The Seventy-First High School (Fayetteville, NC) varsity football team will host Croatan (Newport, NC) in a home playoff game today at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 NCHSAA 3A Football Championships.

Croatan vs Seventy-First Football Game Info:

What: North Carolina High School Football Playoffs
Who: Croatan vs Seventy-First
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
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Game preview: Croatan vs Seventy-First

As the high school football season heats up, fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming matchup between Croatan and Seventy-First. This game promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams bringing impressive records to the field.

Team Overview

Croatan (24-25)

• Overall Record: 6-4
• Conference Record: 2-3
• Home Record: 4-1
• Away Record: 2-3
• Points Scored Per Game (PF): 309
• Points Allowed Per Game (PA): 185

Croatan enters this game with a solid record of 6-4, although they have faced some challenges in conference play with a 2-3 record. Despite this, the team has performed well at home with a 4-1 record, showcasing their ability to dominate on familiar turf. Offensively, Croatan averages 30.9 points per game, with a balanced attack on both the ground and through the air.

Seventy-First (24-25)

• Overall Record: 10-0
• Conference Record: 7-0
• Home Record: 6-0
• Away Record: 4-0
• Points Scored Per Game (PF): 440
• Points Allowed Per Game (PA): 86

Seventy-First is the undisputed powerhouse in this matchup, boasting an undefeated 10-0 record and a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play. Their offense has been unstoppable, averaging an impressive 44 points per game, while their defense has been equally dominant, allowing only 86 points on the season. Seventy-First’s ability to excel both at home and on the road—6-0 at home and 4-0 away—makes them a formidable opponent for any team.

Team Stat Comparison

When it comes to key statistics, the two teams have distinct styles of play.

• Rushing Yards Per Game:
  Croatan: 153.6
  Seventy-First: 335.3Seventy-First has the edge in the rushing game, averaging a staggering 335.3 yards per game compared to Croatan’s 153.6. This powerful running game is one of the main reasons Seventy-First has been so successful.
• Passing Yards Per Game:
  Croatan: 113.6
  Seventy-First: 105.2Croatan leads in passing, with 113.6 yards per game. However, Seventy-First is no slouch, with a solid 105.2 yards per game.
• Total Yards Per Game:
  Croatan: 267.2
  Seventy-First: 440.5Seventy-First’s offense has been dominant, outpacing Croatan by more than 170 yards per game.
• Points Per Game:
  Croatan: 31.6
  Seventy-First: 44.0With an average of 44 points per game, Seventy-First has been a high-scoring juggernaut, while Croatan averages 31.6 points per game.

Key Players to Watch

• Croatan
  • Andrew Boucher (#21) leads the team in rushing, with 86.1 yards per game.
  • Coleman Davis (#10) is the top passer for Croatan, throwing for 109.4 yards per game.
  • Chase Byrd (#5) is the team’s top receiver, with 27.5 yards per game.
  • Carter Abalos (#33) leads in tackles with 8.7 per game.
• Seventy-First
  • Deandre Nance (#11) is a key player for Seventy-First, rushing for 100.0 yards per game and leading the team in total yards with 204.7 per game.
  • Jy’taivius Whitted (#12) has been an effective receiver, with 50.7 yards per game.
  • Donavan Frederick (#9) is a defensive standout, with 8.1 tackles per game.

Record Breakdown

• Croatan
  • Overall: 6-4
  • League: 2-3
  • Non-League: 4-1
  • Home: 4-1
  • Away: 2-3
• Seventy-First
  • Overall: 10-0
  • League: 7-0
  • Non-League: 3-0
  • Home: 6-0
  • Away: 4-0

Game Prediction

While Croatan has shown resilience throughout the season, especially with a strong home record, Seventy-First enters this game as the clear favorite with their undefeated streak and overwhelming offensive performance. The game will likely hinge on Croatan’s ability to slow down Seventy-First’s dominant rushing attack and keep pace offensively. If Seventy-First’s defense continues to stifle opposing offenses as it has all season, their perfect record will likely remain intact. However, Croatan’s balanced offense and home-field advantage could make this game more competitive than expected.

No matter the outcome, this high school football clash is sure to deliver an exciting and intense showdown!