The Elsie Allen (Santa Rosa, CA) varsity football team will face Round Valley (Covelo, CA) in a home playoff game today at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships – 8-Person Division 2 tournament, where both teams will battle for a spot in the next round.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California High School Football Playoff
Who: Round Valley vs Elsie Allen
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game preview: Round Valley vs. Elsie Allen

The 2024-2025 North Coast Section Football Championships are underway, and one of the most intriguing matchups in the 8-Person Division 2 is between Round Valley and Elsie Allen. Set to take place tonight at 7 p.m. at Elsie Allen’s home field in Santa Rosa, this playoff game holds major stakes as both teams look to make a deep postseason run.

Round Valley Season Overview

Round Valley enters the playoffs with a 4-4 overall record, finishing with a .500 win percentage. The team had a solid performance in league play, with a 4-2 record, but struggled on the road, posting a 2-3 away record. Despite some inconsistencies throughout the season, Round Valley has shown resilience, particularly on defense, where they allowed just 194 points over the course of the season.

• Overall Record: 4-4
• League Record: 4-2
• Home Record: 2-1
• Away Record: 2-3
• Points Scored: 201
• Points Allowed: 194
• Average Points Per Game (Final): 25.1
• Section Ranking: 64th
• Division Ranking: 3rd

Round Valley’s offense has been somewhat slow to start, averaging just 2.7 points in the second quarter and 0 points in the first. However, they’ve been strong late in games, with a 4.7-point average in the fourth quarter, which could be crucial in this playoff matchup. If Round Valley can build momentum in the second half, they may have the opportunity to close out games strong.

Elsie Allen Season Overview

Elsie Allen, on the other hand, enters the game with a 6-4 overall record, posting a .600 win percentage. The team had a strong season in league play, finishing with a 4-1 record, and they were solid both at home and on the road, with a 3-3 home record and 3-1 on the road. Elsie Allen’s offense has been explosive this season, scoring 342 points, with an average of 34.2 points per game, which is among the highest in the division.

• Overall Record: 6-4
• League Record: 4-1
• Home Record: 3-3
• Away Record: 3-1
• Points Scored: 342
• Points Allowed: 321
• Average Points Per Game (Final): 34.2
• Section Ranking: 46th
• Division Ranking: 6th

Elsie Allen’s offense has been highly consistent, averaging 10.8 points per quarter in the first three periods, with a slight dip to 4.4 points in the fourth quarter. This offensive depth will be key as they look to overpower Round Valley early in the game and prevent a late-game comeback.

Key Matchup: Offense vs. Defense

The key to this game will likely be the contrast in offensive firepower between the two teams. Elsie Allen’s dynamic offense, which puts up an average of 34.2 points per game, will look to take control early, while Round Valley will need to capitalize on their ability to stay in games and finish strong. Round Valley’s defense has allowed just 194 points, but their offense has been inconsistent, particularly in the first half. They’ll need to figure out how to sustain a more consistent offensive attack against Elsie Allen’s potent scoring.

Elsie Allen’s defense, having allowed 321 points, will need to step up and contain Round Valley’s late-game push. While Round Valley has averaged 25.1 points per game, much of their scoring comes in the latter stages, meaning Elsie Allen’s defense will need to be prepared to weather a late-game surge.

Looking Ahead:

With both teams having their strengths and weaknesses, this playoff game promises to be an exciting contest. Elsie Allen has the edge in overall offensive production, but Round Valley’s ability to play tough in the second half and their strong defense makes them a formidable opponent. As the game kicks off tonight at 7 p.m., it’s clear that this matchup is too close to call, with both teams ready to fight for a spot in the next round of the North Coast Section Football Championships – 8-Person Division 2 tournament.

As the season nears its conclusion, both Round Valley and Elsie Allen have demonstrated solid performances with records of 4-4 and 6-4, respectively. The teams have faced a number of common opponents, offering valuable insight into how they might match up against each other. In this article, we’ll break down their performance against shared opponents, highlight key differences in their records, and look at their overall strengths.

Performance Against Common Opponents:

Both Round Valley and Elsie Allen have faced six common opponents this season, with each team producing some impressive results. Here’s a look at how they fared:

1. Round Valley vs. Laytonville:
   • Round Valley: Win (46-8, 52-12)
   • Elsie Allen: Win (70-28)

   Both teams dominated Laytonville, with Elsie Allen posting a larger margin of victory. Round Valley, however, displayed consistency with back-to-back wins over Laytonville by similar margins.

