The Essex High School varsity football team (Tappahannock, VA) is hosting a home playoff game against West Point High School (VA) today at 7:00 PM.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Virginia High School Football
Who: Essex vs West Point
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00. p.m. ET
“2024 VHSL Football State Brackets (Virginia) – Class 1”
Live stream: Watch on NFHS Network

West Point vs. Essex: A Comparison of 2024-2025 Football Seasons

The West Point and Essex football teams have had contrasting performances throughout the 2024-2025 season, with each team displaying different strengths, weaknesses, and paths to their respective records. This analysis breaks down the teams’ statistics, highlights, and head-to-head performance to offer insights into their seasons.

Overall Records and Performance

• West Point: The West Point football team has had a mixed season, finishing with a 4-6 record. They played 10 games, with a win percentage of .400, showing a solid, if not spectacular, performance in their region. The team has struggled in away games with a 1-4 record but has found more success at home, posting a 3-2 record in the region.
• Essex: In stark contrast, Essex has had a dominant season, posting a stellar 9-1 record. The team has been exceptional, particularly in their league matches, where they finished 4-1. Their overall win percentage stands at an impressive .900, with a strong 6-1 record at home. Essex has been virtually untouchable, dominating in their games and finishing the season with an 800 winning percentage in their region.

Team Scoring and Offensive Production

The two teams have vastly different offensive outputs, with Essex being a high-scoring powerhouse and West Point struggling at times to put up points.

• West Point averages 23.7 points per game, but their scoring is less consistent across quarters. They score 7.4 points in the first and fourth quarters, while their second and third quarters see a dip, with averages of 5.2 and 4.6 points, respectively.
• Essex, on the other hand, boasts a significant offensive firepower, averaging 43.2 points per game. Their first-quarter performance is particularly strong, with an average of 22.0 points, and they remain effective throughout the game, even though their scoring drops to 3.0 in the final two quarters.

Offensive Statistics and Key Players

• West Point:
  • Rushing: The team averages 184.3 rushing yards per game, led by Chris Delaney, who carries much of the offense with 67.7 rushing yards per game.
  • Passing: West Point’s passing game is less pronounced, with an average of 23.0 passing yards per game.
  • Receiving: Keleal Carter is the leading receiver, gaining 12.1 yards per game.
  • Total Yards: Overall, West Point gains 207.3 total yards per game.
  • Key Player: Chris Delaney stands out with impressive numbers, including 68.7 total yards per game and 6.2 points per game.
• Essex:
  • Rushing: Essex focuses less on rushing yards, as they do not report specific rushing statistics.
  • Passing: Like rushing, passing yards are not specifically broken down for Essex.
  • Receiving: Essex, too, lacks detailed receiving statistics but likely finds success through a balanced offensive attack.
  • Total Yards: Essex has been more balanced, with their overall offensive efficiency standing as a key to their success, scoring a considerable amount each game.

Defensive Performance

• West Point: The defense has averaged 47.5 tackles per game and recorded 1.3 sacks per game, suggesting an active defense that is effective in limiting opponent success.
• Essex: With a similarly strong defense, Essex has been just as effective, winning games not just through offense but by limiting their opponents’ ability to score. While exact defensive stats aren’t available, their 9-1 record indicates a dominant defense.

Head-to-Head Matchup and Common Opponents

Both teams have faced some common opponents in the season. West Point and Essex have played against teams like Westmoreland, Rappahannock, and Colonial Beach. Below are the results:

• West Point vs Essex common opponents:
  • West Point: 3-2 record against common opponents.
  • Essex: 4-1 record against common opponents.

In terms of head-to-head matchups:

• West Point defeated Colonial Beach and King & Queen Central, showing resilience in certain games.
• Essex, meanwhile, handled Westmoreland, Colonial Beach, and others with dominating wins, including a 70-0 blowout against Charles City.

Conclusion

The 2024-2025 football seasons for West Point and Essex have been markedly different, with Essex enjoying an impressive 9-1 record while West Point has faced more adversity with a 4-6 finish. Essex’s high-powered offense and dominant defense have set them apart as one of the region’s top teams, while West Point has shown flashes of potential but has struggled with consistency and away games. As the season progresses, Essex looks poised to continue their winning ways, while West Point will need to fine-tune their performance if they hope to compete with top-tier teams in future seasons.