2015 Preview Guide: East Coast Region top games for 2015

August 28
Cocoa at Palm Bay
Note: This will be the first meeting between the two Brevard County programs since 2008 when Cocoa defeated the Pirates 28-0. That was also the first year of three that Cocoa went on to win a state championship under current head coach John Wilkinson. Game could go either way as both teams are now consider perennial playoff contenders.

South Fork at Jensen Beach
Note: An annual rivalry between these two Martin County schools which started in 2005, comes down to being a battle of the best of Martin County’s programs over the last few years. Although South Fork now holds a 6-4 lead in the series, Jensen Beach has won the last two by the scores of 36-35 (2013) and 33-14 (2014).

September 4
Bolles at Heritage
Note: This will be an early test for both teams as Bolles makes the 177 mile trip via Interstate 95 down to Palm Bay to take on the Panthers. Both teams might not have “brand name” talent, but both have returning talent that have made their teams in to playoff or state championship contenders over the last few years. Expect both teams to do battle in this one.

Lake Wales at Merritt Island
Note: Two of the most well known teams to have won multiple state championships will meet this year in Merritt Island. This will be a great test for both programs since it is early in the season that should both teams if they reach the playoffs this season.

September 11
Palm Bay at Bayside
Note: Teams may not be in the same district as they use to be a few years ago, but when you get two rivals in the same city meeting up, watch out! Last year Palm Bay blew out Bayside, which would be considered not the norm as how both teams are usually neck and neck trying to keep up with each other. Who ever wins this one will have a building block in place in towards reaching the playoffs.

Fort Pierce Central at Clewiston
Note: While Fort Pierce Central is coming off one of its most sluggish seasons over the last few years, they keep working hard at playing some of the best teams no matter the level. In this case, they will get an early test with Clewiston, who nearly topped Cocoa in the Class 4A Regional Finals last season. Both teams have talent, so it will be interesting to see exactly who will have the edge come game time.

September 18
Jensen Beach at Bayside
Note: This is a District 6A-14 contest and it couldn’t be more important than never to keep an eye on this game. For the winner, there will be more than just bragging rights. It will be an early lead into the district title race and for the loser it will put them a game back and putting the entire season on the line for the rest of the district schedule.

September 25
Viera at Cocoa
Note: These teams two teams last meet in 2008 where Cocoa won the game by a final score of 70-6. However, the Viera Hawks are a totally different team and program now with talent and a coach that has the program heading in the right direction. While Cocoa will be a tough test, we don’t expect this game to be nowhere near the 2008 score, but rather a much closer one for both teams.

Fort Pierce Central at Wellington
Note: Wellington finally draws a tough opponent from outside of Palm Beach County in Fort Pierce Central and this should certainly be a game to watch. While Wellington loses some of its players from its first ever regional finalist team from last season, both teams should be able to match up pretty competitively on the field for this one.

Palm Bay at Melbourne
Note: Rivalry showdown between two nearby programs only means that both teams will leave everything on the field when it comes to the game. Since 2004, Palm Bay has been 11-2 against Melbourne, but with fresh energy in a new coach at Melbourne, will the Bulldogs be able to bite back at the Pirates this year?

October 2
Jones at Astronaut
Note: Astronaut has struggled over the last few seasons, while Jones has found a rebound. With this game being a District 4A-5 contest, it will mean the season on the line for these two teams. Whoever wins this one is likely going to have a good chance of advancing with Cocoa to the playoffs.

Viera at Melbourne
Note: With Viera notching a win last year of Melbourne, it helped them win their first district championship in school history. With the district now just down to four teams, every game will be very important. The winner that comes out of this one not only builds more on to a growing a rivaly, they will take an early lead in District 7A-6.

October 9
Fort Pierce Central at American Heritage (Delray)
Note: Forget the classification number that is next to each team’s name in this one. This could be a battle for who wants this not district win the most. While both teams have talent, American Heritage, might just have the edge coming into this one … depending on how the first six weeks of the season start out.

October 16
Melbourne Central Catholic at John Carroll
Note: This is a game worth watching as this will likely decide the district champion and runner-up in District 3A-6. With the district being three teams at this particular point all games matter here and this one is the one that will matter the most for both teams.

October 23
Astronaut at Cocoa
Note: Either Astronaut has turned a corner here by this game or they will be fighting for the season come this game. Either way the game is likely to be more important for Astronaut than it could be for Cocoa, but none the less it is a district game and it matters!

Jensen Beach at Heritage
Note: A District 6A-14 showdown worth keeping an eye on. If Heritage is the team they say they are they could either keep things going towards another playoff appearance and keep Jensen Beach at bay with a win here. However, Jensen Beach is a team that can fight and they won’t take no for an answer from anyone.

Palm Bay at Merritt Island
Note: This could be a classic in the making as Palm Bay wants to reach the playoffs this year after being shutout of it for the first time in 19 years last season. If the Pirates are as solid as Coach Burke says they can be, there should be no reason they won’t have Merritt Island on its toes this season. Again this will be an important District 5A-14 contest.

October 30
Bayside at Heritage
Note: Depending on how things look come Week 10, this game could either be for the district championship in District 6A-14, a game that could send the district into tiebreaker mode or possibly a pride game for one of the two teams. Both teams advanced to the playoffs last year, but Bayside ran into some trouble late before reaching, so it should be fun to see how this all plays out.

Vero Beach at Fort Pierce Central
Note: While this game was the first district game for each team last year, it now becomes the last district game this year. For both teams, they could likely have both District 8A-8 playoff spots locked up with this game deciding the district championship.

Viera at South Fork
Note: This is another game in District 7A-6 worth keeping an eye on. This game could either be for a district championship or it could throw the district into a tiebreaker situation. Although Viera might be the better team on paper at this point. South Fork is a team that knows it can reach the playoffs and will have a new coach to help give a spark this season.

November 6
Fort Pierce Central at Bayside
Note: Either one or both teams could be playoff bound when this game comes, so if it is both, expect to see more of the backups play over the starters in resting for the playoffs the next week, otherwise if someone is playing for pride it could be a difference maker.

Palm Bay at Heritage
Note: A rivalry game for both teams in the Palm Bay-area and depending on how the season has gone for both could again either see more of the backups play in this one. However, this game will be one that both teams will leave it on the field as they try to claim they are the best in the Palm Bay-area.

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