CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: Powerhouse Cocoa looks to three-peat while first-time Gadsden County looks to shock the state

#3 COCOA TIGERS (10-3) VS. #1 GADSDEN COUNTY JAGUARS (HAVANA) (13-1)

• When: Thu. Dec 12
• Where: South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium, Miami
• Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Live Broadcast: NFHS Network – Click Here To Watch

COCOA TIGERS (10-3)

• Head Coach: Ryan Schneider (7th year, 74-18 overall)
• State Finals Appearances: 10 – 2008 (3A)*, 2009 (2A)*, 2010 (2A)*, 2016 (4A)*, 2017 (4A), 2018 (4A), 2021 (4A), 2022 (2S)*, 2023 (2S)*, 2024 (2A)

KEY PLAYERS

• #13 QB Brady Hart (Sr): Hart has thrown for 4,100 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions this season. Hart has received offers from Texas A&M, Michigan, Notre Dame, Clemson, and Miami.
• #5 WR Jayvan Boggs (Sr): Boggs leads the Tigers in receiving yards per game with 155.4. He has 2,020 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns this season. He is committed to Florida State after receiving offers from Missouri, UCF, Florida, and Ohio State. Boggs also has 2,058 all-purpose yards and 2,033 total yards this season.
• #4 RB Latrison Lane (Jr): Lane has rushed for 699 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. He also leads the Tigers in rushing yards per game with 53.8.
• #9 DE Javion Hilson (Sr): Hilson leads the Tigers with 17 sacks and 69 quarterback hurries. He also has three caused fumbles this season. Hilson is committed to Missouri after receiving offers from Michigan, Florida State, Texas, and UCF.
• #10 LB Tyion Jacobs (Jr): Jacobs leads the Tigers in tackles with 112 and 8.6 tackles per game. He has received an offer from Georgia State.

2024 RESULTS – HOW THEY GOT HERE

*– District Game
***– Playoff Game

• 8/23 vs. Titusville, 42-10 (W)
• 8/30 at Mainland (Daytona Beach), 51-0 (W)
• 9/6 at IMG Academy (Bradenton), 34-13 (L)
• 9/13 vs. Heritage (Palm Bay), 39-13 (W)
• 9/20 at Venice, 54-51 (L)
• 9/27 BYE
• 10/4 vs. Miami Norland, 33-14 (L)
• 10/11 BYE
• 10/18 at The Villages, 54-0 (W)*
• 10/25 vs. Astronaut (Titusville), 48-0 (W)*
• 11/1 vs. Rockledge, 37-0 (W)
• 11/8 BYE
• 11/15 vs. Lake Placid, 63-0 (W)***
• 11/22 vs. Berkeley Prep (Tampa), 37-12 (W)***
• 11/29 vs. Newberry, 40-3 (W)***
• 12/6 at Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota), 31-21 (W)***

TEAM STATS

• Passing Yards: 3710
• Passing Yards per Game: 309.2
• Rushing Yards: 1425
• Rushing Yards per Game: 118.8
• Rushing Yards per Carry: 5.8
• Receiving Yards per Catch: 17.2
• Yards per Game: 427.9
• Sacks: 33
• Interceptions: 10
• Fumble Recoveries: 13
• Caused Fumbles: 12
• Punt Average: 41.8
• Kickoff Return Average: 15.8
• Punt Return Average: 18.0
• Average Score: 45.5

GADSDEN COUNTY JAGUARS (HAVANA) (13-1)

• Head Coach: Russell Ellington (2nd year, 19-5 overall; 3rd year as head coach, 26-9 overall)
• State Finals Appearances: 1 – 2024 (2A)

