Football Game Preview: Tradition Prep Pirates vs. Jupiter Christian Eagles

After each having a week off, the Tradition Prep Pirates and the Jupiter Christian Eagles will shake off the rust and duke it out at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Last Friday, Tradition Prep needed a bit of extra time to put away Legacy. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 14-12 win over the Lions. The score was all tied up 6-6 at the break, but the Pirates were the better team in the second half.

Meanwhile, Jupiter Christian entered their tilt with Master's Academy last Friday with three consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with four. They blew past the Patriots 42-20. Considering the Eagles have won three games by more than 19 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.

Tradition Prep better focus on containing Dorian Fauntleroy and Randolph Jr Wilkerson as the pair were huge in Jupiter Christian's win. Fauntleroy rushed for 53 yards and one TD on only six carries, while Jr Wilkerson rushed for 125 yards and a pair of scores. Jr Wilkerson is also crushing it when it comes to rushing touchdowns: he's punched in at least two every time he's taken the field this season. Cayden Alula did his part to keep the secondary busy, picking up 126 receiving yards.

Jupiter Christian didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Master's Academy to a completion percentage of just 21.7%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from two players: Quintin White Jr and Travis King, who each logged two passes deflected. Jupiter Christian has been improving in that area: they had allowed a completion percentage of 0.63 earlier this season, but they've only allowed one of 0.63 in their last three games.

Jupiter Christian didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. White Jr led the group effort, picking up two of those interceptions all by himself.

Tradition Prep's record now sits at 2-4. As for Jupiter Christian, their record is now 5-1.

Tradition Prep was taken down by Jupiter Christian 46-6 in their previous meeting back in September of 2024. Can the Pirates avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.