The Pusch Ridge Christian Academy varsity football team will host Paradise Honors in a home playoff game on Friday, November 15, at 7 p.m. This exciting matchup is part of the 2024 AIA State Football Championships in Arizona, specifically within the Conference 3A tournament, where both teams aim for postseason success.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Arizona High School Football
Who: Paradise Honors vs Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 AIA State Football Championships (Arizona) – Conference 3A
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Paradise Honors Faces Pusch Ridge Christian Academy

The 2024 AIA State Football Championships in Arizona’s Conference 3A tournament has set the stage for an exciting home playoff game between the Paradise Honors Panthers and the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions. The game will take place on Friday, November 15, at 7 p.m. in Tucson, where Pusch Ridge looks to extend its impressive season against a strong Paradise Honors squad.

Paradise Honors: Strong Season Despite Away Struggles

Paradise Honors, with a solid 7-4 overall record, enters the game with confidence. The Panthers finished their regular season with a 3-2 section record, securing a competitive spot in the tournament. One of their standout achievements this season has been their perfect 5-0 home record, although they’ve faced challenges on the road, with a 2-4 away record. Despite this, they have been able to score an average of 31.9 points per game, with notable offensive performances, especially in the first two quarters, where they average 9.0 points in the first quarter and 12.9 points in the second quarter. Paradise Honors will need to capitalize on these early bursts of scoring to stay competitive against the dominant Pusch Ridge team.

Key Stats:

• Overall Record: 7-4
• Section Record: 3-2
• Home Record: 5-0
• Away Record: 2-4
• Win %: .636
• Section %: .600
• Points For (PF): 351
• Points Against (PA): 273
• Average Points Per Game: 31.9

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy: Dominant in Every Aspect

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, on the other hand, has been nothing short of spectacular this season. With a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 4-0 section record, the Lions have been dominant throughout the year, especially in conference play. Their perfect 6-0 home record highlights their strength in familiar territory, while their only loss came on the road, where they finished 4-1.

The Lions have been particularly effective on both sides of the ball, averaging an impressive 39.8 points per game. Their scoring is well-rounded, with a strong start to games, averaging 15.0 points in the first quarter and 10.0 points in the second quarter. The team has proven to be dangerous at all stages of the game, and their formidable defense has only allowed a total of 62 points all season, an average of just 5.6 points per game.

Key Stats:

• Overall Record: 10-1
• Section Record: 4-0
• Home Record: 6-0
• Away Record: 4-1
• Win %: .909
• Section %: 1.000
• Points For (PF): 438
• Points Against (PA): 62
• Average Points Per Game: 39.8

Scoring Breakdown: Paradise Honors vs. Pusch Ridge

While Paradise Honors has shown offensive firepower, particularly in the first half of games, their scoring tends to dip in the second half, with just 4.5 points in the fourth quarter on average. In contrast, Pusch Ridge has maintained strong, consistent scoring throughout the game, especially in the first quarter, and they continue to perform well in the second half. The Lions’ well-balanced offense and solid defense make them a tough opponent for any team, including Paradise Honors.

Looking Ahead: A Clash of Strengths

As the two teams prepare for Friday’s playoff game, the key to victory will likely be Paradise Honors’ ability to capitalize on early scoring runs and put pressure on Pusch Ridge early in the game. However, Pusch Ridge’s all-around dominance in both offense and defense makes them the favorite going into this matchup. Their perfect section record and high scoring average speak to their ability to control the pace of the game.

The game promises to be an exciting one, as Paradise Honors looks to upset the high-flying Lions. Fans can expect a high-intensity atmosphere at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy’s home field, where the Lions will aim to defend their turf and continue their playoff run.

As the high school football season heats up, the upcoming matchup between Paradise Honors and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy promises to be an exciting contest. Both teams have enjoyed solid seasons, each showcasing their strengths and distinctive styles of play. Here’s a closer look at their statistics, key players, and common opponents to provide a better understanding of what to expect from this matchup.

Team Stat Comparison

Offensive Production: Ground and Air Game
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy has a notable edge when it comes to rushing, averaging 154.5 yards per game compared to Paradise Honors’ 109.4. Blake Reed, the leading rusher for Pusch Ridge, has been effective on the ground, averaging 55.5 yards per game. In contrast, Paradise Honors’ Charles Vandyke leads the rushing attack with 58.6 yards per game, though they rely more heavily on their passing game for offensive production.

When it comes to the air game, Paradise Honors outshines Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, averaging 208.8 passing yards per game, significantly higher than Pusch Ridge’s 154.8. Paradise Honors’ quarterback Nolan Rau is key to their aerial attack, throwing for an impressive 193.7 yards per game. Pusch Ridge’s Jacob Newborn is no slouch either, averaging 147.5 passing yards per game, but Paradise Honors has the edge in this department.