2. Round Valley vs. Tomales:
   • Round Valley: Win (27-8)
   • Elsie Allen: Win (66-32)

   Round Valley’s victory was more defensively focused, winning by 19 points. Elsie Allen, on the other hand, produced a much higher-scoring win, outpacing Tomales by a more substantial 34-point margin.

3. Round Valley vs. California School for the Deaf:
   • Round Valley: Loss (44-8)
   • Elsie Allen: Loss (44-12)

   Both teams struggled against the California School for the Deaf, with Round Valley managing just 8 points and Elsie Allen scoring 12. The margins of defeat were quite similar, indicating that both teams faced similar challenges in this matchup.

4. Round Valley vs. Potter Valley:
   • Round Valley: Win (26-6)
   • Elsie Allen: Win (60-52)

   Round Valley delivered a dominant performance against Potter Valley, winning by 20 points. Elsie Allen, however, was involved in a much higher-scoring game, winning by just 8 points. Elsie Allen’s ability to score in such high-scoring contests might suggest a more explosive offense, but also raises questions about their defense.

5. Round Valley vs. Cornerstone Christian:
   • Round Valley: Loss (48-28)
   • Elsie Allen: Loss (42-20)

   Both teams lost to Cornerstone Christian, but Round Valley was defeated by a larger margin (20 points) compared to Elsie Allen’s 22-point loss.

Overall Record Breakdown:

• Round Valley Record: 4-4 overall, 4-2 in league play, 0-2 in non-league play
• Elsie Allen Record: 6-4 overall, 4-1 in league play, 2-3 in non-league play

Both teams are relatively evenly matched, with Round Valley’s struggles in non-league play contributing to their 4-4 record. They have performed well in league competition (4-2), showcasing their potential against regional rivals. Elsie Allen, meanwhile, has a slightly better overall record, with a strong 4-1 league mark. However, their non-league performances have been more inconsistent (2-3), with notable wins but also some losses that suggest potential vulnerabilities.

Head-to-Head Record:

When it comes to their head-to-head matchups, Round Valley holds the advantage, having won both of their games against Elsie Allen. This 2-0 record against Elsie Allen might give Round Valley a psychological edge, especially in a potential playoff or future meeting. The past results show that Round Valley has been able to neutralize Elsie Allen’s offense when the two teams face off.

Home and Away Performance:

• Round Valley: 2-1 at home, 2-3 away
• Elsie Allen: 3-3 at home, 3-1 away

Round Valley has been more successful at home, posting a winning record (2-1), but their struggles on the road (2-3) suggest that they may face difficulties in hostile environments. Elsie Allen, conversely, has been much stronger on the road (3-1) compared to their home record (3-3), which might indicate they perform well when facing challenges in opposing stadiums.

Key Takeaways:

1. Round Valley’s Defensive Strength: Round Valley has shown a strong defensive game, particularly in their wins over teams like Potter Valley (26-6) and Tomales (27-8). Their ability to control the clock and limit scoring could be crucial in any matchup with Elsie Allen, who has been involved in more high-scoring games.
2. Elsie Allen’s Explosive Offense: Elsie Allen’s ability to score big—especially in their wins over Laytonville (70-28) and Tomales (66-32)—suggests they have an offense capable of putting up large numbers quickly. However, their higher-scoring losses, such as their narrow win over Potter Valley (60-52), indicate that their defense may struggle to contain explosive offenses.
3. Non-League Struggles: Both teams have faced challenges in non-league play. Round Valley’s 0-2 non-league record highlights their difficulty against tougher out-of-conference opponents, while Elsie Allen’s 2-3 record shows similar inconsistency. These records highlight the importance of focusing on league games, where both teams have seen greater success.
4. Home vs. Away Records: Round Valley performs better at home, whereas Elsie Allen has a stronger record away from home. This dynamic could have implications if the two teams meet in a playoff setting or if Round Valley must travel for an away game.

Conclusion:

While both Round Valley and Elsie Allen are similar in overall record, Round Valley has shown a tendency to dominate against common opponents in low-scoring, defensive games. Elsie Allen, on the other hand, has the advantage in high-scoring affairs, with a potent offense that can put up big numbers. Their contrasting styles—Round Valley’s defensive control versus Elsie Allen’s offensive explosiveness—make a potential matchup between the two teams highly intriguing.

Ultimately, both teams have proven themselves capable of beating quality opponents, but their performance in non-league games and their ability to adapt to different styles of play will be key in determining their success moving forward.