The Joliet Catholic varsity football team (Joliet, IL) will play a neutral-site playoff game against Morris (IL) today at 2 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets for Class 5A.

What: Illinois High School Football
Who: Joliet Catholic (IL) vs Morris (IL)
When: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets: IHSA – Class 5A
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Morris and Joliet Catholic Football Comparison: A Breakdown of 2024-2025 Seasons

The 2024-2025 high school football seasons for Morris and Joliet Catholic have showcased impressive performances for both teams. In this comparison, we’ll take a closer look at their overall records, performance in league and non-league games, home and away statistics, playoff appearances, and common opponents to see how they stack up against each other.

Overall Record

Morris finished the season with an 8-4 record, performing well across the board. They had a solid 3-2 record in conference play and an even better performance at home with a 4-1 record. Their away games were a bit more challenging, with a 4-3 mark, but they managed to secure a perfect record of 1-0 in neutral-site games. In total, Morris scored 432 points while allowing 293 points, resulting in a winning percentage of .667.

Joliet Catholic, on the other hand, had an outstanding 9-3 season. They were perfect in their conference games with a 3-0 record and were dominant at home, finishing with a 5-0 record. While their away performance was more mixed at 2-3, their neutral-site games were flawless with a 2-0 mark. Joliet Catholic outscored their opponents 330 to 165, leading to a strong win percentage of .750.

Team Scoring Averages

When comparing the scoring patterns of both teams, Morris showed a balanced but more consistent scoring effort throughout the game. They averaged 10.5 points in the first quarter, 6.6 in the second, 7.1 in the third, and 7.5 in the fourth, ultimately finishing with an average of 36 points per game.

Joliet Catholic, meanwhile, had a more varied scoring approach. They started slow with only 5.8 points in the first quarter but picked up momentum in the second quarter with 12.5 points. Their third and fourth quarters were less productive (3.0 points each), but their overtime performance (14.0 points) helped elevate their overall scoring average to 27.5 points per game.

Common Opponents

Both teams faced common opponents throughout the season, though they had different outcomes. Morris played Peoria on September 13, 2024, and suffered a narrow loss, 58-52. Joliet Catholic, however, faced Peoria later in the season on November 16, 2024, and triumphed with a decisive 43-8 victory.

In this instance, Joliet Catholic’s performance against Peoria stands out as a clear contrast to Morris’s defeat, giving Joliet Catholic a slight edge when comparing how both teams fared against this opponent.

Home and Away Performance

• Morris at Home: 4-1
  Morris has been solid at home, with a strong 4-1 record. Their home-field advantage has certainly played a key role in their overall success, contributing to their 8-4 record for the season.
• Joliet Catholic at Home: 5-0
  Joliet Catholic, however, was perfect on their home turf. Their flawless record of 5-0 at home helped propel them to a 9-3 season, and their ability to dominate at home was a key factor in their success.
• Morris Away: 4-3
  Morris had a more difficult time on the road with a 4-3 record, suggesting some struggles in hostile environments. However, they still managed to perform well away from home, with a winning percentage of .571.
• Joliet Catholic Away: 2-3
  Joliet Catholic, in contrast, had more challenges away from home. Their 2-3 away record highlights some inconsistencies in road performances but is balanced by their perfect record at home and solid neutral-site results.

Playoff Success

When it comes to postseason success, both teams excelled. Morris went 3-0 in playoff games, finishing with a strong 3-0 record in state playoffs. Joliet Catholic, too, enjoyed a perfect playoff run with a 3-0 record, showing resilience and dominance when it mattered most.

In-State vs. Out-of-State Record

In-state games were a highlight for both teams. Morris finished 8-3 in Illinois games, while Joliet Catholic had a similar 8-3 in-state record. Both teams showed strong performances against local competition. When it comes to out-of-state games, Morris went 0-1, while Joliet Catholic was perfect with a 1-0 mark.

Conclusion

In summary, while both Morris and Joliet Catholic had strong 2024-2025 seasons, Joliet Catholic edged out Morris with a slightly better overall record (9-3 compared to 8-4) and a perfect record at home. Morris demonstrated a balanced scoring attack and performed better away from home, but Joliet Catholic’s dominance at home and superior performance against common opponents gives them the upper hand. Both teams are poised for continued success, with their strong playoff performances and solid in-state records.