The Byron Center varsity football team from Michigan will face St. Mary’s Prep from Orchard Lake, MI, in a neutral playoff game on Friday, November 29, at 7:00 PM. This matchup is part of the “2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets: MHSAA – Division 2” tournament.
What: Michigan High School Football
Who: Byron Center (MI) vs St. Mary’s Prep (MI)
When: Friday, November 29, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets: MHSAA – Division 2
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network
St. Mary’s Prep vs. Byron Center: A Statistical Breakdown
In the 2024-2025 season, St. Mary’s Prep and Byron Center have showcased their unique strengths, standing out in Michigan high school football. Below is a detailed comparison of their rankings, records, and statistics.
Rankings and Records
St. Mary’s Prep
- Class Ranking: 12 (State), 3 (League)
- Overall Record: 10-3
- League Record: 1-3
- Home Record: 3-2
- Away Record: 6-1
- Neutral Record: 1-0
- Win Percentage: 76.9%
- League Win Percentage: 25.0%
- Points For (PF): 519
- Points Against (PA): 151
Byron Center
- Class Ranking: 4 (State), 1 (League)
- Overall Record: 12-1
- League Record: 4-1
- Home Record: 7-0
- Away Record: 5-1
- Win Percentage: 92.3%
- League Win Percentage: 80.0%
- Points For (PF): 518
- Points Against (PA): 236
Team Scoring Averages
| Quarter/Period | St. Mary’s Prep | Byron Center |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 15.5 | 11.2 |
| Q2 | 13.6 | 16.7 |
| Q3 | 7.7 | 6.2 |
| Q4 | 5.9 | 6.7 |
| OT1 | 7.0 | – |
| Final | 39.9 | 39.8 |
Despite slightly different patterns, both teams average nearly identical final scores, with St. Mary’s Prep narrowly edging Byron Center by 0.1 points per game.
Team Stat Comparison
| Stat | St. Mary’s Prep | Byron Center |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 192.5 | – |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 137.5 | – |
| Receiving Yards Per Game | 133.5 | – |
| Total Yards Per Game | 330.1 | – |
| Tackles Per Game | 59.7 | – |
| Sacks Per Game | 1.6 | – |
| Points Per Game | 38.5 | – |
Team Leaders
| Category | St. Mary’s Prep Leader | Stat | National Avg. |
| Rushing Yards/Game | #5 Darrin Jones Jr. | 84.6 | 20.1 |
| Passing Yards/Game | #10 Axel Newell | 97.8 | 50.8 |
| Receiving Yards/Game | #4 Bryson Williams | 44.2 | 17.2 |
| Total Yards/Game | #10 Axel Newell | 104.2 | 36.4 |
| Tackles/Game | #11 Charles (DJ) White | 8.5 | 2.7 |
| Sacks/Game | #28 Ryan Harrington | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Points/Game | #4 Bryson Williams | 8.6 | 2.6 |
Record Breakdown
| Category | St. Mary’s Prep | Byron Center |
| Overall | 10-3 | 12-1 |
| League | 1-3 | 4-1 |
| Non-League | 5-0 | 4-0 |
| Head-to-Head | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Common Opponent | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Home | 3-2 | 7-0 |
| Away | 6-1 | 5-1 |
| Neutral | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Playoff | 4-0 | 4-0 |
| In-State | 9-2 | 10-1 |
| Out-of-State | 1-1 | 2-0 |
Analysis and Key Takeaways
- Performance Consistency: Byron Center’s higher win percentage (92.3%) and perfect home record demonstrate their strong and consistent play.
- Offensive Efficiency: Both teams average nearly identical final scores, but St. Mary’s Prep boasts a higher total yardage per game, particularly excelling in rushing and passing.
- Defensive Edge: St. Mary’s Prep’s defense has conceded fewer points (151) compared to Byron Center’s 236, suggesting a stronger defensive unit.
- Star Players: St. Mary’s Prep’s leaders, such as Axel Newell and Darrin Jones Jr., surpass national averages across multiple categories, showcasing their individual talent.
This matchup, should it happen, would be a clash of contrasting strengths: Byron Center’s dominant win rate versus St. Mary’s Prep’s dynamic yardage and defense. Football fans would be in for a thrilling contest.
