The Taylor varsity football team (Kokomo, IN) will host a home playoff game against North Judson-San Pierre (North Judson, IN) on Friday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m.

What: Indiana High School Football
Who: Taylor (IN) vs North Judson-San Pierre (IN)
When: Friday, November 15 , 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

North Judson-San Pierre vs. Taylor: A Tale of Two Teams

As the season winds down, North Judson-San Pierre (NJSP) and Taylor are two Indiana teams that have carved very different paths. With North Judson-San Pierre enjoying an undefeated season and Taylor battling a mixed record, their statistics, team leaders, and matchups provide a fascinating contrast. Let’s take a look at the journey of each team, their strengths, and what they bring to the field.

Team Rankings & Overall Performance

North Judson-San Pierre (NJSP)

• State Class Rank: 1
• Overall Record: 12-0
• Conference Record: 7-0
• Win Percentage: 100%
• Points For (PF): 641
• Points Against (PA): 94

NJSP has had an outstanding season, going undefeated in both conference and non-league games. With a remarkable 641 points scored and only 94 allowed, they have demonstrated offensive firepower and defensive resilience. NJSP’s consistency, winning all home and away games, has been pivotal to maintaining their top ranking.

Taylor

• State Class Rank: 17
• Overall Record: 7-5
• Conference Record: 2-5
• Win Percentage: 58.3%
• Points For (PF): 195
• Points Against (PA): 250

Taylor has had a more challenging season with a 58.3% win percentage. Their 2-5 conference record reflects struggles within their league. Taylor has performed better in non-league games, where they’re undefeated. They’ve also fared decently in away games (4-2), suggesting a team that can perform under pressure but lacks consistency at home.

Scoring Averages: Offense Comparison

In terms of scoring, NJSP holds a clear edge:

• NJSP: Averaging 53.4 points per game, their strongest performance is in the first quarter, scoring an impressive 21.6 points on average. Their high-scoring ability in the early game indicates their offensive strategy to take control right from the start.
• Taylor: Averaging just 16.3 points per game, Taylor’s slow start in the first half (1.9 points in Q1, 4.6 in Q2) is a challenge. Although their fourth-quarter average (7.7 points) shows resilience, they generally struggle to close the gap created in earlier quarters.

Team Leaders and Key Players

North Judson-San Pierre

• Kole Wilcox (#7):
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 133.3
  • Receiving Yards Per Game: 29.8
  • Total Yards Per Game: 163.1
  • Points Per Game: 20.2

Kole Wilcox has been a standout, leading NJSP in rushing and receiving. His versatility and scoring consistency make him a dual-threat that opponents have struggled to contain.

• Brock Benson (#48): Averaging 5.3 tackles per game, Benson is a key defensive player, contributing to NJSP’s low points against total.

Taylor

• Javionne Harris (#12):
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 89.1
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 74.6
  • Total Yards Per Game: 181.2
  • Points Per Game: 7.8

Harris is Taylor’s key player, with solid numbers in both rushing and passing, responsible for much of Taylor’s offensive output. However, he will need support from the team’s defense and other offensive players to compete against stronger teams.

• Owen Collins (#81): Leading with 9.5 tackles per game, Collins provides a crucial defensive presence for Taylor, though they may need an even stronger showing to hold back high-scoring opponents like NJSP.

Common Opponents: Results Comparison

Both teams played against Winamac and Pioneer, and both came out victorious:

• NJSP: Dominated both games with significant margins, beating Winamac 48-6 and Pioneer 60-18.
• Taylor: Also secured wins against the same opponents, with a 35-12 victory over Winamac and a 28-6 win over Pioneer.

These results show both teams have the capacity to outscore and dominate common opponents, but NJSP’s margins indicate a stronger, more aggressive approach.

Record Breakdown

• NJSP: Perfect season at 12-0, excelling both in and out of conference, with a 6-0 home and 6-0 away record.
• Taylor: 7-5 overall, with a strong 4-2 away record but struggles at home (3-3). Their 2-5 conference record is a setback but indicates room for growth in their home-field performance.

Final Thoughts

North Judson-San Pierre’s unbeaten streak and high-scoring offense make them a force to be reckoned with, while Taylor has shown resilience and potential, particularly in away games. For Taylor to compete with top-tier teams like NJSP, they’ll need to address their early-game sluggishness and rely on Javionne Harris and Owen Collins to step up both offensively and defensively.

In contrast, NJSP’s depth, consistency, and top-performing players like Kole Wilcox position them well for further success in their class. With NJSP’s confidence and Taylor’s resilience, any potential matchup would highlight contrasting styles—NJSP’s early dominance versus Taylor’s gritty endurance