The Palos Verdes varsity football team hosts La Serna from Whittier in an exciting playoff matchup tonight at 7 p.m. This game, part of the 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (Division 5), features two determined teams battling for a chance to advance further in the highly competitive tournament.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Palos Verdes (CA) vs La Serna (CA)
When: Friday, November 29, 2024
Bracket: 2024 CIF Southern Section Football Championships (California) – Division 5
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Palos Verdes vs. La Serna

La Serna vs. Palos Verdes: A Clash of Offensive Styles

As the season heads into the final stretch, the matchup between La Serna and Palos Verdes promises to be a battle of contrasting football styles. La Serna enters the game with a potent offense, scoring an impressive 34.1 points per game, while Palos Verdes will look to challenge them with its balanced attack and solid defensive unit.

Team Comparison

La Serna boasts a dynamic offense, putting up 344.9 total yards per game, which includes a dominant rushing game averaging 188.2 yards per game. Their passing attack is also effective, with 156.8 yards per game. On the defensive side, La Serna leads with 80.2 tackles per game, helping them shut down opposing offenses.

Palos Verdes, while not as prolific offensively, still manages to average 309.1 total yards per game. Their rushing attack is more modest at 123.5 yards per game, but they make up for it with a potent passing game, averaging 185.6 yards per game. Defensively, Palos Verdes has averaged 59.5 tackles per game and 2.2 sacks per game, both solid numbers that can disrupt an offense’s rhythm.

In terms of scoring, La Serna has the clear edge, averaging 34.1 points per game compared to Palos Verdes’ 14.5 points. The offensive firepower of La Serna will be a significant challenge for Palos Verdes to contain.

Key Players

Both teams feature standout players who will play pivotal roles in this matchup:

• La Serna:
  • Rushing Leader: #20 Ayden Contreras leads the charge with 58.3 rushing yards per game.
  • Passing Leader: #1 Grady Long is efficient, with 114.1 passing yards per game.
  • Receiving Leader: #2 Kaimana Tufaga contributes 53.5 receiving yards per game.
  • Defensive Leader: #7 Eli Perez stands out with 8.8 tackles per game, and #67 Michael Meza adds 0.5 sacks per game.
  • Scoring Leader: Kaimana Tufaga also leads the team in scoring, averaging 6.5 points per game.
• Palos Verdes:
  • Rushing Leader: #9 Andrew Habif is the key to their ground game, averaging 58.9 rushing yards per game.
  • Passing Leader: #3 Ryan Rakowski is the team’s offensive leader, throwing for 179.5 yards per game.
  • Receiving Leader: #7 Morley Boyd is the top receiver with 45.5 yards per game.
  • Defensive Leader: #44 Weston Reis leads Palos Verdes’ defense with 7.9 tackles per game, while #5 Josh Williams adds 0.7 sacks per game.
  • Scoring Leader: #11 Evan Aguirre leads in scoring with 3.7 points per game.

Record Breakdown

La Serna has been strong this season, posting a 10-3 record overall, including a perfect 4-0 record in league play. Their success has largely come from their dominance at home, where they are 5-2, while their road performance has been a solid 3-1.

Palos Verdes, with an 8-5 overall record, has shown resilience, especially in neutral-site games, where they are 3-0. Their road record, however, has been a bit of a struggle, with just a 2-5 mark.

In their only common opponent, Edison, both teams suffered losses, though La Serna’s defeat (32-21) was much closer than Palos Verdes’ 41-7 loss.

What to Watch For

La Serna’s offense, led by the rushing attack of Ayden Contreras and the versatile Grady Long at quarterback, will be the primary focus for Palos Verdes’ defense. If La Serna’s offensive line can create space for Contreras, it could be a long day for Palos Verdes.

On the other hand, Palos Verdes will need to rely on Ryan Rakowski’s arm to keep La Serna’s defense on its heels. With a solid receiving corps and a balanced attack, Palos Verdes will look to capitalize on big plays through the air. Defensively, they’ll need to apply pressure on Grady Long and disrupt La Serna’s offensive rhythm with their pass rush.

Final Thoughts

La Serna enters the game as the clear favorite, but Palos Verdes has the tools to challenge them. If Palos Verdes can slow down La Serna’s high-powered offense and create opportunities for their own attack, they could keep this game competitive. However, La Serna’s explosive offense and strong defense give them a distinct advantage as they look to continue their successful season.

This matchup will be an exciting test of La Serna’s offensive firepower versus Palos Verdes’ defensive toughness. The stage is set for an intense and action-packed showdown.