The Frontier (Bakersfield, CA) varsity football team is set to host Murrieta Mesa (Murrieta, CA) in a thrilling playoff matchup today at 7:30 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games – Division 3-AA, where both teams will battle for a chance at victory.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: California State Football Championship Bowl Games
Who: Murrieta Mesa vs Frontier
When: Today, December 06, 2024
Bracket: 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games – Division 3-AA
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Murrieta Mesa vs. Frontier

As the 2024 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games – Division 3-AA tournament heats up, fans are in for a thrilling showdown between two competitive teams: Murrieta Mesa and Frontier. This matchup is set to be a hard-fought battle, with both teams bringing strong records and distinct playing styles to the field.

Murrieta Mesa Football Team Overview (2024-25)

Murrieta Mesa has been a force to be reckoned with this season, posting an overall record of 10-4. Their league performance has been perfect, finishing 5-0 and capturing the top spot in their section. The team has performed well both at home (6-1) and on the road (4-3), with a solid win percentage of .714. They have scored 364 points while allowing 288, demonstrating a potent offense and a defense that has done just enough to support their high-scoring games.

Murrieta Mesa’s offensive balance is evident in their scoring averages. The team starts strong with an average of 7.6 points in the first quarter, then maintains a steady pace through the second and third quarters with 9.8 and 9.0 points, respectively. However, their scoring drops off in the fourth quarter (3.9 points), something they’ll need to address to close out tight games. Despite this, they have proven resilient throughout the season.

Frontier Football Team Overview (2024-25)

Frontier has had a similarly impressive season, posting a record of 9-4 overall. The team finished 3-1 in league play, with a notable 5-2 home record and a 4-2 mark on the road. With a win percentage of .692 and a league win percentage of .750, Frontier has demonstrated their ability to win in a variety of environments. Their offense has accumulated 359 points, while their defense has allowed 234, giving them a slightly stronger defensive edge compared to Murrieta Mesa.

Frontier’s scoring trends reveal an interesting pattern. They average 7.7 points in the first quarter, with a drop to 7.0 in the second quarter. However, their scoring picks up in the third quarter with 8.2 points, before dipping again in the fourth quarter (3.6 points). Despite their relatively lower fourth-quarter output, Frontier has shown that they can control the pace of the game and execute strong plays when needed.

Key Matchup Comparisons

• Offensive Output: Both teams have demonstrated solid offensive capabilities, with Frontier averaging 27.6 points per game, slightly edging out Murrieta Mesa’s 26.0 points. However, Murrieta Mesa has been more consistent in the second and third quarters, while Frontier has had a slight advantage in the first quarter.
• Defensive Comparison: Frontier’s defense has been slightly more effective, allowing just 234 points compared to Murrieta Mesa’s 288 points. This could play a crucial role in the game, especially if both teams are neck-and-neck in the scoring battle.
• Finishing Strong: One key factor will be which team can capitalize in the fourth quarter. Both teams have experienced a dip in scoring in the final quarter, but it’s unclear which team will be able to finish stronger when the game is on the line.

As the 2024 football season heats up, two teams that stand out are Murrieta Mesa and Frontier, both of which have shown strong performances in recent years. A closer look at their team statistics, leaders, and records reveals a compelling comparison between these two teams, setting the stage for an exciting matchup.

Team Stat Comparison

When comparing the statistics of Murrieta Mesa and Frontier, we see some interesting differences, particularly in offensive yardage and defensive strength.

Offensive Yardage:

• Rushing Yards Per Game: Murrieta Mesa leads in this category with 161.7 rushing yards per game, significantly outpacing Frontier’s 103.6 yards per game. This suggests that Murrieta Mesa relies heavily on their ground game.
• Passing Yards Per Game: Murrieta Mesa averages 145.7 passing yards per game, just slightly ahead of Frontier, which posts 123.4 passing yards per game. While both teams are balanced, Murrieta Mesa has a slightly more dynamic passing game.
• Receiving Yards Per Game: Murrieta Mesa also leads in receiving yards with 146.0 per game, compared to Frontier’s 122.3, showing a slight edge in the air game.

Total Yardage:

• Murrieta Mesa averages 307.4 total yards per game, while Frontier averages 227.0 total yards per game. This large gap in total yardage suggests that Murrieta Mesa has a more potent and versatile offense overall.

Defensive Stats:

• Tackles Per Game: Frontier’s defense is more active in terms of tackles, with 92.1 tackles per game compared to Murrieta Mesa’s 59.4. This could indicate that Frontier is more aggressive in terms of stopping plays.
• Sacks Per Game: Murrieta Mesa leads slightly here with 4.0 sacks per game, compared to Frontier’s 3.5 sacks per game. Both teams are solid at pressuring the quarterback.

Scoring:

• Points Per Game: Murrieta Mesa averages 24.2 points per game, while Frontier is slightly behind with 22.4 points per game. While both teams score a similar amount, Murrieta Mesa’s offense has a slight edge in putting up points.

Key Players: Who to Watch

Both Murrieta Mesa and Frontier feature standout players who play pivotal roles on offense and defense.

Murrieta Mesa’s Key Players:

• Artyon Celestine: As the leading rusher with 95.3 yards per game, Celestine is a key component of Murrieta Mesa’s strong ground game.
• Trey Gamble Jr.: With 147.1 passing yards per game and 159.6 total yards per game, Gamble is the quarterback who drives Murrieta Mesa’s offense.
• Cooper Murphy: With 45.4 receiving yards per game, Murphy is a reliable target in the passing game.

Frontier’s Key Players:

• Rj Green: Leading Frontier with 56.7 rushing yards per game, Green is a key figure in the team’s running attack.
• Brady Campbell: As the quarterback, Campbell has contributed 157.8 passing yards per game, leading Frontier’s offense through the air.
• Malcolm Watkins: With 42.3 receiving yards per game, Watkins is the main receiving threat for Frontier.

Record Breakdown

Looking at the overall records, both teams have had strong performances, with Murrieta Mesa holding a slight advantage in total wins:

• Murrieta Mesa’s Record: 10-4 overall, with a perfect 5-0 record in league play.
• Frontier’s Record: 9-4 overall, with a 3-1 record in league play. Murrieta Mesa’s slightly better overall record shows their consistency throughout the season.

Home vs. Away Performance:

• Murrieta Mesa: Strong at home with a 6-1 record, and solid on the road with a 4-3 record.
• Frontier: Also solid at home with a 5-2 record, and equally impressive on the road with a 4-2 record.

Playoff Success:

• Murrieta Mesa: With a 4-0 playoff record, Murrieta Mesa has shown they are a team that thrives in high-pressure situations.
• Frontier: Frontier has a 3-0 playoff record, meaning both teams have been able to deliver when it matters most.

Conclusion

The matchup between Murrieta Mesa and Frontier promises to be an exciting contest. Murrieta Mesa has the advantage in total yardage and offensive explosiveness, thanks to their strong rushing and passing attacks. However, Frontier’s aggressive defense, which excels in tackles, could pose a challenge for Murrieta Mesa’s offense. With both teams performing well in the playoffs and maintaining strong records at home and away, this game could go either way. As both teams aim to secure a crucial victory, it’s sure to be a thrilling and closely contested battle in 2024.