The Xaverian Brothers varsity football team (Westwood, MA) will play a home playoff game against Needham (MA) on Thursday, December 5, at 5:30 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 MIAA Football State Championship – Division 1 tournament.

Xaverian Brothers vs Needham Game Info:

What: Massachusetts High School Football
Who: Xaverian Brothers (MA) vs Needham (MA)
When: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: Gillette Stadium
Bracket: 2024 MIAA Football State Championship – Division 1
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Xaverian Brothers vs Needham

As the 2024-25 football season draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the impressive performances of two notable Massachusetts teams: Needham and Xaverian Brothers. Both teams have demonstrated exceptional capabilities on the field, showcasing their prowess through outstanding records and high-scoring averages. This article takes a detailed look at their achievements, scoring metrics, and head-to-head comparisons.

Team Records and League Standings

Needham (24-25 Season)

• Overall Record: 12-0
• League Record: 5-0
• Home Record: 5-0
• Away Record: 5-0
• Neutral Record: 2-0
• Win Percentage: 1.000 (100%)
• League Win Percentage: 1.000 (100%)
• Points For (PF): 353
• Points Against (PA): 90

Needham’s perfect season has been nothing short of spectacular. They dominated both their league and non-league games, maintaining an unblemished 12-0 record. Their defensive strength is highlighted by only conceding 90 points across the season, underscoring their formidable backline.

Xaverian Brothers (24-25 Season)

• Overall Record: 8-4
• League Record: 2-3
• Home Record: 6-0
• Away Record: 2-4
• Win Percentage: .667 (66.7%)
• League Win Percentage: .400 (40%)
• Points For (PF): 393
• Points Against (PA): 248

While Xaverian Brothers achieved an impressive 8-4 record, their season was more mixed compared to Needham’s. Their 6-0 home record shows their strong home-field advantage, though they struggled with away games, tallying only two wins in six tries.

Team Scoring Averages

The scoring averages of both teams reveal an interesting contrast in offensive production:

• Needham:
  • Q1: 7.0 points
  • Q2: 6.7 points
  • Q3: 10.0 points
  • Q4: 4.7 points
  • Final: 29.4 points
• Xaverian Brothers:
  • Q1: 16.0 points
  • Q2: 9.4 points
  • Q3: 8.3 points
  • Q4: 4.0 points
  • Final: 32.8 points

Despite their perfect season, Needham’s scoring average of 29.4 points per game was slightly lower than Xaverian Brothers’ 32.8 points per game. Xaverian’s strong first-quarter performances indicate a high-intensity start, contributing significantly to their overall point tally.

Common Opponents

Both teams faced common opponents during the season, adding an interesting layer to their comparison:

Needham:

• Record Against Common Opponents: 2-0
• Notable Wins:
  • Central Catholic (31-7)
  • St. John’s Prep (22-14)

Xaverian Brothers:

• Record Against Common Opponents: 1-1
• Results:
  • Central Catholic (28-20 win)
  • St. John’s Prep (23-6 loss)

Needham’s 2-0 record against common opponents indicates their dominance over teams that Xaverian Brothers also faced. In contrast, Xaverian Brothers secured a win against Central Catholic but fell to St. John’s Prep, highlighting the contrast in their performance against shared adversaries.

Head-to-Head and Overall Comparisons

• Head-to-Head Record: No game played between Needham and Xaverian Brothers.
• Common Opponent Record: Needham led 2-0 while Xaverian Brothers had a 1-1 record.

Summary

Needham’s flawless season speaks volumes about their consistent excellence, especially in defense and balanced scoring. Xaverian Brothers, while showcasing offensive firepower and a perfect home record, struggled on the road, impacting their overall league record. Both teams demonstrated great potential, with Needham standing out as the unbeaten leader and Xaverian Brothers showing flashes of brilliance that indicate potential for future success.

The 2024-25 season was one to remember for both programs, and with each team’s performance, the future of Massachusetts high school football looks as competitive as ever.