As the 2024-25 season progresses, two teams from Iowa—Underwood and St. Albert—have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. While their records differ significantly, their paths so far reveal an intriguing matchup on the horizon. Here’s a breakdown of their rankings, performance, and common opponents as they prepare to face off.

Team Records and Standings

• Underwood Eagles (24-25): Underwood has posted a 1-1 record overall, with a 1-1 mark in conference play. While their overall record is still early in the season, the team has shown promise with a decent scoring output, tallying 88 points for and allowing 78 against. They are currently maintaining a 50% win rate both overall and in the conference.
• St. Albert Falcons (24-25): On the other hand, St. Albert has been on fire, winning all 6 of their games so far. With a perfect 5-0 record in conference play, they have dominated their competition. Their overall scoring has been impressive, racking up 358 points while giving up 211. St. Albert’s win percentage is an outstanding 100%, and they have shown no signs of slowing down.

Scoring Averages

• Underwood: Despite a narrow overall record, the Eagles have been competitive on offense. They are averaging 44 points per game, though the scoring breakdown per quarter hasn’t been provided yet.
• St. Albert: The Falcons are outpacing their competition in terms of scoring, averaging 59.7 points per game. This potent offense has kept their opponents on their toes, and with such a high scoring average, St. Albert is proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced some of the same opponents this season, providing insight into their relative strengths and weaknesses. The records against common opponents are as follows:

• Underwood: 1-1
• St. Albert: 2-0

Here are some of their key matchups:

• Red Oak: Underwood split their games with Red Oak, going 1-1. Meanwhile, St. Albert is undefeated against Red Oak, holding a 2-0 record.
• Shenandoah: Both teams will meet Shenandoah, with Underwood facing them twice, while St. Albert will see them once.
• AHSTW: Underwood secured a dominant 54-19 victory over AHSTW on December 6, 2024. St. Albert will meet AHSTW on January 20, 2025.
• Treynor: Underwood suffered a tough loss to Treynor on December 10, 2024, with a final score of 59-34. St. Albert will face Treynor in February 2025.
• Tri-Center: Underwood will take on Tri-Center twice in January and February 2025. St. Albert had a strong win over Tri-Center, defeating them 70-31 on November 26, 2024.
• Harlan: Underwood and St. Albert will face Harlan in the coming months. St. Albert already beat Harlan 71-58 on December 3, 2024.

Record Breakdown

• Underwood: 1-1 overall, 1-1 in league play, and 0-0 in non-league matchups.
• St. Albert: 6-0 overall, 5-0 in conference play, and 1-0 in non-league games.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Although both teams share some common opponents, their performances have varied significantly. Underwood is still finding its rhythm in the 2024-25 season with mixed results, while St. Albert remains undefeated, making them the more dominant team so far. With a perfect conference record and an explosive offense, St. Albert appears to have the edge heading into the remainder of the season.

However, the Eagles have shown they can compete, especially with their upcoming matchups against common rivals. Their ability to bounce back and learn from losses will be key as they move forward.

Looking Ahead

Underwood will need to improve their consistency, especially in tough matchups against teams like St. Albert, if they hope to close the gap in future meetings. For St. Albert, maintaining their unbeaten streak and continuing their dominant performances will be essential as they push for a championship berth.

Both teams will face off against shared opponents in the coming months, which will provide further insight into how they measure up against one another. Their next big games against each other will certainly be ones to watch as these two teams continue to carve their paths through the 2024-25 season.