The Morrice (MI) varsity football team will play a neutral-site playoff game against Forest Park (Crystal Falls, MI) today at 2 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets: MHSAA – 8-Man 2 tournament.

What: Michigan High School Football
Who: Morrice (MI) vs Forest Park (MI)
When: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets: MHSAA – 8-Man 2
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

A Comparative Analysis of Forest Park and Morrice Football Teams (2024-2025)

As the 2024-2025 football season draws to a close, both Forest Park and Morrice have showcased stellar performances, with impressive overall records, strong offensive and defensive stats, and notable individual achievements. Let’s dive deeper into a comparative analysis of these two teams, based on their rankings, records, and key team statistics.

Team Overview and Records

Forest Park (24-25)

• National Ranking: 261
• Michigan Class: 5
• Overall Record: 11-1
• League Record: 4-1
• Home Record: 4-1
• Away Record: 4-0
• Neutral Record: 3-0
• Win Percentage: .917
• League Percentage: .800
• Points For (PF): 572
• Points Against (PA): 180

Morrice (24-25)

• National Ranking: 269
• Michigan Class: 6
• Overall Record: 12-1
• League Record: 5-1
• Home Record: 2-0
• Away Record: 1-1
• Neutral Record: 9-0
• Win Percentage: .923
• League Percentage: .833
• Points For (PF): 536
• Points Against (PA): 139

Both teams boast impressive records, but Morrice edges ahead slightly with a better overall win percentage (.923 vs. .917). Forest Park’s undefeated away record (4-0) is notable, while Morrice’s perfect neutral-site record (9-0) stands out as a key achievement.

Offensive and Defensive Strengths

Scoring Averages
The scoring dynamics between the two teams tell an interesting story of their offensive output across the game’s four quarters.

• Forest Park Scoring:
  • Q1: 20.0
  • Q2: 15.1
  • Q3: 8.8
  • Q4: 3.4
  • Final Score: 47.7 PPG
• Morrice Scoring:
  • Q1: 0
  • Q2: 7.0
  • Q3: 9.0
  • Q4: 8.0
  • Final Score: 41.2 PPG

Forest Park has a strong start to its games, especially in the first quarter (20.0 points). However, its scoring significantly drops off in the second half, with just 3.4 points in the fourth quarter. Morrice, on the other hand, has a more balanced scoring profile, showing consistent growth from the second to the fourth quarters, suggesting they may adjust better throughout the game.

Total Yards Per Game

• Forest Park: 354.8 yards
• Morrice: Not specified, but Forest Park clearly has an edge in offensive yardage.

Defensive Statistics
While both teams are formidable offensively, their defensive stats vary:

• Forest Park: 41.5 tackles per game, 2.3 sacks per game, and 40.4 points allowed per game
• Morrice: Defensive stats are less specified, but they have allowed only 139 points all season, reflecting strong defensive play.

Forest Park shows a higher rate of tackles and sacks, indicating aggressive defensive tactics. Morrice, however, has kept the opposition to a low total of points (139), reflecting perhaps a more efficient or opportunistic defense.

Key Players and Leaders

Forest Park Key Players:

• Dax Huuki (RB): Leads the team with 115.2 rushing yards per game and 124.3 total yards per game. He also contributes 10.5 points per game, showcasing his offensive versatility.
• Vic Giuliani (QB): With 80.5 passing yards per game, he orchestrates the passing game effectively.
• Trent Kannich (WR): With 27.8 receiving yards per game, he is a key target in the air attack.
• Nikolas Stephens (LB): Leads the team with 7.5 tackles per game, contributing heavily to the defensive side.
• Matthew Showers (DL): With 0.5 sacks per game, he provides a significant pass-rushing presence.

Morrice Key Players:

• While specific leaders are not listed, Morrice’s outstanding performance across the season and its consistent win percentage (especially in neutral games) suggests strong contributions from both its offensive and defensive units.

Record Breakdown

• Overall Record:
  • Forest Park: 11-1
  • Morrice: 12-1
• League Record:
  • Forest Park: 4-1
  • Morrice: 5-1
• Home Record:
  • Forest Park: 4-1
  • Morrice: 2-0
• Away Record:
  • Forest Park: 4-0
  • Morrice: 1-1
• Neutral Record:
  • Forest Park: 3-0
  • Morrice: 9-0
• Playoff Record:
  • Both teams have been perfect in playoff games, with Forest Park at 4-0 and Morrice at 4-0.

Both teams have excelled in neutral-site games, with Morrice particularly dominant in this aspect. However, Forest Park’s flawless away performance stands as one of its most significant accomplishments of the season.

Conclusion

Both Forest Park and Morrice have had exceptional seasons in 2024-2025, each with strengths that make them formidable opponents. Forest Park’s offensive power, led by the dynamic Dax Huuki, is complemented by a strong defense, while Morrice’s consistency and flawless neutral-site record reveal a well-rounded team. With both teams performing at a high level, it will be exciting to see how they fare in the postseason and whether they can continue their successful campaigns.