The Mishawaka (IN) varsity football team will play a home playoff game against New Prairie (New Carlisle, IN) on Friday, November 15, at 7 p.m.

What: Indiana High School Football
Who: Mishawaka (IN) vs New Prairie (IN)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Comparing New Prairie and Mishawaka Football Teams: A 2024-25 Season Overview

As the 2024-25 high school football season progresses, New Prairie and Mishawaka stand out as two formidable teams from Indiana, each with its own strengths. Both schools have impressive records, strong performances, and intriguing matchups ahead. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their season statistics and performances, including a comparison of their overall team stats, leaders, and common opponents.

Overall Records & Performance

• New Prairie finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, boasting a 4-3 conference record and a dominant 6-1 home performance. Their win percentage stands at an impressive .750, but they did struggle a bit in conference play with a .571 conference win percentage.
• Mishawaka, on the other hand, had an even better regular season, finishing 10-2. Their conference record of 5-2 and overall win percentage of .833 shows a team with consistent performance, particularly at home (5-0). Mishawaka’s conference win percentage was an excellent .714, making them a strong contender in their league.

Scoring Comparison

• New Prairie has a strong offensive presence, averaging 34.3 points per game. They perform well in the first two quarters (11.4 and 12.0 points in Q1 and Q2, respectively), but their production tends to dip in the second half, especially in the third and fourth quarters (5.2 and 4.4 points).
• Mishawaka averages 32.8 points per game, slightly behind New Prairie, but with a more balanced scoring distribution across the game. Their best quarter is the fourth, where they average 7.6 points, showing their ability to close games strongly.

Team Stats Comparison

A detailed look at their team stats reveals some clear contrasts in style of play:

• Rushing: New Prairie averages 214.5 rushing yards per game, while Mishawaka has a superior ground game, averaging 300.5 yards per game.
• Passing: New Prairie relies more on the air attack, averaging 78.6 passing yards per game, compared to Mishawaka’s 44.7 passing yards per game.
• Total Yards: Mishawaka also leads in total yards, with 345.2 yards per game, compared to New Prairie’s 293.1 yards per game.
• Tackles: Mishawaka has a stronger defensive presence, averaging 63.3 tackles per game, while New Prairie averages 53.6.
• Sacks: The teams are nearly tied in sacks, with New Prairie averaging 1.3 per game and Mishawaka 1.1 per game.
• Points Per Game: New Prairie edges out Mishawaka with 34.3 points per game, compared to Mishawaka’s 32.3.

Team Leaders

Both teams boast individual standout players:

• New Prairie’s Reed Robinson is a key player across multiple categories, leading the team with 95.2 rushing yards per game and 172.6 total yards per game. Robinson is also the team’s points leader, contributing 9.3 points per game.
• Mishawaka’s Kadyn O’Neal is similarly impressive, leading the team with 98.6 rushing yards per game. Landon Snyder also plays a pivotal role, contributing 123.3 total yards per game and 8.0 points per game.

Common Opponents

Both teams faced a similar slate of common opponents, which allows for a comparative analysis of their performances:

• New Prairie defeated Goshen 56-0, Mishawaka Marian 42-28, but fell to Penn 24-7.
• Mishawaka also defeated Goshen 49-10 and Mishawaka Marian 41-24, but they outperformed New Prairie by defeating Penn 27-7.

In their common games, Mishawaka has a perfect 3-0 record, while New Prairie went 2-1. This suggests that Mishawaka has been able to perform slightly better against shared competition.

Head-to-Head & Record Breakdown

While New Prairie and Mishawaka didn’t meet head-to-head this season, both teams performed similarly in various matchups. Looking at their record breakdown:

• New Prairie had a solid 9-3 overall record, with a particularly strong showing in non-league games (2-0) and at home (3-2).
• Mishawaka had a 10-2 record, showing stronger consistency, especially at home (6-1) and within their league (5-2).

Conclusion

Both New Prairie and Mishawaka are strong, well-coached teams, with slightly different strengths. New Prairie excels in total offensive yardage, especially rushing, but tends to rely more on a balanced attack. In contrast, Mishawaka is more dominant in the running game, has a more solid defense, and has shown an ability to perform well in both close and high-scoring games.

As they continue their campaigns, it will be interesting to see how both teams fare in upcoming matchups and whether Mishawaka’s balanced approach or New Prairie’s offensive potency will carry the day. Either way, both teams are among the top contenders in Indiana high school football for the 2024-25 season.