The Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, CA) varsity football team will host Twelve Bridges (Lincoln, CA) in an exciting playoff matchup today at 11:30 a.m. as part of the 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games, Division 2-A. Both teams are set to compete for a chance at advancing toward the title.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California State Football Championship Bowl Games
Who: Twelve Bridges vs Palos Verdes
When: Today, December 14, 2024
Bracket: 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games – Division 2-A
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Twelve Bridges vs. Palos Verdes

The 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games, Division 2-A, presents a compelling playoff clash as Twelve Bridges (Lincoln, CA) faces Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, CA) in a high-stakes game today at 11:30 a.m. Both teams bring contrasting strengths to the table, promising a thrilling battle for advancement.

Twelve Bridges: A Perfect Season

• Overall Record: 14-0
• League Record: 6-0
• Home Record: 6-0
• Away Record: 5-0
• Neutral Site Record: 3-0
• Winning Percentage: 1.000
• League Winning Percentage: 1.000
• Points For (PF): 690
• Points Against (PA): 228

Twelve Bridges enters the game with an impeccable 14-0 record, demonstrating dominance throughout the season. The team’s high-powered offense has been a standout feature, averaging an extraordinary 49.3 points per game. They have consistently overwhelmed opponents early, averaging 13.4 points in the first quarter and 14.8 in the second.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Q1: 13.4
• Q2: 14.8
• Q3: 11.3
• Q4: 7.8
• Final: 49.3 points per game

Twelve Bridges’ defensive unit has also been strong, allowing only 228 points across the season, giving them a wide scoring margin over their opponents. This combination of offensive firepower and defensive stability has made them a formidable contender.

Palos Verdes: Defending Home Turf

• Overall Record: 10-5
• League Record: 3-2
• Home Record: 8-0
• Away Record: 2-5
• Winning Percentage: .667
• League Winning Percentage: .600
• Points For (PF): 286
• Points Against (PA): 275

Palos Verdes boasts a strong 10-5 record, with an undefeated 8-0 run at home. Their success has come through resilience and defensive grit, as their offense has averaged 19.1 points per game while allowing 275 points overall.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Q1: 5.3
• Q2: 4.3
• Q3: 2.9
• Q4: 9.4
• OT1: 6.5
• Final: 19.1 points per game

Palos Verdes is known for their ability to close out games strongly, with their highest scoring average (9.4) coming in the fourth quarter. This could be crucial if the game remains close in its final stages. However, they will need to find a way to start faster and keep pace with Twelve Bridges’ explosive offense.

Key Matchup Insights

Twelve Bridges enters the game as the clear favorite, thanks to their undefeated record and high-octane offense. Their ability to establish control early in games has been pivotal, and Palos Verdes will need to find a way to neutralize this early momentum.

Palos Verdes, however, has shown resilience at home and will look to leverage their defensive grit to slow down Twelve Bridges. Their ability to rally in the final quarters could be a factor if they manage to keep the score close.

The game may hinge on whether Palos Verdes can limit Twelve Bridges’ scoring while capitalizing on their own offensive opportunities, especially late in the game.

As the football season continues, a closer look at the teams of Twelve Bridges and Palos Verdes reveals distinct strengths and areas of opportunity. Both teams have shown impressive performances, but their styles and overall statistical metrics reflect their unique approaches to the game.

Team Performance Comparison

Offensive Strength

• Twelve Bridges has an edge when it comes to total yards per game, accumulating 517.9 yards, far surpassing Palos Verdes’ 296.7. This is a result of a powerful offensive strategy that blends both rushing and passing yards. Twelve Bridges rushes for an impressive 313.1 yards per game, showing a dominating ground game. Their passing game averages 204.8 yards per game, creating a balanced offensive attack.
• Palos Verdes, on the other hand, averages 128.7 rushing yards per game and 168.1 passing yards per game. Their total yardage, 296.7, suggests they rely more on a steady, but less explosive, offensive scheme.

Defensive Efficiency

• In terms of defense, Twelve Bridges registers 67.1 tackles per game, which is significantly higher than Palos Verdes’ 59.7. However, the sack numbers show a narrow margin: Twelve Bridges averages 2.0 sacks per game, while Palos Verdes averages 2.3.
• Twelve Bridges’ defense also leads in points per game, conceding only 49.3, compared to Palos Verdes’ 15.5. This points to a highly efficient defense for Palos Verdes, which has allowed fewer points despite facing fewer total yards.

Key Players to Watch

Twelve Bridges:

• Braeden Ward is the standout player, rushing for 183.6 yards per game, a significant factor in Twelve Bridges’ offensive success.
• Connor Flaherty has thrown for 190 yards per game and has been the team’s leading playmaker, amassing a total of 231.2 yards per game.
• Isaiah Rodriguez contributes with 83.1 receiving yards per game, solidifying the passing attack.
• Chase Wyhlidko, with 10.5 tackles per game, leads the defensive effort.

Palos Verdes:

• Andrew Habif, with 61.5 rushing yards per game, leads the running game for Palos Verdes.
• Ryan Rakowski has been stellar in both passing (162.7 yards per game) and total yards (204.1 yards per game), playing a critical role in the team’s offensive schemes.
• Morley Boyd, contributing 42.6 receiving yards per game, is an essential target in the aerial attack.
• Weston Reis leads the defense with 8.0 tackles per game, while Josh Williams has 0.7 sacks per game, helping to anchor the defensive line.

Record Breakdown

Both teams share a similarly strong overall record of 24-25, but Twelve Bridges has maintained a perfect 6-0 record in league play. This success in league games has been crucial for them to maintain their position as one of the top teams. Palos Verdes, with a 3-2 league record, has shown their resilience, especially with their robust performance in non-league games (4-0).

Home and Away Performance:

• Twelve Bridges has been perfect at home with a 6-0 record, showing the advantage of playing in familiar territory.
• Palos Verdes has been impressive away from home, with an 8-0 record, making them formidable on the road.

Playoff and In-State Performance:

• Twelve Bridges’ playoff run has been perfect at 4-0, while Palos Verdes has gone 5-0 in the playoffs, showcasing their ability to perform when the stakes are high.
• Both teams are also solid in-state competitors, with Twelve Bridges at 13-0 and Palos Verdes at 9-5, further underlining their dominance.

Conclusion

Both Twelve Bridges and Palos Verdes have displayed remarkable achievements this season. Twelve Bridges leads in offensive firepower and total yards per game, while Palos Verdes excels with a resilient, disciplined defense. Key players like Braeden Ward and Ryan Rakowski have been central to each team’s success, with Ward’s rushing ability and Rakowski’s dual-threat performance setting the stage for an exciting matchup.

With their perfect home and playoff records, Twelve Bridges holds a slight advantage in momentum. However, Palos Verdes’ impressive road performance and stout defensive statistics make them a dangerous opponent in any setting.

The stage is set for what promises to be an exciting matchup, where offensive power will face off against defensive prowess. Both teams have proven themselves as top-tier competitors, and the outcome of this game could very well hinge on who can capitalize on their strengths and exploit the opponent’s weaknesses.