Cocoa Beats Florida High In OT

They had the “home field” advantage, fan support and unbeaten on the season but Cocoa's tough schedule throughout the year prepared them for a 2S state championship and came away with an exciting and heart-wrenching 38-31 overtime win over Tallahassee Florida High.

After a slow start, the Tigers entertained the Gene Cox Stadium crowd with an explosive offense and outdueled a team that had been a thorn in everyone's side all season.

The Seminoles (14-1) had been knocked out of the state championship by Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna two years ago as well as last year by Chaminade-Madonna in the state region finals. They had felt that they had a true opportunity to knock off head coach Ryan Schneider and his 11-3 Tigers, but it never happened as this senior class left disappointed after battling from start to finish.

With the teams combining for over 800 yards of offense and senior quarterback Blake Boda Blake Boda 6'4" | 190 lbs | QB Cocoa | 2023 FL getting it done with his arm and legs, the Tigers finally brought home a state title.

The Tigers scored first with 2:21 left in the opening quarter when Mao Saito connected on a 25-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Florida High took a 7-3 lead with 7:29 left in the second quarter when Jalon Carter took it in from the 2.

The Tigers took back the lead at the 4:31 mark of the second quarter on a 23-yard pass from Boda to C.J. Bragg C.J. Bragg 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Cocoa | 2024 FL for a 10-7 advantage.

The Seminoles came right back with 1:04 left on a 61-yard scoring strike from Jeremy Johnston Jeremy Johnston 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Florida State University FSUS | 2024 FL to Ashton Hampton and a 14-10 advantage.

At the half, Florida High was up 14-10. Boda was 15 of 25 for 139 yards and a score. Receiver DayDay Farmer had 6 receptions for 56 yards and Bragg caught three balls for 38 yards and a score. Anthony Bridgewater led all Tigers' ball carriers with 27 yards.

On defense, the Tigers had 7 tackles from Dai'veon Parham and 6 tackles from Samadrae Hawkins Samadrae Hawkins 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB Cocoa | 2024 FL . Joshua Brown came up with an interception.

For the Seminoles, Johnston was 8 of 11 for 106 yards and a score. Hampton caught 2 balls for 59 yards and a touchdown. Brooks Hickman came up with 4 catches for 41 yards. Micahi Danzy ran the ball 9 times for 94 yards.

On defense, D.J. Broxton had five tackles. Ashton Hampton, Christopher Cotton and Josiah Broxton had 4 first half tackles. Donovan Barnes Donovan Barnes 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Tallahassee Floridag | 2023 FL finished the first two quarters with an interception.

SECOND HALF TELL AN AMAZING STORY

The Tigers came out in the second half and took the lead back with 7:27 left in the third quarter on a 7-yard scoring run by Boda and a 17-14 advantage.

Cocoa kept the pressure on and went up 24-14 with 5:04 left in the third quarter when Caleb Dobbs Caleb Dobbs 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Cocoa | 2023 FL picked off Johnston and returned it 50 yards for a score.

The Seminoles came right back with 1:51 left in the quarter when Danzy took in 24 yards and Cut Cocoa's lead to 24-21.

Cocoa began the fourth quarter, going back up by 10 when Boda found Farmer from 29 yards out and a 31-21 advantage with 11:08 left.

The Seminoles continued to come right after the Tigers, ending a drive with 4:59 left with a 30-yard field goal by Cole Albaugh, cutting the lead to 31-24.

With the aid of a pass interference call, the Seminoles were able to tie the game in regulations with just :3 seconds left on a Johnston to Rhyder Poppell Rhyder Poppell 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Tallahassee Maclay | 2023 FL scoring strike from 15 yards out, sending the game into overtime – tied at 31-31.

In overtime, Cocoa scored on a 5-yard run by Boda. Saito's point after made it 38-31 and a 2S state title for the Tigers.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Cocoa finished with 27 first downs to 21 for Florida High. The Tigers ran for 143 yards and the Seminoles ended with 238. The Tigers had 256 passing yards and the Seminoles finished with 170. Cocoa had 399 total yards and Florida High ended with 408.

COCOA:

Individually, Boda was 23 of 35 for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns. He threw one interception.

Farmer had 11 catches for 145 yards and a score. Bragg also had a TD reception.

Boda led all runners with 79 yards and 2 scores.

Defensively, Parham finished with 15 tackles, Hawkins had 10 and, Jordon Holmes and Joshua Brown came up with 8 tackles.

Parham and Javion Hilson had a sack.

Brown and Caleb Dobbs Caleb Dobbs 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Cocoa | 2023 FL finished with one interception each.

FLORIDA HIGH:

Johnston finished 13 of 23 for 157 yards and two scores.

Hampton and Hickman each had 63 receiving yards.

Danzy had a huge night with 198 yards on the ground.

On defense, the Seminoles had 7 tackles from D.J. Broxton and Nias Dorsey. Cotton and Josiah Broxton had six tackles.

Cotton and Tay Young each had a sack.

TIGERS (11-3)

ORANDO JONES, L 29-19

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 42-14

COCOA SPACE COAST, W 76-0

Melbourne, W 44-3

Sanford Seminole, L 35-29 (OT)

TITUSVILLE, W 47-0

Titusville Astronaut, W 56-0

Palm Bay, W 35-0

ROCKLEDGE. W 28-20

DUNNELLON, W 52-6

PALM BAY, W 49-3

Bushnell South Sumter, W 35-7

Starke Bradford County, W 31-21

Tallahassee FSU High, W 38-31 OT

SEMINOLES (14-1)

OCALA TRINITY CATHOLIC, W 22-19

Ponte Vedra, W 24-13

PERRY TAYLOR COUNTY, W 48-0

HAVANA GADSDEN COUNTY, W 42-0

MADISON COUNTY, W 21-6

QUINCY MUNROE, W 42-7

Tallahassee Godby, W 51-7

Chiefland, W 42-21

Marianna, W 34-7

Tallahassee Lincoln, W, 10-9

SANTA ROSA BEACH SOUTH WALTON, W 63-44

PENSACOLA CATHOLIC, W 18-14

LIVE OAK SUWANNEE, W 38-13

Cocoa, L 38-31 (OT)

PHOTO COURTESY OF Joshua Wilson Joshua Wilson 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Navarre | 2025 FL , FloridaHSFootball.com

You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.