TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – During the preseason a lot of people around the Sunshine State thought Cocoa would be a runaway with Class 2S this year and a state championship.
However, it was all but a runaway for the Tigers who needed to fight to the finish and needed some extra time to complete a task they had not done since 2016 with a thrilling 38-31 OT victory over the hometown Florida High Seminoles who were seeking their first state championship in school history and marking the fifth time that Cocoa has won a state football championship.
BACK AND FORTH FIRST HALF FOR BOTH TEAMS
With Cocoa (11-3) winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half it was on the Seminoles to get the show going but after one first down on the opening possession, the Seminoles found themselves punting it off to the Tigers. However, Cocoa would do the same thing on their opening possession punting the ball right back to the Seminoles giving us an early taste of potentially just how great of a game we would have here at Gene Cox Stadium.
Florida High (14-1) with the ball in hand again couldn’t get anything going and gave the ball right back to the Tigers after attempting to go for it on fourth down from the Cocoa 36-yard line.
Florida High goes for it on 4th down and the pass is broken up by @CocoaFootball #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/xLidIYsulE
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
and that is when Blake Boda and company started putting things together on a 12-play, 54-yard drive that would be aided by a Dayday Farmer 23 yards catch to get the Tigers inside the red zone.
The Seminoles’ defense held up and forced the Tigers to settle for a Mao Saito 25-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 2:21 left in the first quarter.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Alex Ramirez drops in a 25 yard FG to give us the first points of the game…@CocoaFootball 3, @FloridaHighFB 0 – 2:21 1st Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/HDuy4WdPvS
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
With the ball back in Florida High’s hands at the end of the first quarter, the Seminoles were looking to generate something but coming out on the first playoff in the second quarter, Jeremey Johnston threw right into the lane of Cocoa cornerback Joshua Brown to set shop up for the Tigers at their own 20-yard line.
And we start second quarter with a pick by Joshua Brown for @CocoaFootball and the Tigers are back in business at their own 20 #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/t5yEKYeMPj
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Cocoa would not capitalize on the interception from Florida High and instead, after moving the ball only 27 yards, the Tigers punted the ball right back.
Getting the ball back for the Seminoles was the spark they were looking for that would be added on with a Michai Danzy 38-yard blast down the Seminoles sideline that would put the Seminoles inside Cocoa territory at the 35.
Michai Danzy for @FloridaHighFB breaks off a huge run here early in the 2nd Q after the Seminoles defense forced Cocoa to punt #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/q9HdxwM6f6
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Five plays later, Jalon Carter would find the endzone for the Seminoles, giving them their first lead of the night against the Tigers with a 7-3 lead with 7:29 left before halftime.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Jalon Carter in from 2 yards out for Florida High!@FloridaHighFB 7 @CocoaFootball 3 – 7:29 2nd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/pxtjcEx09g
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
The lead for the Seminoles wouldn’t last long at all though when Boda orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive for the Tigers that would be capped off with a 23-yard touchdown pass to CJ Bragg to give the Tigers a 10-7 lead with 4:31 before the half.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Blake Boda to CJ Bragg from 23 yards out and Tigers retake the lead! @CocoaFootball 10, @FloridaHighFB 7 – 4:31 2nd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/fJKl6dOYfp
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Florida High would punt on the ensuing drive, but the Seminole rattled Boda enough to see Donovan Barnes pick the pass for the Seminoles, giving them another shot of putting more points up on the board which they would do in just three plays with a Johnston 61-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Hampton to put the Seminoles up 14-10 over Cocoa, a lead they would care into the locker room at the half.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
And just like that Seminoles respond back… Jeremey Johnston pass to Ashton Hampton for 61 yards, taking advantage of the INT… @FloridaHighFB 14 @CocoaFootball 10 – 1:04 2nd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/5wKEyYi9lf
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
COCOA FLEXES BUT THEN PANDEMONIUM ENSUES
Cocoa came out of the locker room at half looking to get back in the lead and that is what they did in an 11-play, 78-yard drive that took almost four and half minutes off the third-quarter clock that would be aided by a huge 40-yard pass play from Boda to Farmer.
Huge pass play here by Blake Boda to Dayday Farmer for @CocoaFootball #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/sYkzjBizFz
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
That drive would be capped off with Boda going in for a seven-yard touchdown keep on third and goal to put the Tigers back up 17-14 over Florida High.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Blake Boda leads Cocoa to a TD on their first drive of the second half. Boda with the keeper for 7 yards on 3rd down
@CoocaFootball 17, FloridaHighFB 14 – 7:27 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/elNTJ4F2RY
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
The next drive for the Seminoles they would sure like to forget saw Johnston’s pass get intercepted by Caleb Dobbs at midfield who returned it for a 50-yard interception return touchdown that extended the lead for the Tigers to 24-14 with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Caleb Dobbs with a 50 yard Pick 6 for Cocoa!
@CoocaFootball 24, FloridaHighFB 14 – 5:04 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jED5l1 pic.twitter.com/C5UgA8ZDsV
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Determined to not let the interception return for a touchdown linger in their minds for very long, the Seminoles turned around and orchestrated a 66-yard drive in just eight plays that would be capped off with a Michai Danzy 24-yard touchdown run to make it 24-21 Cocoa going into the fourth quarter.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Michai Danzy with a big touchdown run and Florida High cuts the lead down to 3.
@CoocaFootball 24, @FloridaHighFB 21 – 1:51 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/TqMYMMytED
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
With the final quarter in play, Cocoa was looking to put the game away or at least make it more difficult for Florida High to make a comeback and would work towards a seven-play 94-yard drive that would be helped with a 34-yard Boda keeper.
