The Fairfield (AL) varsity football team will face St. Michael Catholic (Fairhope, AL) in a neutral playoff game on Friday, November 22, at 7 p.m. This exciting matchup is part of the 2024 AHSAA Football Playoffs in the 4A tournament, where both teams will compete for a spot in the next round.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Alabama High School Football Playoff
Who: St. Michael Catholic vs Fairfield
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bracket: 2024 AHSAA Football Playoffs – 4A
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Fairfield vs. St. Michael Catholic

The 2024 AHSAA Football Playoffs continue with an exciting 4A matchup on Friday, November 22, as the Fairfield (AL) varsity football team faces St. Michael Catholic (Fairhope, AL) in a neutral-site game at 7 p.m. Both teams have had strong seasons, but their paths to the playoffs and their playing styles differ, promising a thrilling contest.

St. Michael Catholic’s Strong Season

St. Michael Catholic enters the playoffs with a stellar 11-1 record, finishing second in their region with a 5-1 mark. The team has been dominant on the road, going a perfect 7-0 in away games, showcasing their ability to perform in hostile environments. Their offense has been highly productive, scoring a total of 468 points and averaging 39.0 points per game. Defensively, they’ve given up 316 points, reflecting a balanced approach.

St. Michael Catholic’s scoring is particularly strong in the first half, where they have averaged 26 points over the first two quarters:

• Q1: 11.9 points
• Q2: 14.1 points
• Q3: 8.2 points
• Q4: 4.8 points
• Final: 39.0 points

Their ability to put up strong points early in games has been a key to their success, as they build momentum that carries them into the second half.

Fairfield’s Resilient Campaign

Fairfield has had a solid season with a 9-3 record, finishing third in their region with a 4-3 region mark. They’ve proven to be a resilient team, especially in neutral-site games, where they have posted a 1-0 record. Their offense has scored 356 points this season, averaging 29.7 points per game, while their defense has allowed 289 points.

Fairfield’s scoring is more spread out compared to St. Michael Catholic, but they’ve had strong performances in the second half, particularly in the third and fourth quarters:

• Q1: 4.6 points
• Q2: 10.6 points
• Q3: 7.5 points
• Q4: 8.0 points
• Final: 29.7 points

Fairfield will need to find a way to generate a more consistent offensive output in the first half and stay competitive through all four quarters against the potent St. Michael Catholic offense.

Key Matchups and Strategies

St. Michael Catholic has been effective at getting out to early leads, scoring almost 40 points per game, with a strong first half to set the tone. Fairfield will need to adjust defensively and avoid falling behind early. Their best chance will be to limit St. Michael’s explosive start and capitalize on their own second-half strengths.

Defensively, Fairfield will have to step up and challenge St. Michael’s high-scoring offense. If they can slow down the pace and prevent big plays, they’ll have a chance to keep the game close. For Fairfield to pull off the upset, their offense must be more consistent and efficient throughout the game, especially early on.

The high school football season is in full swing, and two standout teams, St. Michael Catholic and Fairfield, are making their mark with impressive performances and strong records. Both teams come into this match-up with dynamic offenses, solid defenses, and key players who have led their teams to success. Let’s break down the statistics, individual leaders, and common opponents to see how these two teams compare.

Team Stats Comparison

Offense

• Rushing: Fairfield has a slight advantage in rushing yards per game, averaging 197.0 yards, compared to St. Michael Catholic’s 167.8 yards. This suggests that Fairfield may have a more dominant ground game, but St. Michael Catholic is still competitive in this area.
• Passing: St. Michael Catholic excels in the passing game, with 280.3 passing yards per game, outpacing Fairfield’s 157.4. This marks a clear difference in the way both teams approach their offensive game plans, with St. Michael Catholic being much more reliant on the pass.
• Receiving: St. Michael Catholic also leads in receiving yards per game, averaging 279.9, significantly higher than Fairfield’s 157.4, reflecting their strong aerial attack.
• Total Yards: St. Michael Catholic has a significant edge in total yards per game, averaging 448.1, while Fairfield generates 354.4 total yards per game. This suggests that St. Michael Catholic has a more explosive offense overall, combining a powerful passing game with an efficient rushing attack.

