The San Juan Hills varsity football team will face Oaks Christian in a neutral-site playoff game today at 7 p.m. This exciting matchup is part of the 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) in Division 2. Both teams are eager to advance with a strong performance in this crucial game.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football
Who: Oaks Christian vs San Juan Hills
When: Friday, November 15, 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. San Juan Hills

The 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships in Division 2 are heating up, and one of the most exciting matchups features Oaks Christian and San Juan Hills. With both teams boasting impressive records, this neutral-site playoff game promises to be a thrilling contest as they fight for a chance to advance further in the tournament.

Oaks Christian Lions: Solid Season with Room for Growth

Oaks Christian (24-25) enters the game with an 8-3 overall record, ranking 19th in California and 15th in their section. Their win percentage stands at .727, with a strong league record of 4-1. The Lions have been particularly solid at home, with a 5-1 record, although they’ve faced some challenges on the road with a 3-2 mark.

Oaks Christian’s offense has averaged 27.7 points per game, with scoring distribution throughout the game. They start strong with 14.8 points in the first quarter and 11.2 in the second but tend to slow down after halftime, averaging just 2.6 points in the third quarter and 10.0 in the fourth. For Oaks Christian to succeed in this playoff game, they’ll need to find a way to maintain their scoring pace into the second half and strengthen their overall consistency.

San Juan Hills Stallions: Dominant and Undefeated

San Juan Hills (24-25) enters the matchup as one of the top teams in the CIF Southern Section with a 10-1 overall record. Ranked 12th in California and 10th in their section, the Stallions have been nearly perfect this season, posting a .909 win percentage and an undefeated league record of 5-0. Their strong performance in both home (5-1) and away (5-0) games demonstrates their consistency and ability to compete at a high level.

Offensively, San Juan Hills has been impressive, averaging 32.5 points per game. They are particularly effective in the first half, with 10.5 points in the first quarter and 10.0 in the second. While their third-quarter scoring drops to 8.7 points, their fourth-quarter production falls off sharply, with only 4.0 points. Despite the dip in the final period, San Juan Hills’ overall ability to score and their stifling defense (allowing just 126 points on the season) make them one of the most formidable teams in the section.

Key Factors for Both Teams

Oaks Christian will need to capitalize on their strong start, particularly in the first half, and maintain offensive production throughout the game. Their ability to perform in the third quarter, where they’ve struggled at times, will be key to staying competitive with a powerful team like San Juan Hills.

For San Juan Hills, their offense will need to continue performing at a high level, especially in the first and second quarters, while ensuring they finish strong despite the slight drop in fourth-quarter production. Their defense will be critical in limiting Oaks Christian’s high-scoring offense and controlling the game tempo.

Conclusion: A Battle of Strengths

This CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoff game between Oaks Christian and San Juan Hills is a clash of two teams with distinct strengths. Oaks Christian will look to build on their early-game success and hope to improve in the second half, while San Juan Hills will aim to continue their undefeated season with dominant offensive play and solid defense. With both teams capable of explosive performances, this matchup is set to be an exciting and hard-fought contest that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

The upcoming matchup between Oaks Christian and San Juan Hills promises to be an exciting clash as both teams bring strong offensive and defensive units to the table. With playoff hopes on the line, both teams will be aiming for a big win in this crucial contest.

Offensive Breakdown

Oaks Christian has been productive offensively this season, averaging 278.5 total yards per game. The Lions have a balanced attack, with 98.0 rushing yards per game and 180.5 passing yards per game. Deshonne Redeaux has been the focal point of their rushing game, contributing 105.9 yards per game, while quarterback Trey Towns Jr. has been efficient in the air, throwing for 161.1 yards per game. With Weston Schwesinger as a reliable receiving target, who averages 41.0 receiving yards per game, Oaks Christian can be dangerous on all fronts.