Blake Boda with a huge keeper here for @CocoaFootball #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/e4QeHFQWWC
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
That drive would be capped off by a 29-yard Farmer touchdown that Florida High thought was over but was not blown dead by the officials which saw Farmer bounce off the ground and score to put the Tigers up 31-21 with 11:08 left to go.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Blake Boda to Dayday Farmer for a TD… and I think Florida High thought the play was over but it was not…
@CoocaFootball 31, @FloridaHighFB 21 – 11:08 4th Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/sV06jmSeBG
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Undetermined to be beaten on the biggest stage in front of a home crowd, the Seminoles battled back being down 10 with a 15-play, 59-yard drive that would take almost six minutes off the clock leaving some to wonder if Florida High had left enough time on the clock if they managed to stop Cocoa on their next drive with a chance for a potential comeback as they would boot in a Cole Allbaugh 30-yard field goal to cut the Tigers’ lead to 31-24 with 4:59 left to go.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Cole Allbaugh with a 30 yard FG for the Seminoles
@CoocaFootball 31, @FloridaHighFB 24 – 4:59 4th Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/SMiBmRNrSg
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
With the goal of keeping a potential comeback at bay Cocoa knew it needed to run the clock out and keep the Seminoles off, but two penalties on the drive with a delay of game and an illegal substitution aided in Florida High getting the Tigers offense back off the field when Boda went incomplete on a pass on third down that was intended for Farmer.
Blake Boda pass for Cocoa falls incomplete on 3rd down and the Tigers will punt with 2:23 left #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/cnxb8sNkyT
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Now with the ball back and only 2:07 left on the clock, time was of the essence for the Seminoles to at least potentially tie the game with a touchdown and a point after to force the possibility of overtime.
However, it was not going to be easy at all as Florida High found themselves facing a huge fourth down situation with 1:21 left after getting stuff on third down at their own 47.
Florida High stuffed on 3rd down… huge 4th down coming up for the Seminoles with the game on the line with 1:21 left #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/tZHAYptuZy
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
On fourth down Johnston threw the ball up down the left to Hampton but Cocoa was called for defensive pass interference that would give the Seminoles a free 15-yards and a first down at the Cocoa 42.
4th down pass play for Florida High is incomplete but Cocoa gets called for DPI… 1st down Seminoles #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/2KTtQVaAoI
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Cocoa would then on the next play give the Seminoles another free 15 yards when they committed a personal foul, setting up Florida High needing only 31 yards to get a touchdown with less than a minute to go.
Florida High would once again find themselves in a fourth-down situation after a third-down pass play from Johnston to Brooks Hickman was broken up by Brown with just around a dozen ticks left on the clock.
Incomplete pass on 3rd down pic.twitter.com/j183PezzlZ
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
It would be the fourth down play of all fourth down plays that would create pandemonium at the stadium when Johnston would find Rhyder Poppell from 15 yards out along with Allbaugh’s extra point attempt going through the upright with just 3.4 seconds left to go in the game.
TOUCHDOWN @FloridaHighFB WITH 3.4 SECONDS LEFT! WOW PANDEMONIUM HERE IN TALLAHASSEE! pic.twitter.com/HM6az3LZEp
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
OVERTIME SHOWS UP
For the first time since the Class 2B State Championship Game in 2010 that a state championship game went to overtime and with Florida High winning the overtime coin toss, the Seminoles went on defense first and forced Cocoa to make their statement first and the Tigers made it look easy with a Boda five-yard touchdown run that would put the Tigers up 38-31.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Blake Boda on 5 yard keeper TD! Florida High up next!@CocoaFootball 38, @FloridaHighFB 31 – 1st OT flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jED5l1 pic.twitter.com/V9lL3mgGS2
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
With their chance of tying the game up the Seminoles knew they needed to answer back and were starting to build something when Daiveon Parham for Cocoa came up with a fumble recovery as the Seminoles fumbled the ball to seal the victory for the Tigers.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Seminoles fumble and Cocoa wins first State Championship since 2016 in OT @CocoaFootball 38, @FloridaHighFB 31 – FINAL/OT flhsfb @HSFBamerica https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/LjwGvwu70n
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
STATS & FACTS
Boda finished the game with 256 yards passing, throwing for two touchdowns, one interception, and rushing for one more on the night. After looking at the final stat total, Boda finished the 2022 season with 4,028 yards passing, 49 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
BIG STAT ALERT: With @CocoaFootball QB @BlakeBoda throwing for 256 yards tonight, the QB hit 4,000 yards passing this season in 14 games played. Finished his senior year with 4,028 yards passing going 270-of-414 with a completion percentage of 65.2% and throwing 49 TDs & 11 INTs
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Another interesting fact that is tied to this overtime state championship game and the last time an overtime state championship game happened in 2010 was the fact that Cocoa Head Coach Ryan Schneider was the offensive coordinator at University School with a coach named Roger Harriott who is now the head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas.
@Cocoa_Schneider was the OC for that USchool Team! #FunFact https://t.co/VWrKM5x5LR
— Coach Franco (@adam_franco) December 10, 2022
WHAT’S NEXT FOR COCOA AND FLORIDA HIGH
Cocoa will have to find their next star quarterback during the offseason with Boda graduating but there are a lot of talented players still left on the Cocoa roster that will have the Tigers once again in the hunt for the Class 2S State Championship.
As for Florida High, a few of the stars of the team will be graduating as well, but there is also a lot of talent left and as they showed on the field on Friday night, the Seminoles will not be going anywhere come next season and showed they could compete with a program that is as of well statured like Cocoa.
