The Friendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, DC) varsity football team will host Virginia Academy (Ashburn, VA) today at 1 p.m. for a non-conference game.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Washington, DC High School Football
Who: Virginia Academy vs Friendship Collegiate Academy
When: Today, November 16, 2024
Time: 1:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch on NFHS Network

Virginia Academy vs. Friendship Collegiate Academy: A Season Comparison

As we look at the current football seasons of Virginia Academy and Friendship Collegiate Academy, it’s clear that both teams have unique strengths and areas for improvement. With contrasting records, team statistics, and individual performances, these two schools are shaping up to make their mark in their respective regions. Let’s break down their performances, key players, and common matchups.

Team Records Overview

• Virginia Academy is currently standing at a 3-7 overall record, with a 1-2 record in-region. Their performance in non-league games has been a challenge, reflected by their 2-5 away record. Despite these struggles, they’ve shown resilience, particularly with their strong home record at 1-0.
• Friendship Collegiate Academy, on the other hand, boasts a significantly stronger 7-3 record. Their in-region play is solid, with a 2-1 performance, and they have a respectable 5-2 away record. The team’s 2-1 home record reflects their solid performance across different types of matchups.

Scoring Breakdown

When it comes to scoring, Virginia Academy averages 23.0 points per game, which is more than their opponents by a slight margin. However, their scoring is more front-loaded. They average 9.8 points in the first quarter but struggle in the later periods, especially in the third and fourth quarters, where they score just 6.6 and 4.4 points, respectively.

Friendship Collegiate Academy, with an average of 19.1 points per game, has a different scoring trend. They start slow, with a 4.7-point average in the first quarter, but have a noticeable uptick in the final period, where they score an average of 5.4 points, making them more competitive in the latter half of games.

Key Stats Comparison

The differences in both teams’ performance can be seen in their team stat comparison:

• Virginia Academy is a dominant force on the ground, averaging 88.2 rushing yards per game, compared to Friendship Collegiate Academy’s 43.9 rushing yards. Their passing attack also outpaces their opponent, with 224.5 passing yards per game versus just 13.6 for Friendship Collegiate.
• Virginia Academy leads in total yards per game (312.7), a significant advantage over Friendship Collegiate Academy’s 57.5 total yards per game. However, the disparity in total yards is reflective of their struggle with consistency and offensive balance.

Defensively, Virginia Academy averages 40.0 tackles per game, a solid defensive effort, but their opponents have been able to exploit them in the passing game. In comparison, Friendship Collegiate Academy is limited to 4.7 tackles per game and has been less effective in stalling opposing offenses.

Notable Player Performances

Both teams have standout players who lead their respective offenses:

• For Virginia Academy, Kwalei Carter has been a standout with 35.9 rushing yards per game, while Bryan Resto leads the passing game with 219.4 yards per game. Zion Trump adds to their aerial attack with 50.7 receiving yards per game.
• Friendship Collegiate Academy has a well-rounded offense, with Zaire Kennedy dominating the ground game with 122.5 rushing yards per game. Darrin Richardson Jr. and Jayden Proctor have made a significant impact in the air, accumulating 38.5 and 23.5 receiving yards per game, respectively.

On the defensive side, Virginia Academy is led by Adam Badi, who averages 6.1 tackles per game, while Nikaih Young leads Friendship Collegiate Academy with 7.0 tackles per game.

Common Opponents and Head-to-Head

Looking at common opponents, Virginia Academy and Friendship Collegiate Academy have faced off against Mt. Zion Prep Academy. Virginia Academy lost to them 34-28 on October 26, 2024, while Friendship Collegiate Academy defeated them 19-6 earlier in the month. This win gives Friendship Collegiate Academy a psychological edge over Virginia Academy, especially in similar matchups.

Strengths and Areas for Improvement

• Virginia Academy has a potent offense, especially through the air, but needs to find more consistency in both running the ball and maintaining pressure on defense throughout the game. Their ability to close out games and finish strong will be key to improving their record in the final stretch of the season.
• Friendship Collegiate Academy, while having a more balanced approach and higher win rate, must continue to develop their passing game and find a way to be more aggressive offensively, especially in the first half of games.

Conclusion

As the season progresses, both teams will need to focus on their respective areas of improvement. Virginia Academy can look to strengthen their second-half performance and tighten up their defense, while Friendship Collegiate Academy can aim to improve their offensive variety and consistency. Regardless of their season records, both teams have a lot of potential to develop and make their mark in their regions.