Football Game Preview: First Baptist Saints vs. Mercy Culture Prep Royals

For the first time this season, First Baptist will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will be playing in front of their home fans against the Mercy Culture Prep Royals at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Mercy Culture Prep will be up against a hot First Baptist squad: the team just extended their winning streak to three. The Saints simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat Covenant Christian 49-6. That looming 49-6 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Saints yet this season.

Dylan Jones

Passing Touchdowns (Career)

09/19/25 vs Covenant Christian	5
09/12/25 @ Covenant	4
09/04/25 @ Grace Community	4
08/29/25 vs Bishop Lynch	4
11/22/24 vs Mercy Culture Prep	4

A big part of First Baptist's victory came down to the chemistry between Dylan Jones and his top target Lincoln Schleif. Jones threw for 255 yards and five touchdowns while completing 78.3% of his passes while Schleif picked up 145 receiving yards and three TDs. Those five passing touchdowns gave Jones a new career-high. Hardin Brown got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

First Baptist didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Micah Foster and Brown. First Baptist got some further help from Camp Pugh: he picked up 2.5 sacks and made five total tackles (3.0 for loss).

Meanwhile, Mercy Culture Prep came up short against Coram Deo Academy on Friday and fell 48-35. The Royals have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

First Baptist will need to focus on slowing down Gage Seely, one of several Mercy Culture Prep players who made an impact when they last played. He threw for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns while completing 77.3% of his passes, and also punched in one rushing score.

Mercy Culture Prep's defeat dropped their record down to 2-2. As for First Baptist, their win bumped their record up to 3-1.

Everything came up roses for First Baptist against Mercy Culture Prep in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 58-14 victory. Do the Saints have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Royals turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.