High School Team Preview: Park Place Christian Crusaders

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering AJ30 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> Entering the MAIS in 2017, Park Place Christian has been working towards becoming one of the many powers of the conference. Last season, the team won their first playoff game in school history against Copiah Academy. This year, Park Place Christian will look to make an even deeper playoff run in what will be a very competitive MAIS. <em><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></em> Finishing the regular season at 5-5, Park Place Christian made the playoffs and won their first game in program history. Following that, the season ended with a 49-14 loss to semifinalist Lamar. Last year’s team was led by a loaded senior class that contributed across the board. Many of the key members of the backfield and defensive line were lost to graduation, but the young talent on this team looks ready to replace them. On the offensive side of the ball, senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104077" first="Bryson" last="Shupe"]</strong> will look to cap off an impressive high school career. Shupe has a big arm and is capable of airing out the football deep. His go to receiver is senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158985" first="Josh" last="Sykes"]</strong>.  Sykes is a big and long receiver who catches anything that is thrown his way. These two combined for a ton of production last season and will look to repeat last year’s success on the field this season. On the ground, the Crusaders will look to replace several running backs who have since graduated. The team will rely on members of the rising senior and junior classes to take over. The offensive line will look to add members as well, but returns senior stand out <strong>Zac Morgan</strong>. Morgan also plays basketball for Park Place Christian and will have a ton of athletic upside at offensive tackle. This unit will look to keep the Crusaders in games this season and will lean on the arm of Shupe tremendously. On the defense, Park Place Christian loses many key members of the defensive line and will rely on young players to step up. The Crusaders may depend on their offensive linemen to play both ways due to the depth at the position. At linebacker, this problem does not exist. Backer <strong>Brendon McCullough</strong> is one of the best players on defense and routinely makes tackles in opposing teams’ backfields. This guy is all over the place and absolute problem to scheme around. Similar to the defensive line, the Crusaders will have their receivers also play at defensive back this year. Sykes will most likely be asked to cover teams number ones, as he did a very good job last season. With a lot of guys playing both ways, it’s going to be exciting to watch players have a ton of overall production this year. All in all, this is a team that will be depending a lot on its rising seniors to make a run at the MAIS title. This senior class has been through it all and will make it their mission to make it two straight years with a playoff win. <em><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></em> <strong>William Gaughf</strong> | 2023 OL Young kid who played last year as a sophomore. Will be counting on him to be one of the key trench players on offense and defense. <strong>Braden Stewart</strong> | 2022 WR Teams second leading receiver from last season. Great No. 2 option for Shupe to throw to in what should be a high volume passing year. <strong>MIles Owens</strong> | 2022 DB Defensive back that racked up a lot of tackles last year. <em><strong>GAMES TO WATCH</strong></em> <strong>8/27 Central Hinds Academy (A) -</strong> This one came close last season, but the Crusaders won 19-18. Look for another competitive matchup between these two teams early in the season. <strong>10/1 Simpson Academy (H)</strong> - Park Place Christian took a beating Simpson last season. This year, they will look for vengeance in an important region game. <strong>10/8 Lamar (A)</strong> - Lamar kicked the Crusaders out of the playoffs last season. Park Place Christian will have another revenge game here that will most likely matter for playoff seeding this season.