The East Longmeadow (MA) varsity football team will play a home non-conference game against Holyoke (MA) today at 7 p.m.

What: Massachusetts High School Football
Who: East Longmeadow (MA) vs Holyoke (MA)
When: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Holyoke vs. East Longmeadow: A Season Comparison

As the 2024 football season progresses, the Holyoke and East Longmeadow teams have delivered a mix of highs and lows, with distinct strengths and challenges on both sides. Here’s a look at their season performances, team comparisons, and key stats heading into the next matchups.

Season Overview:

• Holyoke (3-6 overall, 1-4 in league play)
  • The Holyoke team has struggled with consistency this season, posting a modest 3-6 record overall and a 1-4 mark within their league. Despite a solid showing in a few non-league games, Holyoke’s league performance has been underwhelming, with only one win in five attempts. The team has also struggled on the road, with a 1-2 record in away games.
  • Points For (PF): 158
  • Points Against (PA): 275
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 38.3
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 169.7
• East Longmeadow (5-4 overall, 3-2 in league play)
  • East Longmeadow has had a better season overall, with a 5-4 record and a winning 3-2 mark in league play. While the team’s road record stands at an even 2-2, their league performance has been stronger, with three victories. They have been much more consistent than Holyoke, with balanced scoring across the game.
  • Points For (PF): 227
  • Points Against (PA): 219
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 132.1
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 74.0

Key Players and Stats:

• Holyoke’s Standout Players:
  • Jesus Morales: The team’s leading rusher with 25.1 yards per game.
  • Devin Velez: A strong performer both passing (161.8 yards per game) and total yards (161.4).
  • Jayrius Hernandez: A standout receiver with 71 yards per game.
  • Defense: Jesus Morales also leads in tackles, with 10.6 per game.
• East Longmeadow’s Standout Players:
  • Brandon Phillips Jr.: A key rusher for East Longmeadow with 97.8 yards per game.
  • Kevin Baker: Dominates both passing (98.7 yards per game) and total yards (119.8 yards per game).
  • Jake Robidoux: A top receiver, accumulating 63.8 yards per game.
  • Defense: Porter Carroll is the defensive leader, contributing with 4.7 tackles per game and a solid 0.2 sacks per game.

Team Scoring Averages:

• Holyoke:
  • Their offensive struggles have been evident in their scoring. They’ve averaged only 17.6 points per game, with a slow start in the first quarter, and scoring spikes in the later stages of the game (Q4: 4.7 points and OT1: 6.0 points).
• East Longmeadow:
  • East Longmeadow’s offense is much more balanced, averaging 25.2 points per game. Their strong first half performances (6.8 points in Q1 and 7.8 points in Q2) set the tone, and they maintain their scoring throughout the game.

Common Opponents:

Both teams faced common opponents during the season, but East Longmeadow had a more favorable record, with a 2-1 record against shared opponents. Holyoke, on the other hand, was only 1-3 in these matchups, highlighting the disparity in their overall season performance.

• Holyoke’s Record vs. Common Opponents: 1-3
  • Losses: Agawam (21-14), Longmeadow (35-6), Westfield (52-21)
  • Win: Minnechaug Regional (20-14)
• East Longmeadow’s Record vs. Common Opponents: 2-1
  • Wins: Agawam (24-0), Minnechaug Regional (31-14)
  • Loss: Westfield (41-25)

Home vs. Away Performance:

• Holyoke: Struggled at home and away, with a 2-4 home record and 1-2 away record.
• East Longmeadow: More balanced, with a 3-2 home record and 2-2 away record.

Final Thoughts:

The season for both teams has showcased a clear contrast in performance. East Longmeadow has displayed greater overall consistency, both offensively and defensively, and has capitalized on their league matchups to secure a winning record. Meanwhile, Holyoke’s challenges are clear, especially in their inability to convert on the road and their inconsistent scoring.

Looking ahead, East Longmeadow will continue to push for a strong finish, leveraging their offensive depth and solid defense. Holyoke will need to find solutions to their struggles in both rushing and passing, as well as improve their defensive efforts if they hope to close out the season on a high note.

As both teams head toward the final stretch of the season, East Longmeadow holds the upper hand based on their performance so far, but Holyoke could still make a strong push if they can rally in their final games.