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| 09/28/24 - Home | 38-8 W |
| 11/04/22 - Home | 44-7 W |
| 09/10/21 - Home | 54-6 W |
Ocala Christian has gone a perfect 3-0 against Real Life Christian Academy recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Crusaders will challenge the Raptors at 7:00 p.m. Ocala Christian has given up an average of 28.2 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Ocala Christian is probably headed into the matchup with a chip on their shoulder considering Lake Mary Prep just ended the team's six-game winning streak last Friday. They lost to the Griffins at home by a 40-24 margin.
Ocala Christian might have lost, but man, Derrick Mcgill was a machine: he rushed for 194 yards and three scores while picking up 8.1 yards per carry. Mcgill didn't just play on offense: he also picked up a sack and made ten total tackles (2.0 for loss). Another player making a difference was Vincent Perrella, who rushed for 79 yards and one TD on only eight carries.
Even if they lost, Ocala Christian's defensive line still kept up the pressure with three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Mcgill, Dylan Foster, and Hector Molina, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, Real Life Christian Academy strolled into their game on Friday with a perfect record and they left with the same. They blew past City of Life Christian Academy, posting a 45-8 victory. Considering the Raptors have won six contests by more than 19 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Ocala Christian better keep an eye on Caleb Burden. He was instrumental in Real Life Christian Academy's win, rushing for 66 yards and one touchdown on only six carries, while also throwing for 116 yards and a pair of TDs on only nine passes. Noah McMann was in the mix too, providing the Raptors with two scores.
Real Life Christian Academy didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited City of Life Christian Academy to a completion percentage of just 40.9%. The Raptors weren't nearly as limited: they posted one of 66.7%.
Real Life Christian Academy didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Gavin Rose and McMann.
Ocala Christian's defeat was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 6-3. As for Real Life Christian Academy, their win bumped their record up to 8-0.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Ocala Christian has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 410.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Real Life Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 225.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Ocala Christian against Real Life Christian Academy in their previous matchup back in September of 2024, as the team secured a 38-8 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Crusaders since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
