In short: Linfield Christian Lions high school football (Temecula, CA), 2026 season: 1-8 in the Mesquite League. Last game: L 7-17 vs Ontario Christian on October 23, 2026. Next: at Maranatha, October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The turnover battle could decide Linfield Christian's next game, against Maranatha, and the recent returns favor Linfield Christian. Linfield Christian forced 1.0 takeaways per game over its first 4 games (1-3), #234 in CIF-SS in that timeframe. In the 5 games since that slow start (0-5), the Lions have forced 2.0 takeaways per game, a 100% rise, #54 in CIF-SS in that window. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Linfield Christian's last 5 opponents have averaged 1.4 per game, a #241 offense in CIF-SS on the season, against 0.9 per game, #75 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.4 per game), Linfield Christian forced 48% more turnovers than those offenses usually give up. Meanwhile, Maranatha's ball security has struggled in recent weeks. The Minutemen have committed 3.4 giveaways per game over their last 5 games (2-3), #399 in CIF-SS during that time. Those games came against some of the better defenses in CIF-SS (2.0 per game on the season, which would rank #44). Against those norms, Maranatha turned it over 68% more than those defenses usually force. On paper, that is a matchup that favors Linfield Christian.
The number to watch when Linfield Christian meets Maranatha is Linfield Christian's rushing. Linfield Christian averaged 5.0 yards per carry (464 yards on 92 rushes) over its first 5 games (1-4), #237 in CIF-SS through those games. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (0-4), the Lions have averaged 1.9 yards per carry (159 yards on 82 rushes), a 62% drop, #343 in CIF-SS through that stretch. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Linfield Christian's last 4 opponents have averaged 4.3 yards per carry, a #64 run defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 5.8 yards per carry, #218 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (4.3 yards per carry), Linfield Christian ran for 55% less per carry than those run defenses usually allow. Meanwhile, Maranatha's run defense has struggled in recent weeks. The Minutemen have allowed 6.8 yards per carry (665 yards on 98 rushes) over their last 4 games (1-3), #270 in CIF-SS over that stretch. Those games came against some of the better rushing attacks in CIF-SS (8.3 yards per carry on the season, which would rank #36). Against those norms, Maranatha held those rushing attacks 18% below their usual yards per carry. Both units come in looking to get right, and whichever does first may decide the game.
NOTES
The biggest shift in Linfield Christian's season has come in its ball security. Linfield Christian committed 2.0 giveaways per game over its first 4 games (1-3), #315 in CIF-SS within that period. In the 5 games since that slow start (0-5), the Lions have committed 0.8 giveaways per game, a 60% drop, #86 in CIF-SS across those games. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Linfield Christian's last 5 opponents have averaged 1.8 per game, a #76 defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 1.3 per game, #211 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.8 per game), Linfield Christian turned it over 56% less than those defenses usually force. On the season, Linfield Christian ranks #218 in CIF-SS in giveaways. That form gets a real test against Maranatha, whose defense ranks #6 in CIF-SS (3.0 per game).
Linfield Christian's offense from the opening weeks has gone missing since. The Lions averaged 20.0 points per game over their first 5 games (1-4), #274 in CIF-SS during those games. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (0-4), Linfield Christian has averaged 10.0 points per game, a 50% drop, #355 in CIF-SS during that period. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 20.6 points per game on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (20.8 points per game), Linfield Christian scored 52% less than those defenses usually allow. Linfield Christian was held to 14 points or fewer 3 times in those games, including 0 against Brawley on 10/1. On the season, the Lions rank #336 in CIF-SS in scoring. Maranatha's defense, #361 of 404 (36.1 points per game), could be the get-right matchup Linfield Christian needs.
Something changed for Linfield Christian's offense after the first 5 games of the season. Linfield Christian averaged 6.3 yards per play (1,408 yards on 222 snaps) over its first 5 games (1-4), #209 in CIF-SS during that stretch. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (0-4), the Lions have averaged 3.7 yards per play (738 yards on 199 snaps), a 42% drop, #337 in CIF-SS over that period. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Linfield Christian's last 4 opponents have averaged 6.3 yards per play, a #174 defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 6.9 yards per play, #227 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (6.3 yards per play), Linfield Christian gained 41% less per snap than those defenses usually allow. On the season, Linfield Christian ranks #325 in CIF-SS in yards per play. Maranatha's defense sits in the middle of the pack, #199 in CIF-SS (6.6 yards per play).
