JUPITER – Timing is everything.
For Jupiter Christian head coach Baz Alfred, it has been about paying dues and making steady improvements over the years.
This fall season has served as a major breakthrough for Alfred. His team’s most recent game resulted in a 42-0 home triumph over Boca Raton Christian in Week 5.
Alfred prefers to take a humble approach to his success.
“Our whole team executed the game plan we had for them,” the Eagles head coach said. “We prepared well. We thought it was going to be a dogfight. But our offense was hitting on all cylinders and our defense came through. Your big time players have to make big plays, and that’s what happened in this game.”
Jupiter Christian eighth grade quarterback Jorris Shephard threw five touchdowns passes, with at least two of them going to junior Jeremiah Augustin in this one.
In this case, Alfred gave a lot of credit to his offensive line for Shepard’s success.
“You have to keep the quarterback in the pocket and keep him clean,” Alfred said of his offensive line, which has allowed only two sacks in three games this season. “That’s how you can have success in the passing game.”
In Alfred’s three seasons at Jupiter Christian, he has gone from 1-9 (2019 season) to 3-3 (2020 season) and now a 3-0 record.
Jupiter Christian senior standout Brian LaFrance spoke on Alfred’s commitment to sustainable success.
“Coach Baz brings a championship mentality to our team and he has installed that in each player,” LaFrance said. “He continues to set the bar high and we as players strive to meet him there. He’s a phenomenal coach and one of the best coaches I have ever had.”
Alfred prefers to stay in the moment, one game at a time. As the team schedule moves on from Boca Raton Christian, the focus is now squarely on Inlet Grove (1-4).
The Jupiter Christian-Inlet Grove tilt for Week 6 is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Jupiter.
“They’ve been having a tough year,” Alfred said of Inlet Grove. “But I know how quickly things can change. They look impressive on film. It’s going to be an interesting week.”
ESPN 106.3 FM personality Chris Kokell has watched Alfred’s growth as a coach over the years. They were together at Forest Hill and Olympic Heights, when Kokell was the head coach and Alfred was an assistant coach.
Kokell spoke on Alfred’s success this season at Jupiter Christian.
“He’s doing a great job,” Kokell said. “He has rejuvenated that program, which has a full middle school team now too. He cares deeply about those kids. It’s bigger than football for Baz.”
For these aforementioned reasons and so much more, Alfred was selected by our voters as our Coach of Week 5.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jupiter Christian School
