The St. Vincent de Paul (Petaluma, CA) varsity football team is set to face Sonoma Valley (Sonoma, CA) in a neutral playoff game today at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships, Division 5 tournament, as both teams look to advance in the postseason.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California State Football Championship
Who: St. Vincent de Paul (CA) vs Sonoma Valley (CA)
When: Today, November 30, 2024
Bracket: 2024 North Coast Section Football Championships – Division 5
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Sonoma Valley vs. St. Vincent de Paul

The matchup between Sonoma Valley and St. Vincent de Paul promises to be an exciting contest as both teams come in with impressive records. Sonoma Valley is undefeated at 12-0, while St. Vincent de Paul enters with an 11-1 record. A deeper look at their statistics reveals some intriguing contrasts between these two teams that could make this game a thrilling affair.

Team Stat Comparison

St. Vincent de Paul has been the more dominant team in terms of overall yardage, averaging 414.2 total yards per game, compared to Sonoma Valley’s 369.7 total yards per game. The difference is most notable in rushing, where St. Vincent de Paul has averaged 207.0 rushing yards per game, while Sonoma Valley has posted 164.4 rushing yards per game. Running back Mason Caturegli has been a key part of this success, with 97.5 rushing yards per game.

In contrast, Sonoma Valley has relied on a more balanced offensive attack. Their passing game is strong, with Dalan Lopata leading the team in passing yards with 194.4 per game. This has helped the team average 204.9 receiving yards per game, which is slightly lower than St. Vincent de Paul’s 206.8 receiving yards per game.

Sonoma Valley has been efficient in their offensive approach, scoring 40.1 points per game, while St. Vincent de Paul has been even more explosive, averaging 47.8 points per game. Both teams have shown their ability to score heavily, but St. Vincent de Paul’s slightly higher offensive production could be a deciding factor.

On defense, St. Vincent de Paul has a slight edge in tackles, averaging 62.1 tackles per game compared to Sonoma Valley’s 56.3 tackles per game. However, Sonoma Valley has been more effective at pressuring the quarterback, with 3.4 sacks per game, well above St. Vincent de Paul’s 1.5 sacks per game. This could play a crucial role in disrupting the opposing quarterback and limiting their offensive production.

Key Players to Watch

For Sonoma Valley, Cayden Waldrop has been the standout rusher, leading the team with 125.8 rushing yards per game. His ability to control the ground game will be critical in establishing an offensive rhythm against St. Vincent de Paul. Meanwhile, Dalan Lopata, with 194.4 passing yards per game, will be crucial in leading the passing attack. His ability to connect with Hudson Giarritta, who averages 84.8 receiving yards per game, will be essential for stretching the defense and keeping the passing game effective.

On the other side, St. Vincent de Paul will rely on the combination of Mason Caturegli and Gabe Casanovas to fuel their offense. Caturegli, with his 97.5 rushing yards per game, and Casanovas, who leads the team in passing with 197.5 yards per game, will look to keep the offense balanced and put pressure on Sonoma Valley’s defense. Tye Nickens, who averages 51.1 receiving yards per game, will also play a key role in the passing game.

Both teams have strong defenses, but St. Vincent de Paul’s defense, led by Hudson Kensic (6.8 tackles per game) and Rob Rooks (0.6 sacks per game), will need to step up against a high-powered Sonoma Valley offense. St. Vincent de Paul’s ability to limit big plays and force turnovers could be the key to neutralizing Sonoma Valley’s attack.

Common Opponents and Head-to-Head

Both teams have faced similar competition this season, providing a useful point of comparison.

• Sonoma Valley defeated Montgomery 39-32 on September 6, while St. Vincent de Paul also defeated Montgomery 49-13 on November 2.
• Sonoma Valley beat Santa Rosa 41-14 on September 20, and St. Vincent de Paul won 51-8 against Santa Rosa on October 11.

From these results, it’s clear that both teams have been able to dominate their common opponents. While St. Vincent de Paul’s wins were more decisive, both teams have proven they can handle tough competition, which makes their head-to-head matchup even more intriguing.

Record Breakdown

Both teams have had exceptional seasons, with Sonoma Valley going undefeated at 12-0 and St. Vincent de Paul boasting an 11-1 record. Both teams performed well in league play, with Sonoma Valley finishing 6-0 in league and St. Vincent de Paul finishing 5-0.

At home, Sonoma Valley is a perfect 7-0, while St. Vincent de Paul is also undefeated at home, with a 6-0 record. On the road, Sonoma Valley has a 5-0 record, and St. Vincent de Paul has posted a strong 5-1 road record.

In the postseason, both teams have proven their ability to perform under pressure, with Sonoma Valley posting a 2-0 record in the playoffs, while St. Vincent de Paul is also 2-0. Their solid playoff performances further highlight their readiness for this matchup.

Conclusion

With their high-scoring offenses and solid defensive units, both Sonoma Valley and St. Vincent de Paul come into this game as strong contenders. The key to victory will likely depend on whether Sonoma Valley can effectively disrupt St. Vincent de Paul’s balanced attack, particularly their rushing game. On the other hand, St. Vincent de Paul will need to stop Cayden Waldrop and Dalan Lopata from creating explosive plays and keep Sonoma Valley’s passing game in check.

Both teams have proven their ability to win big games and perform well under pressure, so this matchup promises to be one of the most exciting of the season. It will be a battle of offensive firepower and defensive discipline, with both teams aiming to continue their successful campaigns.