The Hopkinton (MA) varsity football team will play a home conference game against Ashland (MA) today at 10 a.m.

What: Massachusetts High School Football
Who: Hopkinton (MA) vs Ashland (MA)
When: Thursday, November 28, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Where: Hopkinton High School
Live stream: Watch here

Season Recap: Ashland vs. Hopkinton Football

The 2024-2025 Massachusetts high school football season saw two local rivals, Ashland and Hopkinton, facing off in a season marked by challenges and learning opportunities. Both teams played through intense schedules and showcased varying levels of performance. Below, we analyze their overall standings, team scoring averages, common opponents, and record breakdowns to gain insight into how each team fared throughout the season.

Ashland’s Season Overview Ashland finished the season with a respectable 5-5 record, demonstrating a balanced approach with equal wins at home and away (3-3 at home and 2-2 on the road). The team achieved a .500 overall winning percentage and a .250 win percentage in league play, ending with a narrow scoring advantage of 210 points scored to 205 points allowed. Notably, Ashland’s team scoring was most prolific during the second quarter, where they averaged 5.7 points, while their fourth-quarter scoring dropped to zero.

Hopkinton’s Season Overview Hopkinton, on the other hand, struggled throughout the season, recording a 2-8 overall record. Their performance was notably weaker in league games, finishing 0-4 with no victories at home or on the road. Their final score tally was significantly lower than Ashland’s, with 110 points scored versus 256 points allowed. Unlike Ashland, Hopkinton only managed to score consistently in the fourth quarter, averaging 3.3 points.

Team Scoring Averages Breaking down scoring by quarters highlights the differences between the two teams:

• Ashland:
  • Q1: 4.3 points
  • Q2: 5.7 points
  • Q3: 3.0 points
  • Q4: 0 points
  • Final Average: 21.0 points per game
• Hopkinton:
  • Q1: 0 points
  • Q2: 0 points
  • Q3: 0 points
  • Q4: 3.3 points
  • Final Average: 11.0 points per game

The stark contrast in scoring consistency highlights Ashland’s more robust offensive performance across multiple quarters compared to Hopkinton’s struggle to score outside the fourth quarter.

Common Opponents Analysis Both Ashland and Hopkinton faced off against shared opponents, which offers insight into their comparative performances:

• Ashland’s Record Against Common Opponents: 2-4
• Hopkinton’s Record Against Common Opponents: 0-6

Detailed game outcomes illustrate the challenges each team faced:

• On September 20, Ashland fell to Wayland 35-12, while Hopkinton lost to Wayland 30-0.
• On October 10, Ashland lost to Norwood 27-13, with Hopkinton suffering a 42-3 defeat to the same team.
• October 18 saw Ashland secure a 30-8 victory over Dedham, while Hopkinton fell 16-12 in a close contest against Dedham.
• On October 25, Ashland narrowly lost to Holliston 22-19, contrasting with Hopkinton’s 34-7 defeat to the same opponent.
• October 31 was challenging for Ashland as they fell 35-14 to Westwood, matching Hopkinton’s 34-7 loss.
• Finally, on November 15, Ashland delivered an impressive 42-8 win over Medfield, while Hopkinton was defeated 21-6 by Medfield earlier in the season.

Record Breakdown A closer look at the season’s statistics reveals key insights:

• Ashland:
  • Overall Record: 5-5
  • League Record: 1-3
  • Non-League Record: 4-2
  • Home Record: 3-3
  • Away Record: 2-2
  • Playoff Record: 0-0
• Hopkinton:
  • Overall Record: 2-8
  • League Record: 0-4
  • Non-League Record: 2-4
  • Home Record: 0-4
  • Away Record: 2-4
  • Playoff Record: 0-0

Ashland outperformed Hopkinton in nearly all statistical categories, including their record against common opponents. Despite the challenges faced by both teams, Ashland’s more consistent offensive production and ability to secure key victories set them apart. Hopkinton’s season was marked by close losses and difficulties in securing wins against competitive teams.

Conclusion The 2024-2025 football season provided valuable lessons for both Ashland and Hopkinton. While Ashland showed resilience with a .500 season and moments of strong performance, Hopkinton’s efforts underscored the challenges of competing in a highly competitive field. Moving forward, both teams will need to refine their strategies and build on their strengths to improve for the next season.