KEY PLAYERS

• #10 QB Landon Dougherty (So): Dougherty has thrown for 1,450 yards, 17 touchdowns, and four interceptions this season. Dougherty has received offers from Central Michigan and Duke.
• #3 RB Kemarrion Battles (Sr): Battles leads the Jaguars in rushing with 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also has 1,477 all-purpose and total yards this season. He leads the Jaguars in rushing yards per game with 150.8.
• #1 ATH Jeremiah Thomas (Sr): Thomas leads the Jaguars in receiving yards per game with 91.0. He has 819 receiving yards and eight touchdowns this season. He has received an offer from Southern Alabama.
• #8 ATH Daylen Green (Jr): Green is second on the team in tackles with 77 and 9.6 tackles per game. He has received offers from Southern Alabama, UCF, Memphis, Louisville, and West Virginia.
• #11 OLB Byron Jackson (Sr): Jackson leads the Jaguars with 10 sacks.

2024 RESULTS – HOW THEY GOT HERE

* – District Game
*** – Playoff Game

• 8/23 at Tift County (GA), 45-7 (W)
• 8/30 at McCallie (TN), 27-23 (W)
• 9/6 vs. Godby (Tallahassee), 48-7 (W)
• 9/13 at Coffee (GA), 27-14 (L)
• 9/20 at Seminole Co (GA), 60-7 (W)
• 9/27 vs. Impact Christian (Jacksonville), 1-0 (Forfeit) (W)
• 10/4 at Lincoln (Tallahassee), 31-21 (W)
• 10/11 at Florida High (Tallahassee), 42-11 (W)*
• 10/18 BYE
• 10/25 BYE
• 11/1 at Wakulla (Crawfordville), 49-6 (W)
• 11/4 vs. Taylor County (Perry), 14-0 (W)*
• 11/15 vs. Baldwin, 48-7 (W)***
• 11/22 vs. Florida High (Tallahassee), 42-11 (W)***
• 11/29 vs. Bolles (Jacksonville), 21-9 (W)***
• 12/6 vs. Booker T. Washington (Miami), 47-27 (W)***

TEAM STATS

• Passing Yards: 1450
• Passing Yards per Game: 111.5
• Rushing Yards: 2656
• Rushing Yards per Game: 204.3
• Rushing Yards per Carry: 11.1
• Receiving Yards per Catch: 19.4
• Yards per Game: 315.8
• Sacks: 29
• Interceptions: 7
• Fumble Recoveries: 2
• Caused Fumbles: 1
• Punt Average: N/A
• Kickoff Return Average: N/A
• Punt Return Average: 33.0
• Average Score: 37.5

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME

This Class 2A state championship game will be a matchup between two of Florida’s top programs in the classification. Cocoa will try to win its tenth state championship game, seeking its seventh state title in program history. Gadsden County will try to secure its first-ever state championship title in its first appearance.

A key factor in this game will be Cocoa’s ability to limit the effectiveness of Gadsden County’s strong rushing attack. Gadsden County averages 204.3 rushing yards per game, led by senior running back Kemarrion Battles, who has 1,357 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns this season. If Cocoa can contain Battles and force Gadsden County into passing situations, it will play to their defensive strengths. Conversely, Gadsden County’s defense will need to find ways to disrupt Cocoa’s passing game. Cocoa averages an impressive 309.2 passing yards per game.

Junior quarterback Brady Hart has been exceptional, throwing for 4,100 yards and 39 touchdowns. His primary target, senior wide receiver Jayvan Boggs, averages 155.4 receiving yards per game. Gadsden County will need to pressure Hart and limit Boggs’ opportunities to make big plays.

Finally, turnovers and special teams play could also have a significant impact on the outcome. In a game expected to be closely contested, any mistake could be crucial. The team that can win the turnover battle and make key plays on special teams will have a significant advantage.

PREDICTIONS

Josh’s Pick: Cocoa
Chris’s Pick: Cocoa
Reno’s Pick: Cocoa
Massey Predictions (via On3): Cocoa 35, Gadsden County 26

An asterisk (*) next to a year in the State Finals Appearances section indicates the team was the state champion that year.