Receiving and Total Yardage
Paradise Honors is also more dynamic in the receiving game, averaging 209.0 yards per game. Preston Brown leads the receiving corps with 113.1 yards per game, and his ability to stretch the field will be critical for Paradise Honors’ offense. Pusch Ridge, on the other hand, averages 164.5 receiving yards per game, with Jacob Newborn’s 47.1 yards per game being their primary production in the air.

In terms of total yardage, Paradise Honors leads with 318.2 yards per game, while Pusch Ridge is slightly behind with 309.3. Although Pusch Ridge Christian Academy is highly effective on the ground, Paradise Honors’ ability to generate yards both in the air and on the ground gives them a slight overall edge in total offensive production.

Defensive Strengths
Defensively, both teams are solid, but Paradise Honors has the advantage in terms of tackles per game, averaging 76.6 compared to Pusch Ridge’s 56.6. This shows that Paradise Honors is more active in making stops across the field. Both teams have also been effective at putting pressure on the quarterback, with Paradise Honors recording 3.0 sacks per game and Pusch Ridge tallying 2.5.

Scoring Ability
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy has a higher average of points per game, with 36.0, compared to Paradise Honors’ 30.5. This suggests that Pusch Ridge’s offense has been more potent in converting drives into points, which could be a key factor in this matchup. However, Paradise Honors’ ability to control the ball and keep drives alive with their balanced offense will be crucial to limiting Pusch Ridge’s scoring opportunities.

Key Players to Watch

Paradise Honors:

• Nolan Rau (#15): The standout quarterback for Paradise Honors, Rau averages 193.7 passing yards per game. His ability to lead the offense and connect with his top receiver, Preston Brown, will be key to their success.
• Preston Brown (#2): As the top receiver with 113.1 yards per game, Brown is a game-changer in the passing game. His ability to stretch the field and make plays after the catch will be essential for Paradise Honors.
• Rayshech McCullough (#23): McCullough leads the team in tackles with 8.3 per game, providing stability in the defensive backfield. His presence will be important in stopping Pusch Ridge’s offensive threats.
• Elijah Garcia (#88): Garcia provides support on the defensive line, contributing 0.9 sacks per game. His ability to get to the quarterback will help Paradise Honors disrupt Pusch Ridge’s rhythm.

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy:

• Blake Reed (#6): Reed leads the team with 55.5 rushing yards per game. His ability to control the clock and generate positive yards on the ground will be crucial for Pusch Ridge.
• Jacob Newborn (#4): Newborn is the driving force behind Pusch Ridge’s passing game, throwing for 147.5 yards per game. His accuracy and decision-making will be tested against the aggressive Paradise Honors defense.
• Nate Campa (#3): Campa is a reliable target in the receiving game, with 47.1 receiving yards per game. His ability to create separation and make big plays in crucial moments will be important for Pusch Ridge.
• Tyler Shoaff (#51): Shoaff leads Pusch Ridge in tackles, averaging 10.1 per game. He will be pivotal in stopping Paradise Honors’ diverse offensive attack and limiting their ability to gain yardage.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced similar competition this season, which gives a good sense of their strengths and weaknesses in comparable matchups:

• Thatcher: Paradise Honors lost to Thatcher 32-0 on August 23, 2024, while Pusch Ridge Christian Academy won 22-7 on October 25, 2024. This shows Pusch Ridge’s ability to compete and succeed against tough teams, while Paradise Honors struggled in this matchup.
• Show Low: Paradise Honors defeated Show Low 30-25 on September 20, 2024, while Pusch Ridge won 42-3 on August 30, 2024. Pusch Ridge’s dominance here shows they may have an edge in blowout games.
• Yuma: Paradise Honors defeated Yuma 34-0 on October 25, 2024, while Pusch Ridge shut them out 51-0 on September 13, 2024. Both teams handled Yuma comfortably, but Pusch Ridge’s larger margin of victory suggests they can deliver more decisive performances.

Record Breakdown

Paradise Honors (24-25)
With a 7-4 overall record, Paradise Honors has been solid, though their 3-2 league record shows they have had some competition within their conference. They have a strong home record (5-0) and a decent away record (2-4), meaning they have performed well at home but will need to improve on the road.

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (24-25)
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy comes into this matchup with an impressive 10-1 overall record. Their perfect 4-0 league record speaks to their dominance within their conference, and their 6-0 home record highlights their ability to perform at home. They have been tough to beat on the road as well, with a 4-1 away record.

Conclusion

This game presents a fascinating contrast between Paradise Honors’ balanced offense, which combines both an effective passing and rushing attack, and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy’s more ground-focused approach with a powerful rushing game and strong scoring ability. While Paradise Honors has been the more dynamic team in terms of total yardage, Pusch Ridge’s ability to convert drives into points and dominate in certain matchups makes them a formidable opponent.

With both teams boasting solid defenses and explosive offensive players, this will be a competitive game. Pusch Ridge’s higher scoring average and strong performances against common opponents may give them the slight edge, but Paradise Honors will look to challenge that with their well-rounded offense and tough defensive play. This should be a thrilling contest between two teams eager to prove their dominance on the field.