Football Game Preview: Horizon Prep Lions vs. St. Joseph Academy Crusaders

Horizon Prep is 0-5 against St. Joseph Academy since September of 2018 but things could change on Friday. The Lions will square off against the Crusaders at 6:30 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Horizon Prep is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They took their game last Friday with ease, bagging a 62-24 win over Calvin Christian. The team's explosion on offense also rewarded the Lions with their most commanding win of the season.

Lochlan Church was his usual excellent self, rushing for 237 yards and five touchdowns while picking up 13.2 yards per carry, and also throwing for 64 yards and one TD on only six passes. His longest rush was for an impressive 53 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total. August Tag was another key player, gaining 168 total yards and a touchdown.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Horizon Prep was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 490 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since the start of last season.

Prad Parvataneni

Passes Defensed

10/17/25 @ Calvin Christian	1
10/10/25 @ Borrego Springs	2
10/03/25 vs Francis Parker	1

Horizon Prep didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. Church led the group effort, picking up two of those interceptions all by himself. Prad Parvataneni is also on a roll when it comes to defended passes, as he's now defended at least one in each of the last three games he's played.

St. Joseph Academy played against Calvin Christian on Friday and won via forfeit.

The victory (which was St. Joseph Academy's fifth in a row) raised their record to 7-1. The wins came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 9.6 points on average over those games. As for Horizon Prep, the victory got them back to even at 3-3.

Horizon Prep was taken down by St. Joseph Academy 66-6 in their previous matchup back in November of 2024. Can the Lions avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.