The San Marcos varsity football team will face Granite Hills in a neutral-site playoff showdown tonight at 7:30 p.m. This high-stakes matchup is part of the 2024 CIF San Diego Section Football Championships – Division I tournament, with both teams competing for a chance to advance deeper into the postseason.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California State Football Championship
Who: San Marcos (CA) vs Granite Hills (CA)
When: Today, November 30, 2024
Bracket: 2024 CIF San Diego Section Football Championships (California) – Division I
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Granite Hills vs. San Marcos

As Granite Hills and San Marcos gear up for a highly anticipated matchup, their season stats paint a picture of two powerhouse teams with distinct strengths. Both teams have been dominant, with Granite Hills boasting a 10-2 overall record and San Marcos an impressive 11-1. Here’s an in-depth comparison of the teams, highlighting their strengths and key players.

Offensive Comparison

Granite Hills relies on a balanced offensive attack, averaging 204.0 rushing yards per game and 176.1 passing yards per game, for a total of 380.1 yards per game. In contrast, San Marcos leans heavily on its aerial assault, with 274.3 passing yards per game, contributing to a slightly higher total offense of 382.8 yards per game.

Both teams have showcased their ability to score, with Granite Hills averaging 37.9 points per game, narrowly edging San Marcos’ 37.2 points per game.

Defensive Matchup

Defensively, Granite Hills averages more tackles per game (65.0) compared to San Marcos (61.6). However, San Marcos has a stronger pass rush, recording 2.7 sacks per game, compared to Granite Hills’ 1.7 sacks per game.

Team Leaders

Granite Hills’ offense revolves around standout performances by Max Turner, who averages a staggering 140.5 rushing yards per game and contributes 14.0 points per game, and Zachary Benitez, who delivers 170.8 passing yards per game.

San Marcos counters with a stellar passing game led by Kreet Makihele, averaging 268.7 passing yards per game and 269.3 total yards per game. Wide receiver Jase Nix complements Makihele with 77.1 receiving yards per game and is a key red-zone threat.

Common Opponents

The teams have faced three common opponents this season: Mission Hills, Mater Dei Catholic, and Torrey Pines. Granite Hills emerged victorious in all three matchups, including a dominant 56-28 win over Mater Dei Catholic. San Marcos went 2-1, with their sole loss being a narrow 17-14 defeat to Mission Hills.

Playoff Success

Both teams enter this game with momentum, holding undefeated playoff records at 2-0. Granite Hills has shown consistency, with a 3-1 home record and an impressive 5-0 away record, while San Marcos remains perfect at home (5-0) and excels on the road (4-1).

Key to Victory

For Granite Hills, establishing the run game behind Max Turner will be crucial, as their ground game sets the tone for their offense. San Marcos will look to exploit Granite Hills’ secondary through Kreet Makihele’s precision passing and Jase Nix’s playmaking ability.

Final Thoughts

With both teams evenly matched statistically, this game promises to be a battle of execution and strategy. Granite Hills’ balanced attack and San Marcos’ explosive passing game will make this clash a must-watch for football fans.

Who will emerge victorious? The answer may lie in which team can best leverage its strengths and capitalize on the opponent’s weaknesses.