Super Bowl LVIII(58)

Super Bowl LVIII(58) is upon us and the matchup is set. The American Football Conference (AFC) Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, will be competing in their fourth Super Bowl in five seasons, while the National Football Conference (NFC) champions, the San Francisco 49ers, will be competing in their eighth Super Bowl appearance. The Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship 17-10 with Quarterback Patrick Mahomes having completed 30 of his 39 passing attempts for 241 yards and 1 touchdown. Chiefs Running back Isiah Pachecho had 24 carries for 68 yards and 1 touchdown and Tight End Travis Kelce had 11 receptions for 116 yards and 1 touchdown. The Chiefs defense was key in the victory, with line back Drue Tranquill leading the way with 8 total tackles and 5 solo tackles. Cornerback LaJarius Sneed had 5 total tackles and 5 solo tackles, safety Justin Reid had 4 total tackles and 3 solo tackles and safety Deion Branch forced 1 interception. Meanwhile, in the NFC championship game, 49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 20 of his 31 passing attempts for 267 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Running back Christian McCaffrey had 20 carries for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns and Debo Samuel had 8 receptions for 89 yards. Linebacker Fred Warner had 13 total tackles, 9 solo tackles and 1 tackle for a loss. Linebacker Ji’Ayir Brown had 10 total tackles and 5 solo tackles and linebacker Dre Greenlaw had 7 total tackles and 3 solo tackles. Their opponents, the Detroit Lions, were leading 24-7 at halftime, but the 49ers came back and scored 17 straight points in the second half to win the game 34-31. This was the largest comeback in NFC championship history. The only other 17 point comeback was also pulled off by the 49ers in the 2012 NFC championship game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs are the defending champions and are looking to be back-to-back champions for the first time since the Patriots did it in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. The 49ers are looking to win their sixth Super Bowl which would tie them with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have six super bowl wins.

The HCC Times reached out to students to get their thoughts on the game. HCC student and soccer defensive midfielder, Kyle Simmons, shared his thoughts on the game. 

What are your thoughts on the match-up?

Kyle Simmons: “I feel that it is going to be an offensive showdown and the likes of Mahomes, Kelce, Purdy, McCaffrey and Samuel will show up. I do believe that it will be up to the 49ers defense to potentially stop Mahomes.”

Which story line should we watch out for in this game?

Kyle Simmons: “It is really Mahomes vs. the 49ers defense and if he can win that battle, he could be one of the great quarterbacks of all time. His team has made it 4 out of 5 Super Bowls and he could make history. They also lost Tyreek Hill and showed a big team mentality by still winning the Super Bowl last year so they could be a potential dynasty in the making, if they win it this year. Also, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has figured out the opponent’s offense in this postseason and prevented them from getting into their rhythm.”

Which player could be the X-factor?

Kyle Simmons: “I am an Ohio State fan, so I think two Buckeyes in 49ers; defensive lineman Nick Bosa who has had 6 total tackles and 1 sack and defensive end Chase Young who has had 6 total tackles this postseason could be an X-factor of contacting Mahomes and they are able to do that if the 49ers have a shot.”

What will the score of the Super Bowl be?

Kyle Simmons: “49ers 31,  Chiefs, 28. If the 49ers defense contains Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, they have a great shot of winning the Super Bowl and preventing a dynasty.”

The HCC Times also reached out to student Anthony Genovese regarding his thoughts on the game.

What are your thoughts on the match-up?

Anthony Genovese: “It is kind of an annoying matchup because this Super Bowl is a game that we have seen with the rematch of that Super Bowl four years ago and it is kind of annoying that better teams in my eyes such as the Bills, Lions and Ravens didn’t get a shot to make it to the big game. But I think it should be a good game.”

Which story line should we watch out for in this game?

Anthony Genovese: “Can the Chiefs become a dynasty with Mahomes and Kelce co-leading the way? Can Purdy and McCaffrey get the 49ers over the recent Super Bowl hump and win a Super Bowl  in the 21st century?”

Which player could be the X-factor?

Anthony Genovese: “49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk could be an X-factor because the 49ers have used the likes of Tight End George Kittle, McCaffrey and Samuel, and Aiyuk hasn’t had many touches this postseason only having 6 receptions for 100 yards and 1 touchdown, so it will be up to him to confuse a good Chiefs defense.”

What will the score of the Super Bowl be?

Anthony Genovese: “Chiefs, 31, 49ers, 28. This is due to the fact that the 49ers defense has been tested and almost lost in two situations in the playoffs against the Packers and Lions, and the Chiefs defense is more solid holding high power offenses such as the Bills and Ravens in this postseason.”

The HCC Times also reached out to head coach of track and field, cross country and manager of fitness of recreation, Phil DeRosier Jr. regarding his thoughts on the matchup.

What are your thoughts on the match-up?

Phil DeRosier Jr.: “Not the matchup a Marylander wanted, as I thought it would be the Ravens and the Lions with the Ravens winning it, but the Ravens unable to get going on offense and the Lions going for it when they were in field goal range twice in the second half cost us this matchup.”

Which story line should we watch out for in this game?

Phil DeRoiser Jr.: “49ers coach Kyle Shanahan getting a Super Bowl ring just like his dad, Mike Shanahan who was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos (1997/1998 and 1998/1999) with the likes of Hall of Fame talent such as Quarterback John Elway, running back Terrell Davis and Tight End Shannon Sharpe on his team. Kyle is really a mastermind of a coach like his dad was and has been doing great with the 49ers in recent years. I would love to see him get a ring and join the likes of other father-son duos that have won the Super Bowl such as Ronnie Lott with the 49ers (Super Bowls 16, 23, 24 and 26) and his son Ryan Nece with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Super Bowl 37).”

Which player could be the X-factor?

Phill DeRosier Jr.: “Brock Purdy could be an X-factor in this game because he has been called “Mr. Irrelevant” ever since he was the 262nd pick in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Iowa State, in contrast to Mahomes who was a first round draft pick in 2017 out of Texas Tech. Despite having a 29-17 record for the Cyclones in his four years at the school, Purdy was overlooked by NFL scouts. Purdy was a third string quarterback ahead of Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. Due to the injury of both Lance and Garoppolo, Purdy stepped in as starting quarterback for the 49ers in their last 12 games of the season, winning 10 of his last 12 starts. He won the NFC West and made it to the conference championship game before he tore his UCL in his throwing arm, was out of the game, and lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. This year he has stepped up tremendously and he is playing with a chip on his shoulder to prove that he is not fazed by the big moment and will be the key to carrying the 49ers to glory.”

What will the score of the Super Bowl be?

Phill DeRosier Jr.: “49ers 38, Chiefs 35.”