A very fun matchup in the 561 is set to take place on Thursday night!

Palm Beach Lakes and Jupiter, both 2-0 on the season, are set to battle in one of the better Week 3 matchups in the area. Both teams have plenty of talent, ranging from the Warriors’ Nick Bothe and Brendan Hollinger to the Rams’ Ryan Ferdinand and Raphael Acker.

There is plenty to dive into ahead of this game! It is time for another New Era Prep game preview, this time for Palm Beach Lakes vs. Jupiter!

Players to Watch: Jupiter

• Nick Bothe, ATH: One of the best and most versatile players in the area, Bothe is a massive piece of everything Jupiter does on the football field. Offensively, Bothe is extremely skilled as a runner and a pass catcher. He can make big plays happen in the open field or churn out tough yardage in key spots. Bothe has great speed and overall athleticism, thriving in every aspect of offense. Defensively, the Jupiter standout is a ball hawk and a very consistent tackler. In their game against Palm Beach Lakes, the Warriors will need Bothe at his best on both sides of the ball.
• Brendan Hollinger, ATH: Another player who thrives on both sides of the ball, Brendan Hollinger has been off to a great start in 2026. Defensively, Hollinger is a very willing tackler and can provide some nice coverage. At wideout, though, Hollinger has really had a chance to shine. The Jupiter standout has shown great speed, big-time route running, and impressive hands. He is a player that can change games in an instant, and Jupiter will need him to produce against Palm Beach Lakes.
• Jordan Dale, ATH: Dale is a two-way player for the Warriors, and he specifically thrives on defense in the secondary. In Jupiter’s spring game, Dale provided great coverage reps on a consistent basis. He has impressive ball skills, can run with wideouts, and is a very solid tackler. Dale provides special teams value as well, showcased by him notching multiple return touchdowns in Week 0. He is a very fun chess piece for the Warriors in this matchup.

Players to Watch: Palm Beach Lakes

• Ryan Ferdinand, WR: The Colorado commit is off to a fantastic start to his 2026 season. Ferdinand has had at least 80 yards and a touchdown in the past two weeks. Against Lakeland, the wideout went for 130 yards and a touchdown, helping the Rams secure a 58-47 victory. Ferdinand has the speed, route running, and hands to make plays all over the field. More impressively, the wideout has zero fear over the middle of the field, showing off a great ability to make contested catches. Ferdinand is one of my favorite players in the area, and I am excited to see how he continues a great start to his senior season.
• Raphael Acker, DL: On the defensive side of the ball, Raphael Acker is a force for Palm Beach Lakes in the trenches. Against Sarasota last week, the defensive lineman had 1.5 sacks, playing a huge role in the Rams’ second victory of the year. The highly-regarded 2028 prospect can blow up plays against the run and use his power to dominate as a pass rusher. Not many players can handle a player of Acker’s skill set in the trenches, and it will be fun to see him build upon his good start to his 2026 season in Week 3.
• Jordan Johnson, QB: Palm Beach Lakes has been scoring points in bunches, and quarterback Jordan Johnson has been a major part of that reality. In both Week 1 and Week 2, Johnson threw for over 300 yards and five touchdowns. In a high-scoring affair against Sarasota in Week 2, Johnson’s 305 yards and five touchdowns were instrumental in the team’s 58-47 win. The senior quarterback has a cannon for an arm and has the ability to throw with touch to all levels of the field. Johnson will look to continue a breakout campaign in Week 3 against Jupiter.

Keys to Victory: Jupiter

• Get the Ball to the Playmakers: In this matchup with Palm Beach Lakes, Jupiter needs to consistently get the ball ot their playmakers on offense. Specifically, they need to funnel touches to the likes of Nick Bothe and Brendan Hollinger. Both players have the talent to make big plays against any opponent and can carry their team down the field. Execution will also be paramount in this game, but the more touches Bothe and Hollinger have, the better this game will go for Jupiter.
• Avoid Mental Mistakes: Against a team with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, Jupiter needs to execute at the highest level possible. More importantly, though, they need to avoid mental mistakes against Palm Beach Lakes. Whether it is penalties after the whistle, blown assignments, or miscommunications, Jupiter needs to avoid the types of backbreaking miscues that give their opponent extra chances. On-field mistakes will happen, but they cannot be exacerbated by extra mistakes or mental mistakes. How Jupiter fares in this regard will heavily impact the result of this game

Keys to Victory: Palm Beach Lakes

• Win in the Defensive Trenches: Jupiter’s offense is very explosive, especially in the passing game. As a result, Palm Beach Lakes needs to win in the defensive trenches on a consistent basis. Led by the likes of Raphael Acker, the Rams will need to get after the quarterback on a consistent basis, forcing him off of his spot when trying to throw deeper down the field. The more important element may be stopping the run; if Palm Beach Lakes stuffs run attempts, they will force Jupiter into those key, passing-down-only situations. It will be interesting to see how the Rams execute in this regard; they have the talent to make things happen, but it will not be an easy task against Jupiter.
• Apply Pressure on Offense: Palm Beach Lakes has the offensive talent to compete with a wide array of teams in the area, including Jupiter. On Thursday night, the Rams need to play aggressively and apply pressure to the Warriors early in the game. The passing game, as it has in the last two weeks, needs to be firing on all cylinders. The rushing attack needs to build upon the success it had against Sarasota last week. Star playmakers like Ryan Ferdinand need to be involved early and often. An ideal start to this game for the Rams would involve an early score or two, forcing Jupiter to have to play the game on the terms of their opposition. How Palm Beach Lakes goes about their game on offense will be a major thing to watch on Thursday night.