The Providence Catholic varsity football team (New Lenox, IL) will host Niles Notre Dame (Niles, IL) in a home conference game today at 6 p.m.

What: Illinois High School Football
Who: Providence Catholic (IL) vs Niles Notre Dame (IL)
When: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Niles Notre Dame vs. Providence Catholic: A Mid-Season Football Showdown

As the 2024-2025 football season heads into its final stretch, Niles Notre Dame and Providence Catholic, both members of Illinois’ competitive landscape, continue to battle for a strong finish. The two schools, hailing from different corners of the state, met in a head-to-head conference matchup on September 20, 2024, with Providence Catholic emerging victorious in a 14-0 shutout.

Current Record Overview:

• Niles Notre Dame (3-6 overall, 0-3 conference): Despite a rocky season, Niles Notre Dame has shown flashes of competitive play but struggles to convert in their conference matchups. With a points-for (PF) total of just 67 compared to 197 points against (PA), they will need to tighten up both offensively and defensively as the season progresses.
• Providence Catholic (4-5 overall, 1-2 conference): Slightly ahead of Niles in overall record, Providence Catholic enters this season with more balanced performances. The Celtics have accumulated 175 points while allowing 186, but their stronger performance at home (3-2) provides hope as they push for postseason contention.

Game Recap: Providence Catholic Dominates

In the September 20 contest, Providence Catholic delivered a shutout, defeating Niles Notre Dame 14-0. The game was marked by a commanding first-half performance from the Celtics, who capitalized on their momentum early. Both teams struggled to put points on the board in subsequent quarters, but Providence’s first-half dominance proved to be enough.

For Niles Notre Dame, the game was a difficult one, as they were held scoreless throughout the entire contest, something the team will look to address as they continue their conference play. With their offense averaging just 7.4 points per game, improving scoring output will be crucial moving forward.

Team Scoring Averages:

• Niles Notre Dame: The team’s scoring is generally low across all quarters, with an average of 0.8 points in the first quarter, rising to 4.5 in the second, before significantly dropping in the second half.
• Providence Catholic: The Celtics, on the other hand, display a more consistent offensive output, averaging 19.4 points per game, with particularly strong second-quarter production (8.8 points per game).

Head-to-Head Analysis:

The September 20th game added another win to Providence Catholic’s head-to-head record, with the Celtics now leading 1-0 against Niles Notre Dame this season. The two schools shared some common opponents, with both teams struggling against top-tier teams like Joliet Catholic and Marist.

• Against Joliet Catholic:
  • Niles Notre Dame lost 28-0 on October 4th.
  • Providence Catholic fell 21-18 in a close contest on October 25th.
• Against Marist:
  • Niles Notre Dame lost 34-0 on October 25th.
  • Providence Catholic lost 28-7 on October 4th.

Both teams have faced similar challenges, but Providence Catholic’s narrow loss to Joliet Catholic suggests a more competitive edge in high-stakes matchups.

Looking Ahead:

Both teams have a tough road ahead as the season continues. Niles Notre Dame will need to develop a more potent offense and tighten their defense to remain competitive, particularly in their remaining conference games. Meanwhile, Providence Catholic will aim to build on their win over Niles Notre Dame and improve upon their conference performance as they prepare for future matchups.

Summary:

The 14-0 victory by Providence Catholic over Niles Notre Dame exemplified the contrasting fortunes of the two teams this season. While Niles Notre Dame has struggled with both scoring and defense, Providence Catholic has been more competitive and balanced, with their sights set on improving further as they push toward the postseason. Both teams will need to make adjustments to finish strong and potentially secure a playoff berth.