julian Treadwell adds 44.7 yards per game. Although Oaks Christian has more receiving yards overall, Murrieta Valley’s ability to mix their passing and rushing game gives them a more diverse offensive attack.
• Total Yards: Murrieta Valley has the edge here, averaging 397.4 total yards per game compared to Oaks Christian’s 292.2. Murrieta Valley’s offensive success is built on a powerful running game and an effective passing attack, which has allowed them to dominate games. Oaks Christian, while more balanced, relies on efficiency rather than explosiveness, making them a more methodical offensive team.

Defensive Comparison

• Tackles Per Game: Murrieta Valley’s defense is slightly more aggressive, averaging 71.2 tackles per game compared to Oaks Christian’s 69.6. Abelardo Leos leads Murrieta Valley with 8.8 tackles per game, while Christian Knoos leads Oaks Christian with 12.1 tackles per game. This shows that Oaks Christian’s defense is built more around individual effort, while Murrieta Valley relies more on collective team play.
• Sacks Per Game: Oaks Christian has a stronger pass rush, averaging 3.3 sacks per game. Hayden Lowe contributes 1.3 sacks per game, helping the team disrupt opposing quarterbacks. Murrieta Valley, while effective on defense, averages just 1.5 sacks per game, with Vincent Ingram contributing 0.5 sacks per game. The ability of Oaks Christian to pressure the quarterback could be a key factor in limiting Murrieta Valley’s passing attack.

Scoring Comparison

• Points Per Game: Murrieta Valley has been more prolific in putting points on the board, averaging 42.4 points per game. Dorian Hoze has been the driving force, scoring 14.2 points per game. Oaks Christian scores 28.3 points per game, with Deshonne Redeaux contributing 9.1 points per game. Murrieta Valley’s high-scoring offense gives them an advantage in this matchup, as they have the ability to put up big numbers in a hurry.

Record Breakdown

• Overall Record: Oaks Christian enters the game with a solid 9-3 record, while Murrieta Valley boasts a slightly better 10-2 record. Both teams have been highly competitive throughout the season, with Oaks Christian’s losses coming in close contests and Murrieta Valley’s two losses both being challenging matchups.
• League Record: Both teams have an identical 4-1 record in league play, indicating that they have been dominant in their respective leagues. Their league performances suggest that both teams are well-prepared for this showdown and can compete at a high level.
• Non-League Record: Oaks Christian has a 3-2 record in non-league games, while Murrieta Valley has an impressive 4-1 record. This suggests that Murrieta Valley has been able to perform well against non-league competition, which could give them a slight edge heading into the game.
• Home/Away Record: Both teams have strong home records, with Oaks Christian going 5-1 at home and Murrieta Valley also posting a 5-1 home record. The key difference is in their away performance. Oaks Christian has a 3-2 away record, while Murrieta Valley has been perfect on the road, with a 5-1 record.
• Playoff Record: Both teams have been successful in the playoffs, with Oaks Christian posting a 2-0 record and Murrieta Valley also going 2-0. This indicates that both teams are battle-tested and have the ability to perform under the pressure of postseason football.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced Roosevelt, with Oaks Christian defeating them 48-0 and Murrieta Valley winning 56-3. These dominant victories suggest that both teams can handle similar competition, though Murrieta Valley’s higher margin of victory may indicate a more explosive style of play.

Conclusion

The matchup between Oaks Christian and Murrieta Valley is shaping up to be a clash of contrasting styles. Murrieta Valley’s high-powered offense, led by Dorian Hoze and Bear Bachmeier, will test Oaks Christian’s ability to contain both the run and the pass. Meanwhile, Oaks Christian’s methodical, balanced offense and strong defense will challenge Murrieta Valley’s ability to stay disciplined.

Murrieta Valley’s offensive explosiveness gives them the edge in total yardage and scoring, but Oaks Christian’s ability to control the clock and generate pressure on defense could play a pivotal role in keeping the game close. With both teams possessing the tools to succeed on both sides of the ball, this game is poised to be a thrilling contest, with the outcome likely determined by which team can execute their game plan most effectively.