Defense

• Tackles: St. Michael Catholic averages 48.3 tackles per game, showing their defensive consistency, while Fairfield averages 40.0. St. Michael Catholic’s defense is likely to be more involved in stopping the run and making tackles.
• Sacks: St. Michael Catholic also has a slight edge in sacks, averaging 1.5 per game compared to Fairfield’s 1.2. Both teams have effective pass rushes, but St. Michael Catholic’s defense may be slightly more disruptive.
• Points Allowed: St. Michael Catholic allows 39.0 points per game, while Fairfield allows 29.3. Fairfield’s defense has been better at limiting points, which could play a key role in a matchup against a high-scoring offense like St. Michael Catholic’s.

Special Teams

• Pancake Blocks: St. Michael Catholic does not report pancake blocks, but Fairfield has 3, with standout lineman Cedarian Clemon contributing 2. Pancake blocks can often signify dominance in the trenches, potentially giving Fairfield an advantage in controlling the line of scrimmage.

Key Players to Watch

Both teams have several standout players who are crucial to their respective successes.

• St. Michael Catholic’s Key Players:
  • Noah Moss: The leading rusher for St. Michael Catholic, Moss averages 157.5 yards per game and contributes 17.8 points per game. His ability to run the ball effectively is key to the team’s offensive success.
  • Gunner Rivers: St. Michael Catholic’s primary passer, averaging 278.0 yards per game. Rivers’ ability to lead a potent passing attack will be crucial in this matchup, especially against a defense like Fairfield’s.
  • Brody Jones: The team’s top receiver, averaging 116.0 yards per game. Jones provides a reliable target for Rivers and is a key part of the passing game.
• Fairfield’s Key Players:
  • Justin Murray: A dynamic rusher for Fairfield, Murray averages 121.2 yards per game. His ability to control the ground game will be critical in keeping St. Michael Catholic’s high-powered offense off the field.
  • Jumaria Hamilton: The leading passer for Fairfield, Hamilton averages 154.9 yards per game. His ability to lead the offense and connect with receivers will be essential for Fairfield to keep up with St. Michael Catholic’s offensive firepower.
  • Deven Moore: The top receiver for Fairfield, averaging 43.7 yards per game. Moore is a key target for Hamilton and will need to step up in the passing game against St. Michael Catholic’s defense.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced a similar set of opponents, with some interesting outcomes:

• W.S. Neal: St. Michael Catholic won 46-28 in an away game on 9/6/24, while Fairfield won a close 23-22 game at home on 11/15/24. Both teams showed resilience against W.S. Neal, but St. Michael Catholic’s margin of victory was more decisive.
• Pleasant Grove: St. Michael Catholic defeated Pleasant Grove 38-24 at home on 11/15/24, while Fairfield lost 49-13 in an away game on 9/6/24. St. Michael Catholic’s victory against Pleasant Grove was more convincing, while Fairfield struggled in their match-up.

Record Breakdown

In terms of overall performance, both teams have had solid seasons, but St. Michael Catholic’s record stands out.

• St. Michael Catholic has an 11-1 overall record, with a perfect 5-1 record in league play. Their offense has been high-flying, and they’ve been particularly strong at home, with a 4-1 record. Their perfect non-league record of 4-0 shows their ability to compete beyond their conference.
• Fairfield, with a 9-3 overall record, has been strong in league play with a 4-3 record, but their non-league record of 3-0 shows they can be competitive outside of their regular season.

Both teams have had strong in-state performances, with St. Michael Catholic boasting a 10-1 in-state record and Fairfield at 9-3.

Conclusion

This upcoming matchup between St. Michael Catholic and Fairfield will be one to watch. St. Michael Catholic’s high-powered offense, led by Gunner Rivers and Noah Moss, will test Fairfield’s defense, which has been solid but will need to step up in key moments. Meanwhile, Fairfield’s ground game, spearheaded by Justin Murray, will look to control the clock and keep St. Michael Catholic’s offense off the field.

With both teams coming off solid seasons and possessing key players capable of making game-changing plays, this contest is likely to be a closely contested one, with St. Michael Catholic’s explosive offense and Fairfield’s solid defense making for an intriguing battle.