The Sutton (MA) varsity football team will host a non-conference game against Murdock (Winchendon, MA) today at 11 a.m.

What: Massachusetts High School Football
Who: Sutton (MA) vs Murdock (MA)
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Murdock vs Sutton: A Struggling Season for Both Teams

In the 2024-2025 football season, both Murdock and Sutton have faced challenges, struggling to find success on the field. The teams have been unable to secure victories in most of their games, with Murdock finishing the season winless and Sutton securing just one win. Here’s an in-depth look at the teams’ performance, their statistical averages, and key players.

Season Record Breakdown

• Murdock (24-25): Murdock struggled throughout the season, ending with a disappointing 0-9 record overall. The team’s league performance was equally poor, with an 0-4 record. Murdock’s away games proved particularly difficult, as they went 0-5 in games played away from home. Their overall win percentage stood at 0.000, and their league win percentage was also a stark 0.000.
• Sutton (24-25): Sutton fared slightly better with a 1-7 overall record. The team’s performance in league play was similarly grim, with a 0-2 record. Sutton was slightly more competitive at home, managing a 1-4 record in away games, but they were still unable to make a significant impact. Their win percentage across all games was 0.125, and their league win percentage was 0.000.

Scoring Averages

• Murdock:
  • Quarter 1: 0 points
  • Quarter 2: 0 points
  • Quarter 3: 1.2 points
  • Quarter 4: 3.0 points
  • Final: 9.4 points per game

Murdock’s offense struggled to find rhythm in the first half of games, with no points scored in the first two quarters. Their second half improvements were modest, scoring an average of 9.4 points per game by the final whistle.

• Sutton:
  • Quarter 1: 6.0 points
  • Quarter 2: 3.8 points
  • Quarter 3: 3.3 points
  • Quarter 4: 4.2 points
  • Final: 16.3 points per game

Sutton, on the other hand, had a more consistent offensive performance throughout the game. They scored an average of 16.3 points per game, with their best quarter coming in the first, averaging 6.0 points. While they were more productive overall than Murdock, their struggles to maintain momentum in the second half limited their ability to secure more wins.

Key Statistical Comparison

• Murdock:
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 77.1 yards
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 91.3 yards
  • Receiving Yards Per Game: 91.3 yards
  • Total Yards Per Game: 168.4 yards
  • Points Per Game: 11.9 points
• Sutton:
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 20.3 yards
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 51.5 yards
  • Receiving Yards Per Game: 17.4 yards
  • Total Yards Per Game: 36.6 yards
  • Points Per Game: 2.6 points

While Murdock’s total offensive yards per game (168.4 yards) were significantly higher than Sutton’s (36.6 yards), their inability to convert those yards into points left them with a meager 11.9 points per game. Sutton’s offensive struggles were more pronounced, as they averaged just 2.6 points per game, showing an even greater inability to execute on offense.

Individual Leaders

• Murdock:
  • Rushing: Declan O’Callaghan led the team with 64.0 yards per game, ranking 3rd in the league.
  • Passing: Cam Benedict was the team’s standout, leading with 144.0 passing yards per game.
  • Receiving: Brennan Benedict was the top receiver, averaging 65.6 yards per game.
  • Total Yards: Cam Benedict also led in total yards per game with 169.0.
• Sutton:
  • Rushing: Sutton’s rushing game was not as effective, with their leader gaining just 20.3 yards per game.
  • Passing: Again, Cam Benedict’s performance overshadowed Sutton’s as their leader, averaging 51.5 passing yards per game.
  • Receiving: Sutton struggled in the passing game as well, with their top receiver accumulating just 17.4 yards per game.
  • Total Yards: Sutton’s total yards per game were significantly lower, with no player reaching anywhere near the totals of Murdock’s Cam Benedict.

Conclusion

Both Murdock and Sutton had tough seasons in 2024-2025, with Murdock failing to win a single game and Sutton managing just one victory. Murdock’s strong individual performances from Cam Benedict, especially in passing and total yardage, were not enough to lift the team, while Sutton struggled across the board, particularly in scoring and offensive production.

As both teams look ahead to the next season, they will need to focus on building a more consistent and effective offensive strategy, while improving their ability to execute under pressure. With key players like Cam Benedict showing promise, there is hope for better performances in the future.