One of Linfield Christian's shakiest areas lately has been its passing game. The Lions averaged 7.6 yards per pass attempt (872 yards on 115 attempts) over their first 4 games (1-3), #180 in CIF-SS over that timeframe. In the 5 games since that hot start (0-5), Linfield Christian has averaged 4.9 yards per pass attempt (651 yards on 132 attempts), a 35% drop, #324 in CIF-SS over that span. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 8.3 yards per attempt on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (8.2 yards per attempt), Linfield Christian threw for 40% less per attempt than those pass defenses usually allow. On the season, the Lions rank #294 in CIF-SS in passing. Maranatha's pass defense sits in the middle of the pack, #163 in CIF-SS (7.4 yards per attempt).
Linfield Christian's defense has started giving ground as the season has progressed. Linfield Christian allowed 18.7 points per game over its first 3 games (1-2), #157 in CIF-SS in that timeframe. In the 6 games since that hot start (0-6), the Lions have allowed 25.3 points per game, a 36% rise, #228 in CIF-SS in that window. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 30.0 points per game on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (29.9 points per game), Linfield Christian held those offenses 15% below what they usually score. By that measure, the early pace looks more like the outlier than the recent one. On the season, Linfield Christian ranks #197 in CIF-SS in scoring defense. Maranatha's offense sits in the middle of the pack, #264 in CIF-SS (21.2 points per game). Linfield Christian is 1-3 this season when it holds opponents under 22, and 0-5 when it doesn't.
TIDBITS (12 found)
• Club Linfield Christian has lost 7 straight, and a loss would make it 8 in a row -- something they have not done in the 23 seasons on record.
• Club Linfield Christian is 40-0 all time when scoring 40+ points in the games on file (40 such games).
• Club Linfield Christian has gone 7 straight games being held under 150 rushing yards (September 3, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 0-7 over that stretch, a school-record 7 straight in the 22 seasons on record.
• Club Linfield Christian has gone 4 straight games being held under 5.0 yards per carry (October 1, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 0-4 over that stretch, matching the program record of 4 straight on record.
• Club Linfield Christian has gone 7 straight games forcing 1+ turnover (September 3, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 0-7 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2023 (9 games).
• Club Linfield Christian has gone 5 straight games being held under 7.0 yards per play (September 18, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 0-5 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2021 (6 games).
• Player Madden Mayer has gone 13 straight games making 10 or more tackles, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Michael Wiese has 25 tackles over his last 3 games (8.3 a game, November 7, 2025 through August 27, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Caleb Briganti has 40 tackles over his last 5 games (8.0 a game, September 18, 2026 through October 23, 2026) -- his most in a 5-game stretch on record.
• Player Jacob Zubia has 33 tackles over his last 4 games (8.2 a game, September 18, 2026 through October 23, 2026) -- his most in a 4-game stretch on record.
• Player Jacob Zubia has 4 sacks over his last 3 games (1.2 a game, October 1, 2026 through October 23, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Madden Mayer has never had a game recording 100+ receiving yards for Linfield Christian, over a 36-game career on record. His career high is 70, set September 3, 2026 against Wenatchee (L, 0-10).
