The Pittsburg (CA) varsity football team is set to play a home playoff game against Lincoln (San Diego, CA) today at 8 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games, Division 1-AA, where both teams will compete for a chance at the championship.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California State Football Championship Bowl Games
Who: Lincoln vs Pittsburg
When: Today, December 13, 2024
Bracket: 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games – Division 1-AA
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Lincoln vs. Pittsburg

The upcoming matchup between Lincoln and Pittsburg promises to be an exciting showdown, with both teams boasting impressive records and a high level of offensive and defensive performance. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their key stats, team leaders, and season records.

Team Stat Comparison

Offensive Strengths
Both Lincoln and Pittsburg showcase potent offensive strategies, making them formidable opponents. Lincoln leads in rushing yards, averaging 229.5 yards per game, compared to Pittsburg’s 179.9. However, Pittsburg takes the edge in the passing game, with 224.7 passing yards per game, surpassing Lincoln’s 217.8.

In terms of total yards, Lincoln’s offense has the slight advantage, generating 447.3 total yards per game compared to Pittsburg’s 404.6. Despite this, Pittsburg’s ability to spread the ball out with both the rush and pass gives them an edge in total offensive yardage.

Scoring Prowess
Both teams have high-scoring offenses, with Lincoln averaging 38.5 points per game and Pittsburg slightly ahead at 39.2 points per game. This suggests a highly competitive and high-energy game, where scoring could be the deciding factor.

Defensive Comparison
Defensively, Lincoln excels with 90.1 tackles per game, compared to Pittsburg’s 64.4. Lincoln’s defense is known for making key stops, and this strong tackling ability gives them an advantage in containing opponents. Additionally, Lincoln’s 3.6 sacks per game is another sign of their aggressive defensive play, while Pittsburg averages just 1.5 sacks per game.

Team Leaders

Lincoln

• Rushing: #2 Aden Jackson leads the team with 112.5 rushing yards per game, powering Lincoln’s ground game.
• Passing: #11 Akili Smith Jr. is Lincoln’s top passer, throwing for 177.1 yards per game.
• Receiving: #5 Ty Olsen contributes 66.3 receiving yards per game, providing a solid option in the passing attack.
• Total Yards: Smith Jr. also leads in total yards, accumulating 213.1 yards per game when combining both passing and rushing.
• Defense: #4 Dylon Dunn leads the defense with 9.3 tackles per game, anchoring the team’s defense.
• Sacks: #33 Prince Tavizon contributes 0.9 sacks per game.
• Points: Aden Jackson also plays a role in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game.

Pittsburg

• Rushing: #28 Jamar Searcy leads Pittsburg’s rushing attack with 105.0 yards per game.
• Passing: #12 Marley Alcantara is the top passer for Pittsburg, averaging 201.8 yards per game.
• Receiving: #29 Kenneth Ward contributes 50.9 receiving yards per game.
• Total Yards: Alcantara also leads in total yards with 218.8 yards per game.
• Defense: #1 Jewelous Walls is a defensive standout, leading the team with 8.3 tackles per game.
• Sacks: Walls also contributes 0.5 sacks per game, helping to pressure the quarterback.
• Points: Searcy is also a key scorer, averaging 9.4 points per game.

Record Breakdown

Lincoln

• Overall Record: 11-2
• League Record: 4-0
• Non-League Record: 4-2
• Home Record: 5-2
• Away Record: 5-0
• Playoff Record: 3-0
• In-State Record: 10-1
• Out-of-State Record: 1-1

Pittsburg

• Overall Record: 12-2
• League Record: 5-0
• Non-League Record: 4-1
• Home Record: 7-0
• Away Record: 5-0
• Playoff Record: 3-1
• In-State Record: 11-2
• Out-of-State Record: 1-0

Both teams have had successful seasons with impressive overall records. Pittsburg has the advantage in home games, maintaining a perfect 7-0 record at home, while Lincoln also performs well away, with a 5-0 road record. Both teams have shown resilience in the playoffs, making it clear that they can perform under pressure.

Conclusion

This matchup between Lincoln and Pittsburg is expected to be a thrilling contest, with both teams bringing strong offensive firepower and robust defensive units. Lincoln’s rushing game and tackling advantage will challenge Pittsburg’s balanced attack, which relies on both a strong passing game and solid running efforts. With both teams scoring nearly 40 points per game on average, fans can expect an exciting, high-scoring contest where every possession counts. As both teams aim for victory, it will be their ability to execute under pressure that could make the difference.