NO. 3 COCOA (10-3) vs. NO. 1 FLORIDA HIGH (TALLAHASSEE) (14-0)
WHAT: FHSAA Class 2S State Championship
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m. ET
WHERE: Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee
TICKET INFO: Go Fan ($14 per game advance purchase & $17 day of)
INTERNET STREAM: Spectrum Cable ($9.95 fee per game)
ABOUT COCOA
COACH: Ryan Schneider, 5th year (48-8 at Cocoa)
ROAD TO TALLAHASSEE: d. Dunnellon, 52-6 (Regional Quarterfinals); d. Palm Bay (Melbourne), 49-3 (Regional Semifinals); d. South Sumter (Bushnell), 35-7; d. Bradford (Starke), 31-21 (State Semifinals)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Cocoa is 4-3 in state championship games. They finished as state champions in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2016. They finished as runners-up in 2017, 2018, and 2021.
KEY PLAYERS: QB Blake Boda, Sr. (247-of-379 passing, 3,772 yds, 47 TDs; 48 car, 131 yds, 3 TDs); WR Ric’Darious Farmer, Jr. (52 rec, 793 yds, 9 TDs); WR Kyon Calhoun, Sr. (31 rec, 407 yds, 9 TDs); WR Jaden Edgecombe, Sr. (33 rec., 391 yds, 4 TDs); WR Jayvan Boggs, So. (39 rec, 702 yds, 6 TDs); LB Sumadre Hawkins, Jr., (95 tackles, 12 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 1 Int, 3 FR, 5 FF, 1 blocked kick); WR/FS Cedrick Hawkins, Sr. (38 rec, 671 yds, 5 TDs; 3 rushing TDs; 50 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBUs, 1 FF 2 blocked kicks); DE Da’Varrius Robertson, Jr. (40 tackles, 20 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries); DE Loren Ward, Jr. (34 tackles, 14 TFL, 9 sacks, 6 QB hurries); LB Da’Vion Parham, Jr. (86 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FR); DB Caleb Dobbs, Sr. (53 tackles, 2 INTs, 4 PBUS, 1 FR, 1 blocked kick); DB Jordan Holmes, Sr. (33 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 FF, 1 blocked punt); K Mao Salto (Avg of 55.9 yards per kickoff, 59-of-61 on PATs, 3-of-7 on FGs, long of 32)
SCORING AVERAGES: Points For: 39.6 ppg; Points Against: 12.8 ppg
FLORIDAHSFOOTBALL.COM INTERVIEW WITH COACH SCHNEIDER
ABOUT FLORIDA HIGH
COACH: Jarrod Hickman, 18th year (155-65 at Florida High)
ROAD TO TALLAHASSEE: d. South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach), 63-44 (Regional Quarterfinals); d. Pensacola Catholic, 18-14 (Regional Semifinals); d. Suwannee (Live Oak), 38-13 (Regional Finals); d. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers), 38-28 (State Semifinals)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Florida High is 0-1 in state championship games. They finished as runners-up in 2019.
KEY PLAYERS: DB Donavon Barnes, Sr. (34 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 4 PBUs); OLB/DE Ryan Knight, Sr. (91 tackles, 20 TFL, 11 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 1 PBU, 4 FF); RB/TE Rhyder Poppell, Sr. (101 car, 975 yds, 13 TDs; 16 rec, 288 yds, 5 TDs); ILB Chris Cotton, Sr. (96 tackles, 18 TFL, 4 sacks, 5 QB hurries, 2 PBUs); WR/ATH Brooks Hickman, Sr. (61 rec, 864 yds, 7 TDs; 9 car, 124 yds, 2 TDs); OC Stevie Simpson, Sr. (86% blocking grade, 30 pancakes); RB Micahi Danzy, Jr. (170 car, 1,585 yds, 17 TDs; 100 yds rec, 1 TD); WR Ashton Hampton, Jr. (32 rec, 630 yds, 9 TDs); DT Eli Williams, Sr. (75 tackles, 25 TFL, 5 sacks, 11 QB hurries, 1 FR); OT Mark Faircloth, Jr. (89% blocking grade, 30 pancakes); QB Jeremy Johnston, Jr (159-of-241 passing, 2,434 yds, 23 TDs, 8 INTs); OG Colin Bishop, Jr. (87% blocking grade, 35 pancakes); LB Josiah Broxton, So. (102 tackles, 16 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 QB hurry, 1 INT, 3 PBUs, 1 FF); DB DJ Broxton, Sr. (66 tackles, 2 TFL, 9 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 FF); DT Maurice Adams Jr., So. (90 tackles, 16 TFL, 5 sacks, 17 QB hurries, 1 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF); LB Darrick McGhee Jr., Jr., (91 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 QB hurry, 3 PBUs, 1 FF); DB Tyson Howard, Jr. (74 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INTs, 9 PBUs)
SCORING AVERAGES: Points For: 35.2 ppg; Points Against: 13.4 ppg
FLORIDAHSFOOTBALL.COM INTERVIEW WITH COACH HICKMAN
PREVIEW
Cocoa comes into this state championship looking to get the school’s first state championship since the 2016 season while Florida High is seeking its first-ever state championship. When looking at both teams here they are very similar in terms of scoring points and how much they allow each game. However, that might be where the similarities could end as Cocoa has the leading passer in the state this year in Blake Boda and his hitting the 4,000-yard mark in this game Is not a far-fetched possibility. However, breaking the state record of passing touchdowns in a single season might be a more far-fetched possibility. Also, keep in mind that Boda has a plethora of receivers to get things out to and make life miserable for any team that does not figure out how to stop the long connections which is what Boda is known for. For Florida High, they are going to need to play a perfect game here and not make mistakes on both sides of the ball. While Johnston and Danzy are solid players they will need to be quick as the Cocoa defense has been relentless, especially during the second half of the season. A home crowd will be to the Seminoles’ advantage, but that might not be enough to overcome what is facing them on the opposite side with the Tigers coming into Tallahassee.
PREDICTION
Cocoa 34, Florida High 24
