The Easton (MD) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Kent Island (Stevensville, MD) on Friday, November 15.
What: Maryland High School Football
Who: Easton (MD) vs Kent Island (MD)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: Today
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network
Kent Island vs. Easton: A Battle for Playoff Glory
The Kent Island and Easton varsity football teams are gearing up for a highly anticipated neutral-site playoff game on Friday, November 15, 2024, after their intense conference matchup earlier in the season. The two teams are well-matched, both boasting a 7-3 record overall, but Easton has the upper hand in their previous encounter, defeating Kent Island 43-24 on September 27. This playoff game promises to be a rematch of fierce competition, as both teams have demonstrated impressive strengths and resilience throughout the season.
Season Overview
Kent Island (Stevensville, MD) and Easton (MD) have both had successful campaigns in 2024, finishing the regular season with identical records of 7-3. However, the way they’ve gotten there differs. Kent Island has a balanced attack with a solid offense, scoring 278 points and allowing 209. Their 7-3 record consists of a 4-3 mark in the region and 4-1 at home. Easton, on the other hand, has shown explosive offensive power, racking up 341 points and surrendering 240. With a 5-2 region record and 5-1 mark at home, Easton looks strong heading into this game.
Key Team Stats
Kent Island has excelled in rushing yards, averaging 164.3 yards per game, while Easton’s strength lies in passing, with 181.2 yards per game. Both teams excel in total yards, with Kent Island at 345.5 per game and Easton not far behind with 345.5 total yards per contest.
In terms of scoring averages, Easton has been the more potent offense overall, averaging 34.1 points per game, compared to Kent Island’s 27.8. However, Kent Island has been known to perform well in the latter stages of games, with an impressive 7.3 points per game in the fourth quarter.
Key Players
For Kent Island, the standout performer is Michael O’Connor, who leads the team in multiple categories. O’Connor has accumulated 100.5 rushing yards per game, 172.6 passing yards per game, and 273.1 total yards per game. He has been the primary catalyst for Kent Island’s offense, accounting for an impressive 9.6 points per game. On defense, Jordan Horsey leads the team with 6.3 tackles per game, contributing to Kent Island’s defensive efforts.
Easton, however, is no slouch. Their offense has been led by a balanced attack, with a mix of strong rushing and passing yards. While Kent Island is led offensively by O’Connor, Easton also boasts several key players across the field, showing a collective strength that has helped them achieve a 7-3 record.
Head-to-Head Matchup
The two teams met earlier in the season on September 27, 2024, in a dominating performance by Easton, which secured a 43-24 victory. Easton jumped out to an early lead, outscoring Kent Island 21-0 in the first quarter. Kent Island tried to mount a comeback, scoring 14 points in the final quarter, but Easton’s offense proved too much to overcome.
Kent Island will be looking for redemption in this playoff matchup, hoping to overcome their early-season loss and advance to the next round. Easton, on the other hand, will be confident in their ability to repeat the dominant performance they displayed earlier this year.
Common Opponents
Both Kent Island and Easton have faced several common opponents throughout the season, and while they each have had different results, they both share similar success against teams like Parkside (with Kent Island winning 50-25 and Easton losing 37-30). Their competition against teams such as Wicomico and Bennett shows how closely matched these two teams are.
What’s at Stake?
The upcoming playoff game is crucial for both teams as they look to advance further into the postseason. For Kent Island, it’s an opportunity to avenge their earlier loss to Easton and prove that they can compete with one of the best in the region. For Easton, it’s a chance to continue their strong playoff run and push for a championship.
With both teams coming off strong regular seasons, this playoff game promises to be an exciting contest with plenty of drama. Kent Island will need to bring their best game to take down the high-scoring offense of Easton. Conversely, Easton will need to prove that their earlier victory wasn’t a fluke and that they can repeat their success in a high-stakes environment.
Conclusion
The Kent Island vs. Easton playoff game is more than just a rematch—it’s a showdown between two strong teams with a lot to prove. Both teams will come in with confidence and the goal of continuing their postseason journey, making for what promises to be an intense and thrilling contest. Will Kent Island bounce back, or will Easton continue their dominance? Friday’s game will reveal the answer.
