Bamarod

This reads like you do this for a living! Very impressive write-up.

Impressed with Vero in preseason game against Viera. Wish Viera had made up Osceola game giving me a solid viewpoint for possible Vero/Osceola matchup next week. I didn't see any weaknesses in Vero Beach and that was preseason, they are sure to have improved. Huge on O-line, Akeem incredible RB, complimentary passing game with big play potential and at very least can help move the sticks. Defense full of athletes, nice size on Dline. Depth of team, a strength, and size of depth had me jealous. Not surprised by success Vero Beach has had this season. Only caveat is the history of this school of having an incredible regular season and then exiting play-offs early. Been happening since the 80's. Good luck to them from here on out.

Once the football season is over, Viera will have their best Varsity squad ever. I know that history only goes back 12 years, but we are really excited about this team! Young also, only two seniors on roster.

I agree with you, Raiders probably go down, but I only watched Gibbons once on tv. Wasn't really paying attention either. LOL. Wonder if anyone has seen both teams and can give a more objective opinion of Gibbons strengths and weaknesses. I was confident until Rockledge scraped by last week against Palm Bay. Beat them by 5 tds in regular season and taken to overtime Friday. Having your team ready to play is on coaching and young Younger still finding his footing. Bottom line- if Rockledge plays to its potential it can beat anyone in that class on a given day. Or like Friday, almost lose to a team it has proven to be superior.

Agree, it's like they are just going through the motions, especially in the first half of games. Deciding at halftime if they need to turn it up a notch. Play-calling also seems to follow this pattern. They feel they don't have to be aggressive because they can out-physical you in the second half.

Memo: IMG is good. That is all.

This is no lie! Viera preseason game was incredible at Vero Beach. Most impressive atmosphere I have witnessed in years. Takes me back to everyone 's games in the 70"s. They do it right in Vero!

Just jump on the Viera bandwagon. WE don't have that Columbia tradition so plenty of room. Will be filling up quick so jump on while we have room! Columbia had a solid run, nothing to be embarrassed about. I haven't been this excited for a team since my Merritt Island Mustangs went back to state in 85? ish. Viera coaching staff has really done an incredible job developing talent.

You mean like Viera?

Revisit thread. Looks like tight game, lakeland squeaks by 17-13.

Agree, but as November weather cools like tonight, it won't have as much an effect.

Definitely sounds like a a heart-breaker. Sorry man.

Agree!

Columbia winning with 2:33 left. Big plays or a steady drive by Lincoln to steal win?

Rockledge trailed Palm Bay most of game. Came back and tied it in fourth. Sent game to OT, winning it 27-21. Give Palm Bay credit they were blown out by Raiders in regular season game 42-6. Rockledge lives for another week.

Don't know much about the program, but Gaither seemed to quit early and tons of personal fouls in second and third qt. Guess they are used to running it down the defense's throat. Couldn't handle Viera team speed on defense. QB DeMorat was 12-13 for 247 yds with 3 tds. and ran for another td in first half alone. Running clock entire second half. Plant game should be exciting next week!

Running clock again for Viera. QB DeMorat really catching fire at the right time for Hawks. Best he has ever looked, hitting multiple guys for long tds. Might of been a size disadvantage on defense for Viera but the major problem was lack of speed and athleticism for Gaither. Front 7 of Hawks lived in Gaither backfield all night. With not much of a passing threat , Viera defense teed-off on running game. Not sure if Gaither had 4 first downs of offense.

It would make sense to combine classes if weaker classes were not in the lower classes. We all agree that 3A and 4A are weak. What would adding these teams to a higher class give us as an end product? More bad teams added just dilutes the next class up,in this case class5A. When we do a reclassification leave all those teams, except quality ones mentioned, in lower classes. Now work a system in which 5A-8A gets more evenly divided, but when you take a good look seems like all these classes have multiple elites or at the least very good programs. Drop a couple of 8A to 7A, do the same from 6A to 5A , and the talent should be even. Before I looked, I thought Rockledge was in a northern region like Viera. Then you see they play a Gibbons-Jones winner in second round. Plenty of solid teams in each class, biggest problem is most elite talent is in south of state, which has been the stumbling block for brackets for the last 40 years. Tinker with moving some teams up or down a class to get more parity and everyone will scream "Foul". If there was an easy fix some smart guy would have come up with it way before this new play-off format was introduced!

Think Raines is best bet.. maybe hang for 3 qts. Cocoa will be too much.

Looks like a running clock second half. Tigers gonna be a tough out in 4A.

Venice over Viera in 7A. The V BOWL. Right teams just switch the outcome.

It should be packed at Viera this Friday night!!

Yeah, I got ahead of myself, after looking at the 5A bracket, not sure they have enough fire-power to go all the way. Didn't realize they play south teams(Cardinal Gibbons-Jones winner in 2nd, then Plantation just to get to semis. I think to beat those type teams you need at least a decent passing game to compliment a strong runnning game. They actually had a kid Adler who if not for shoulder issues would of been the answer at QB. As far as the ref issue, have talked to two people off this board that were at the game. They (Cocoa fans)are not happy, obvious bias, and don't think this outcome will die down anytime soon. One is a parent of a player, she even mentioned it was a specific ref not the whole crew. Just like guys on this board did. If true, a shame because I dealt with that crap in youth football refs in Rockledge. Guess some moved up to high school ball. Again, I coached kids on both teams and just wishing for a competitive game for the kids sake. Shame it was tainted.

If my son could get a scholarship to IMG would definitely encourage him. Might be different if I was too far away to see his games. They run the school like a college with tutors to pretty much guarantee quality education at next level. Most starters are looking at NFL careers but they all should take advantage of what their pre-college education could benefit them at the next level. And the dorm type setting gives the student an earlier start to being on their own. Speaking of my own immature antics that landed me in some hot water , being away from home for the first time.

Next week, Viera-Plant and Rockledge-Gibbons playing within 5 miles of each other, at the same time.