MILESTONE WATCH
Linfield Christian
Caleb Briganti needs 5 tackles for 75 (averaging 7.8 a game)
Madden Mayer needs 10 tackles for 150 (averaging 15.6 a game)
Michael Sands needs 4 tackles for 50 (averaging 5.1 a game)
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Oct 23 game; last updated Oct 26; roster and numbers checked Oct 6.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
2 CIF-SS titles · 1 CIF-SS runner-up finish · 4 CIF-SS Players of the Year · 1 league title
YEAR
HONOR
2024
Mesquite LEAGUE CHAMPION (5-0 in league)
2018
CIF-SS Division 12 CHAMPION (def. Artesia 70-22)
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Division 12): TRAVION BROWN
CIF-SS Offensive Player of the Year (Division 12): KALEB MARESH
2015
CIF-SS Northwest RUNNER-UP (lost to Notre Dame/Riverside 14-6)
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Northwest): GREG HOLT
2009
CIF-SS Northeast CHAMPION (def. Rio Hondo Prep 9-6)
CIF-SS Offensive Player of the Year (Northeast): AUSTIN MARANVILLE
Section and state results and Players of the Year: CIF-SS Record Book. League finishes judged from league schedules on file (2022-2025 seasons); earlier league titles are not on file.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (defense 8/9 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 71.1/100 (+32 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 12.3/100 (-107 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 84.8/100 (-60 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 42.8/100 (+11 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
LC finished 2025 at 5-7. Made the playoffs (2 postseason game(s) on file; exact round/result not available). Notable win: 38-0 over BIG BEAR (BIG BEAR finished 50% that season). Toughest loss: 33-34 to CARTER (1-point margin).
"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered. A total followed by a count in parentheses covers only the games with that stat on file.
TALKING POINTS (15 storylines)
LC HAS PERFORMED BEST THIS DATA SET WHEN...
• LC rushes for 150+ yards (.999), and has won 5 straight when doing so
• LC averages 5.0+ yards per carry (.727), but most recently lost to Carter when doing so
• LC averages 7.0+ yards per play (.625), but most recently lost to Ocean View when doing so
• LC holds its opponents under 150 rushing yards (.700), but most recently lost to Desert Christian Academy when doing so
• LC's defense has forced 1+ turnover in 7 straight games (09/03/2026-10/23/2026), going 0-7 over that stretch.
• LC's offense has averaged 12.0 points scored per game over their last 5 games. Their 31-game average is 26.7 points scored per game. (-55%)
• LC's offense has averaged 130.2 pass yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 30-game average is 237.1 pass yards per game. (-45%)
• LC averages 7.1+ yards per play (LC's own median) (.667)
• LC's offense has averaged 2.4 YPC over their last 7 games. Their 30-game average is 4.0 YPC. (-41%)
• LC's offense has averaged 5.1 YPA over their last 5 games. Their 30-game average is 8.5 YPA. (-41%)
• LC's offense has averaged 4.3 YPP over their last 5 games. Their 30-game average is 7.1 YPP. (-40%)
• LC's offense has averaged 187.2 total yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 30-game average is 306.4 total yards per game. (-39%)
• LC's offense has averaged 43.0 rush yards per game over their last 7 games. Their 30-game average is 69.3 rush yards per game. (-38%)
• LC rushes for 50.0+ yards (LC's own median) (.667)
• LC's offense has averaged 0.8 giveaways per game over their last 5 games. Their 30-game average is 1.2 giveaways per game. (-35%)
• LINFIELD CHRISTIAN has lost 7 straight (9/3/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 8 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• LINFIELD CHRISTIAN has forced 2+ turnovers in 3 straight games (10/9/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 4 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• LINFIELD CHRISTIAN has been held under 100 rushing in 4 straight games (10/1/26–10/23/26). It has not been held under 100 rushing in 5 straight since 11/10/23–9/20/24 (2024).
LC's defense has averaged 69.8 pass yards per game over their last 10 games. Their 29-game average is 103.2 pass yards per game. (-32%)
LC's defense has averaged 142.0 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 208.7 rush yards per game. (-32%)
LC's defense has averaged 2.0 takeaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 30-game average is 1.6 takeaways per game. (+25%)
LC's defense has averaged 4.5 YPC over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 5.8 YPC. (-22%)
LC's defense has averaged 246.0 total yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 29-game average is 312.0 total yards per game. (-21%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where LINFIELD CHRISTIAN sits among 399 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 49.2, Defense Grade 59.6.
PASS YARDS ALLOWED / GAME: LINFIELD CHRISTIAN VS THE SECTION
LINFIELD CHRISTIAN ranks #40 of 356 section teams in passing yards allowed per game (46.8) -- a strength worth a look.
LINFIELD CHRISTIAN: SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- -4.3 in 2022 to -1.9 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
