The Catholic Central (Grand Rapids, MI) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Hackett Catholic Prep (Kalamazoo, MI) on Friday, November 15 at 7:00 PM.

What: Michigan High School Football
Who: Catholic Central (MI) vs Hackett Catholic Prep (MI)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Hackett Catholic Prep vs. Catholic Central: A Comparative Look at the 2024-2025 Seasons

As the 2024-2025 sports season progresses, two Michigan high school teams, Hackett Catholic Prep and Catholic Central, have shown notable performances. Their records tell an intriguing story of dominance and challenge, both within their respective leagues and across various matchups. Here’s a detailed comparison of these two teams based on their overall performance, scoring averages, and head-to-head stats.

Overall Performance: A Tale of Two Teams

Hackett Catholic Prep has emerged as a powerhouse this season, boasting a 10-2 overall record, with a perfect 5-0 league performance. They have excelled on the road, finishing 4-0 in away games, and have an impressive 5-1 record at home. Their scoring has been consistent and high-powered, totaling 392 points, while limiting their opponents to just 165 points. This dominance is reflected in their win percentage of .833, making them one of the top teams in their class.

On the other hand, Catholic Central has had a more modest performance, finishing with a 6-4 overall record. While they have been competitive, their league record of 3-2 shows that they have faced some challenges in their division. Their home performance has been strong (4-1), but their away games (2-3) reveal some inconsistencies. They have scored 235 points while allowing 163, with a win percentage of .600. While not as dominant as Hackett Catholic Prep, they have shown resilience and can compete with top-tier teams.

Scoring Averages: A Contrast in Offensive Styles

The two teams demonstrate starkly different scoring patterns, with Hackett Catholic Prep’s offensive firepower standing out significantly. Here’s a look at the teams’ scoring breakdowns per quarter:

• Hackett Catholic Prep:
  • Q1: 10.5
  • Q2: 10.5
  • Q3: 5.0
  • Q4: 1.0
  • Final: 32.7

Hackett Catholic Prep’s consistent scoring in the first half (21 points) gives them a strong lead early in games, but they tend to slow down in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter where they score just 1 point on average. Despite this, their high first-half scoring allows them to control the game.

• Catholic Central:
  • Q1: 3.5
  • Q2: 4.0
  • Q3: 2.3
  • Q4: 6.8
  • Final: 23.5

Catholic Central’s scoring is more spread out across the quarters, but their total output of just 23.5 points per game highlights their struggles to keep pace with high-scoring opponents. They tend to show improvement in the fourth quarter, where they average 6.8 points, but their overall scoring remains relatively low compared to Hackett Catholic Prep.

Record Breakdown: Strengths and Areas of Opportunity

Looking deeper into their season, the two teams show different strengths across various categories:

• Hackett Catholic Prep has been dominant in league play with a perfect record of 5-0. Their only losses have come in non-league play (2-2), and they’ve shown resilience with a strong performance in neutral-site games (1-1). Their playoff performance is also stellar, with a 3-0 record, indicating that they peak during critical moments.
• Catholic Central has been more balanced but less dominant in the league, finishing 3-2. Their non-league record of 2-2 reveals their challenges against teams outside their conference. While they’ve done well at home (4-1), their struggles away (2-3) have limited their overall success. However, they have managed a solid 2-0 record in playoff games, showing their ability to perform under pressure.

Head-to-Head and Common Opponents

While these two teams haven’t faced off against each other this season (yet), their performances against common opponents will be key to understanding how they would match up. Neither team has had a head-to-head meeting, which leaves the outcome of such a game uncertain. However, it’s clear that Hackett Catholic Prep’s offensive output would pose a significant challenge to Catholic Central’s defense.

Conclusion: What to Expect Moving Forward

As the season progresses, Hackett Catholic Prep appears poised to make a deep run into the playoffs, thanks to their powerful offense and perfect league record. However, their ability to sustain momentum in the second half of games, especially in the fourth quarter, may be an area for improvement.

Catholic Central, though not as dominant as Hackett, remains a competitive force. With a balanced yet inconsistent performance, their ability to pull off key wins, especially in away games, will determine their playoff potential.

Both teams are positioned to make their mark in Michigan high school athletics, with Hackett Catholic Prep leading the way in offensive strength and Catholic Central fighting to stay competitive in a challenging league.