It’s a rivalry game and you know what that means.
Throw out the records.
Coaches from Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens would love to as each squad enters with 1-5 marks heading into Friday’s 5 Days 2 Friday special in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
But indeed, the marks mean little when these two Florida squads face off.
Palm Beach Gardens, a state champion four years ago, is riding high following a 13-0 win over Seminole Ridge last week.
Alex Clark rushed for 163 yards as the Gators ended a five-game losing skid. For the fifth time in six games the defense allowed 17 or less points.
It was a particularly good win for Palm Beach Gardens considering they lost to the same team 42-0 last year.
“If our offensive line and defense makes us go,” Palm Beach Gardens coach Chris Davis told MaxPreps reporter Karl Wilhelm. “We have to control the line to be successful.”
They controlled it last year, leading to a 27-10 victory over Jupiter. Jimmy Lera, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound running back, rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns.
“If we execute like we’re supposed to, if we carry out our blocks and play defense and do all the little things, we’ll be in good shape,” Lera said.
Teammate Carlos Dansby is very confident that Palm Beach Gardens will.
“We’re going to demolish them,” he said. “We haven’t lost to them since I’ve been here and we can’t start now.”
Jupiter is coming off a 45-18 loss to Palm Beach Lakes, but the week before the Warriors edged Royal Palm Beach 18-15.
The game will be played at a neutral field, Palm Beach Lakes, but that’s nothing new for PB Gardens. The Gators haven’t played a home game in four years since a hurricane demolished their football stadium.
Check out all the reports from Wilhelm and Nick Reasons throughout the week.
