The American Canyon (CA) varsity football team will face Redwood (Larkspur, CA) in a neutral playoff game today at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships, Division 4 tournament, with both teams vying for a spot in the next round of the postseason.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California State Football Championship
Who: Redwood vs American Canyon
When: Today, November 30, 2024
Bracket: 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships – Division 4
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Redwood vs. American Canyon

The 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships are underway, and the highly anticipated Division 4 playoff game between Redwood (Larkspur, CA) and American Canyon (CA) promises to be an exciting showdown. Both teams have had solid seasons, and their matchups in the tournament will be critical as they fight for advancement.

Redwood: A Solid Yet Inconsistent Season

Redwood enters the playoffs with a solid 8-4 overall record, including a 4-2 league performance. Their 3-2 home record and 5-2 away record indicate a balanced ability to perform both at home and on the road. Redwood’s overall .667 win percentage and .667 league win percentage show they’ve been competitive throughout the season, but their scoring patterns suggest occasional struggles to maintain momentum. With a 267 to 230 point differential, Redwood has averaged 22.3 points per game. Their offense tends to start slow, averaging just 3.5 points in the first and third quarters. However, they manage to put up 5.0 points in the second quarter and hold steady in the fourth with another 3.5 points. While Redwood has shown flashes of strength, they will need to sustain more consistent offensive play to compete with the high-scoring American Canyon team.

American Canyon: A High-Scoring Powerhouse

American Canyon has had a stellar season, finishing with a 10-2 overall record and a .833 win percentage, which includes a 6-2 home record and a perfect 4-0 mark on the road. Their strong performance, with a 444 to 203 point differential, reflects a high-powered offense that has averaged 37.0 points per game. American Canyon’s first-quarter scoring is particularly explosive, with an average of 15.0 points in the opening quarter. They also score consistently throughout the game, with 11.7 points in the second quarter and 7.0 points in the fourth. However, they tend to slow down in the third quarter, managing only 2.3 points on average. Despite this dip in the third quarter, American Canyon’s overall offensive potency makes them a dangerous team for any opponent.

Key Differences: Offense vs. Consistency

One of the key differences between these two teams is their offensive firepower. While Redwood has a more balanced but modest scoring distribution, American Canyon has the ability to put up big numbers, particularly in the first half of games. Redwood’s challenge will be to find ways to slow down American Canyon’s high-scoring offense, while American Canyon will need to avoid letting up in the third quarter to maintain control of the game.

As the season nears its conclusion, the upcoming matchup between Redwood and American Canyon promises to be a compelling battle. Both teams have had impressive campaigns, with Redwood posting an 8-4 record and American Canyon standing at 10-2. A closer look at the team statistics reveals some key differences that could determine the outcome of their clash.

Team Stat Comparison

American Canyon has been a dominant force on offense, racking up an impressive 431.3 total yards per game. Their strength lies in the rushing game, where they average 326.3 rushing yards per game, far surpassing Redwood’s 70.0 rushing yards per game. Running back Andre Lopez has been a standout player for American Canyon, rushing for 130.0 yards per game, well above the national average of 20.1 yards.

In comparison, Redwood has struggled to establish a powerful running game. Their offensive attack is more reliant on the passing game, with Kody Vasquez leading the team in passing with 168.2 yards per game and 166.8 total yards per game. While Redwood’s passing game has been solid, their overall yardage, averaging 158.8 total yards per game, pales in comparison to American Canyon’s explosive offense.

Redwood has been much more balanced in their offensive approach, generating 89.0 receiving yards per game, but still, this doesn’t quite match up to American Canyon’s 105.0 receiving yards per game. This passing efficiency, paired with their stellar rushing attack, has allowed American Canyon to score an average of 36.5 points per game, compared to Redwood’s 10.0 points per game.

On defense, Redwood has averaged 27.5 tackles per game, while American Canyon has been more aggressive, recording 55.3 tackles per game. However, Redwood has struggled to sack the quarterback, with just 0.8 sacks per game, while American Canyon has tallied 1.9 sacks per game. This could be a key factor in putting pressure on Redwood’s passing game.

Key Players to Watch

For Redwood, the focus will be on Kody Vasquez, who leads the team in passing yards and total yards, and Sean Cunneen, who adds balance to the offense with 114.1 rushing yards per game and 9.4 points per game. The ability of these two players to create offensive opportunities, despite American Canyon’s strong defense, will be critical in determining Redwood’s success.

For American Canyon, the standout player is Andre Lopez, whose 130.0 rushing yards per game will be the key to their ground-heavy attack. Additionally, Mason Harris has been efficient as the team’s quarterback, throwing for 89.1 yards per game and helping to keep the passing game effective alongside Lopez’s rushing. The team’s offensive line, led by Phoenix Perry with 38 pancake blocks, will be crucial in opening up running lanes for Lopez and ensuring the offense remains dominant.

Common Opponents and Head-to-Head

Both teams have faced some common opponents this season, providing insight into their comparative strengths. Here’s a look at how each team performed:

• Redwood defeated Petaluma 31-14 on September 27, while American Canyon won 41-21 against Petaluma on October 18.
• Redwood lost to Casa Grande 34-0 on October 5, while American Canyon also lost to Casa Grande, though by a closer margin of 26-14 on November 1.
• Redwood triumphed over Napa 55-21 on October 18, while American Canyon won 42-14 against Napa on October 25.
• Both teams had impressive wins over Justin-Siena: Redwood won 21-7 on October 26, while American Canyon won 49-14 on October 11.

From these matchups, it’s clear that American Canyon has been more dominant in their games, especially in their victories over common opponents. Their ability to control the game on both sides of the ball stands out as a significant advantage going into their game against Redwood.

Record Breakdown

Looking at their overall records, American Canyon has the better record at 10-2 compared to Redwood’s 8-4. Both teams finished with 4-2 records in league play, but American Canyon’s perfect 4-0 record in non-league games shows their ability to perform outside of their regular competition.

At home, Redwood is 3-2, while American Canyon has performed well at home, posting a 6-2 record. On the road, Redwood has a 5-2 record, while American Canyon remains undefeated on the road at 4-0. Both teams have performed well in the postseason, with American Canyon boasting a 2-0 playoff record, while Redwood is 0-0 as they enter the postseason.

Conclusion

As Redwood prepares to face American Canyon, the key to the game will likely be whether Redwood can contain American Canyon’s powerful rushing attack, led by Andre Lopez. Redwood’s passing game has shown flashes of potential with Kody Vasquez, but they will need to establish a more balanced offensive attack to keep pace with American Canyon’s high-scoring offense.

On defense, Redwood will need to find a way to disrupt the American Canyon offense, which has proven difficult to slow down this season. The battle will likely come down to whether Redwood can find a way to overcome American Canyon’s strong defense and potent rushing game. If Redwood can’t match American Canyon’s offensive output, they could find themselves on the losing end of this matchup.

This game promises to be an exciting clash of contrasting styles, and it will be fascinating to see which team can impose its will on both sides of the ball.