The Groves (Beverly Hills, MI) varsity football team will host St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, MI) in a home playoff game today at 1 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets for MHSAA Division 2.

What: Michigan High School Football
Who: Groves (MI) vs St. Mary’s Prep (MI)
When: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: West Bloomfield High School
Bracket: 2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets: MHSAA – Division 2
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

St. Mary’s Prep vs. Groves: A Season Comparison

As the 2024-2025 football season progresses, two Michigan teams, St. Mary’s Prep and Groves, have emerged with impressive records and notable performances. Below is a comprehensive comparison between these two teams based on their statistics, performance metrics, and head-to-head history.

Season Overview

St. Mary’s Prep enters the season with a 9-3 record, but its performance in the league has been less dominant, finishing with a 1-3 league record. Despite this, the team has maintained a solid overall win percentage of 75%, with 491 points scored and 124 points allowed. The team has managed a 3-2 home record and a strong 5-1 away record, demonstrating its ability to perform under pressure.

On the other hand, Groves has been a juggernaut this season, boasting an undefeated 12-0 record, including a perfect 4-0 in the league. With a stellar 100% win percentage in all aspects—home, away, and neutral sites—Groves has showcased its dominance both offensively and defensively, scoring 434 points while only allowing 104. The team’s consistency has been evident, with an 8-0 record at home and a flawless 4-0 on the road.

Team Scoring Averages

• St. Mary’s Prep has a well-balanced offensive attack with an average of 40.9 points per game. The team starts strong with 15.7 points in the first quarter but experiences a decline in the later stages, scoring 7.8 points in the third quarter and 6.6 in the fourth quarter.
• Groves, despite a lower overall points-per-game average (36.2), maintains consistency across quarters, scoring 7.0 in the first quarter, 14.5 in the second, and a steady 3.5 points in both the third and fourth quarters.

Team Stat Comparison

• Offensive Performance:
  • St. Mary’s Prep has excelled in rushing yards, averaging 192.3 yards per game, with Darrin Jones Jr. leading the charge with an impressive 83.3 yards per game. The team also averages 143.7 passing yards and 139.3 receiving yards per game, with Axel Newell leading in total yards per game at 107.5.
• Defensive Strength:
  • Defensively, St. Mary’s Prep has an average of 58.2 tackles per game and 1.5 sacks per game. Key players like Charles (DJ) White are key contributors with 8.3 tackles per game. However, Groves has not posted any significant rushing or passing yard statistics, instead focusing on its overall game performance.

Key Player Statistics

• St. Mary’s Prep:
  • Darrin Jones Jr. leads the team in rushing yards per game with 83.3.
  • Axel Newell contributes heavily in passing yards (100.6 per game) and total yards (107.5 per game).
  • Bryson Williams is the standout receiver with 47.1 receiving yards per game and 8.3 points per game.
• Groves:
  • Groves has displayed balanced team contributions across the board, but individual player stats like rushing, passing, and receiving have not been emphasized as much as team-wide performance metrics.

Common Opponents

• St. Mary’s Prep faced De La Salle Collegiate on September 13, 2024, but lost 38-28 at home.
• Groves faced the same opponent on November 15, 2024, securing a 21-19 win at home. This result illustrates Groves’ resilience and ability to triumph in closely contested matchups.

Record Breakdown

• St. Mary’s Prep:
  • Strong overall record of 9-3, with a 1-3 league record.
  • Solid home and away performances, especially on the road (5-1).
• Groves:
  • Perfect 12-0 overall and 4-0 in league play.
  • Perfect home and away records, further emphasizing their dominance this season.

Head-to-Head

When it comes to direct matchups, the common opponent results indicate that Groves outperformed St. Mary’s Prep in their encounter with De La Salle Collegiate, beating them 21-19 compared to St. Mary’s 38-28 loss. This performance could suggest Groves has a more well-rounded and consistent ability to win tight games.

Conclusion

While St. Mary’s Prep has had a solid season, with several notable players contributing to the team’s offensive and defensive efforts, Groves has truly been the standout team in this comparison. Their undefeated season, exceptional defense, and offensive consistency across all quarters make them a formidable opponent in any situation. Moving forward, Groves will be a team to watch, especially in their continued push for perfection.