The Southbridge (MA) varsity football team will play a home non-conference game against Abby Kelley Foster (Worcester, MA) today at 12 p.m.

What: Massachusetts High School Football
Who: Southbridge (MA) vs Abby Kelley Foster (MA)
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Comparing the 2024-2025 Football Seasons: Abby Kelley Foster vs. Southbridge

As the 2024-2025 football season winds down, both Abby Kelley Foster and Southbridge have faced challenges on the field, with each team showing mixed results. This article compares their performance, team statistics, individual leaders, and record breakdown to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each squad.

Overall Record and Performance Breakdown

• Abby Kelley Foster: The team finished with a 2-7 record for the season, with a 0-2 record in league play and 2-5 in non-league games. Their overall performance showed moments of promise, especially in non-league games, but they struggled against league competition, finishing the season with a win percentage of just .222.
• Southbridge: Also finishing with a 2-7 record, Southbridge posted a 1-1 record in league games and a 1-6 mark in non-league contests. Like Abby Kelley Foster, their overall win percentage stood at .222. Southbridge had a slightly better league performance, going 1-1, but their non-league games left much to be desired.

Offensive Performance and Scoring Averages

• Abby Kelley Foster: The team averaged 22.9 points per game across four quarters. Their best quarter was the first, where they averaged 8.4 points, while the team struggled in the second half, scoring just 2.8 points in the third quarter.
• Southbridge: Southbridge had a rougher time offensively, averaging only 14.2 points per game. Their scoring was particularly low in the first and fourth quarters, with only 2.7 points in both quarters. The team did find some rhythm in the third quarter, averaging 4.7 points during that period.

Statistical Comparison: Team Strengths

When looking at the individual statistics and team comparisons, certain strengths and weaknesses become clear:

• Rushing Yards: Abby Kelley Foster outperformed Southbridge in rushing yards per game with an average of 170.2, compared to Southbridge’s 20.3. Miguel Velasquez led Abby Kelley Foster in rushing with 63.3 yards per game, while Southbridge struggled to get their ground game going.
• Passing Game: The passing attack for both teams was not a major focal point. Abby Kelley Foster averaged 40.7 passing yards per game, led by quarterback Alexis Ramos. Southbridge averaged slightly more at 51.5 yards per game, but this figure still fell below the national average, indicating struggles in the air game for both teams.
• Receiving Yards: Both teams saw similar numbers in receiving yards, with Abby Kelley Foster averaging 40.7 yards per game and Southbridge slightly ahead at 41.7 yards per game. Both teams had standout individual performances, with Miguel Velasquez again leading Abby Kelley Foster with 17 receiving yards per game.
• Defense: Defensively, Abby Kelley Foster outshone Southbridge in several key areas. Abby Kelley averaged 46.7 tackles per game, significantly higher than Southbridge’s 2.7 tackles per game. Abby Kelley Foster also recorded 1.0 sacks per game, compared to Southbridge’s 0.2, indicating a stronger defensive presence in the backfield.

Individual Player Performance

• Abby Kelley Foster: Key players like Miguel Velasquez (rushing and receiving leader) and Alexis Ramos (quarterback) were central to the team’s offensive strategy. Velasquez averaged 5.1 points per game, and Ramos contributed to both the passing and total yardage stats, leading the team with 86.8 yards per game in total offense.
• Southbridge: Southbridge’s leader was their quarterback, who averaged 51.5 passing yards per game, a solid performance considering the team’s overall struggles. On defense, Southbridge had several players contributing to the overall team effort, but they lacked the high-performing leaders seen on the Abby Kelley Foster side.

Common Opponents

Both teams faced off against similar opponents throughout the season, which offers a valuable comparison of how each fared.

• Abby Kelley Foster: Notable victories came against Murdock and Prouty, where they won 40-8 and 54-28, respectively. These wins were a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season.
• Southbridge: Southbridge had a notable victory over Murdock (32-0) but struggled against teams like North and Montachusett RVT, suffering heavy losses.

Both teams share a 2-3 record against common opponents, though their individual matchups against these teams varied, with Abby Kelley Foster having more competitive results in several games.

Head-to-Head Record

The two teams did not meet in the 2024-2025 season, and their records against common opponents indicate similar struggles. Abby Kelley Foster’s better overall defensive and rushing performance likely would have given them an edge had the teams faced off directly.

Conclusion

Both Abby Kelley Foster and Southbridge faced difficult seasons with a 2-7 record. Abby Kelley Foster showed more promise in their rushing game and defensive statistics, while Southbridge’s offense struggled to find a rhythm. Despite similar overall records, Abby Kelley Foster had a slight edge in key areas, such as total offense and defensive consistency. Moving forward, both teams will need to improve their scoring consistency and capitalize on the strengths that have shown some promise in the 2024-2025 season.