Football Game Preview: Mountain Island Charter Raptors vs. Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons

The Mountain Island Charter Raptors will head out to take on the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Mountain Island Charter will be strutting in after a win while Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy will be coming in after a loss.

Mountain Island Charter took a loss when they played away from home last Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 14-0 victory over Albemarle.

It was another big night for Aamir Gilcreast, who rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown on only 12 carries.

Mountain Island Charter's run defense was locked in: Albemarle could only muster 1.9 yards per carry. The team can thank Ethan Cuadra for the heroic effort on defense: he. Mountain Island Charter didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 9.9.

Ethan Cuadra

Total Tackles

09/26/25 vs Albemarle	12
09/19/25 @ North Stanly	12
09/12/25 @ Christ the King	10
09/05/25 @ West Caldwell	10
08/22/25 vs Foard	13
+ 2 more games

Mountain Island Charter's defense didn't let Ray Blakeney, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for six sacks. The heavy lifting was done by Jason Eaton and Cuadra, who racked up five sacks between them. Cuadra is also on a roll when it comes to total tackles, as he's now made five or more in each of the last seven games he's played dating back to last season.

Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy ended up a good deal behind North Stanly on Friday and lost 23-6. While losing is never fun, the Gryphons can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina football rankings (they are ranked 334th, while the Comets are ranked 155th).

Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy's defeat dropped their record down to 3-2. As for Mountain Island Charter, their win bumped their record up to 2-3.

Mountain Island Charter came up short against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy when the teams last played back in March of 2021, falling 25-21. Thankfully for the Raptors, Bryce Jergenson (who rushed for 89 yards and a pair of scores, and also threw for 134 yards and one TD) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.