San Juan Hills, however, has been even more potent offensively, averaging 321.5 total yards per game. Their offense is also balanced, with 131.6 rushing yards per game and 189.8 passing yards per game. Quarterback Timmy Herr leads the charge, throwing for 184.5 yards per game and keeping the defense guessing with his ability to spread the ball to playmakers like Luke Frith, who has 57.5 receiving yards per game. Elijah Ayala is a key player on the ground, averaging 78.2 rushing yards per game and providing the Hawks with an additional dimension in their offense.

In terms of overall offensive output, San Juan Hills holds a slight advantage, generating 43 more total yards per game than Oaks Christian. The ability to move the ball efficiently on both the ground and through the air gives San Juan Hills a potent offensive attack that can break open games.

Defensive Comparison

Both teams have solid defenses, with San Juan Hills slightly outpacing Oaks Christian in terms of defensive productivity. Oaks Christian averages 68.4 tackles per game, while San Juan Hills comes in at 77.8 tackles per game. San Juan Hills also has the edge in sacks, averaging 2.3 per game compared to Oaks Christian’s 3.3 sacks per game, showing that the two teams are quite close when it comes to disrupting opposing offenses.

Individually, Oaks Christian’s Christian Knoos leads his team with 12.2 tackles per game, while Hayden Lowe contributes 1.1 sacks per game. For San Juan Hills, Weston Port has been solid with 10.5 tackles per game, and Tanner Rohan contributes 0.5 sacks per game. Both teams will rely on these defensive leaders to limit the opposing offenses, but San Juan Hills’ slightly more aggressive defensive play could make the difference in this matchup.

Key Players to Watch

For Oaks Christian, Deshonne Redeaux will be the player to watch on the offensive side of the ball. His ability to run the ball effectively will be key to controlling the clock and keeping San Juan Hills’ high-scoring offense off the field. On defense, Christian Knoos will need to continue his strong play in tackling, while Hayden Lowe’s ability to generate pressure will be critical in limiting San Juan Hills’ passing game.

For San Juan Hills, Timmy Herr’s arm and ability to distribute the ball to key targets like Luke Frith and Elijah Ayala will be the focal point of their offense. The defense will lean on Weston Port’s leadership and tackling ability, while the pass rush, led by Tanner Rohan, will look to stifle Oaks Christian’s quarterback and disrupt their passing game.

Record Breakdown

Oaks Christian enters this game with an 8-3 overall record, including a 4-1 mark in league play. They have had success both at home and on the road, and their 5-1 record at home shows they are tough to beat on their turf. However, San Juan Hills has been even more dominant this season with a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark in league play. The Hawks have been particularly impressive on the road, where they boast a perfect 5-0 record.

Both teams have shown their ability to perform under pressure, with Oaks Christian boasting a 1-0 record in playoff games, while San Juan Hills remains undefeated in state play with a 10-0 in-state record.

Common Opponents

Both teams share a common opponent in Roosevelt, and both came out victorious in their matchups. Oaks Christian defeated Roosevelt 48-0 at home, while San Juan Hills defeated Roosevelt 38-3 at home as well. This suggests that both teams have the ability to dominate weaker opponents, though the overall challenge will lie in their head-to-head matchup.

Conclusion

While both teams are highly competitive with solid offenses and defenses, San Juan Hills enters this matchup as the favorite, given their perfect record and slightly higher offensive output. Oaks Christian will need to rely on its balanced attack, particularly the running game with Deshonne Redeaux, to control the clock and keep San Juan Hills’ explosive offense off the field. On defense, Oaks Christian will need to pressure Timmy Herr and stop the Hawks’ ability to attack both on the ground and in the air.

San Juan Hills’ offense, led by Herr and Ayala, will look to continue their impressive season, while their defense, which excels at making tackles and pressuring the quarterback, will look to stifle Oaks Christian’s passing game.

Ultimately, San Juan Hills’ offensive and defensive balance, along with their perfect record, makes them the slight favorite in this matchup. However, Oaks Christian has the tools to make this a competitive and hard-fought game, and fans can expect an exciting contest between two of the top teams in the region.