Tough Schedule Helps Cocoa

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a tough loss in the state title game last year to Fort Lauderdale, Cocoa head football coach <strong>Ryan Schneider</strong> felt that his team benefitted from playing a rugged schedule and could have easily beaten Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that loss fresh in his mind, the one-time UCF standout quarterback started to put his schedule together for 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While local programs such as Melbourne, Palm Bay and the annual BBQ Bowl against Rockledge were automatic, he wanted to keep that schedule competitive – and with national powerhouse Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, where he was an Offensive Coordinator, Orlando Jones and Sanford Seminole, he was set to play some impressive teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While they lost in overtime to Sanford Seminole, dropped a tough one to Jones and felt the wrath of St. Thomas Aquinas, it got the Tigers ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riding a seven-game winning streak, this team takes to the road once again tonight (7:00) against unbeaten Tallahassee Florida High at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, this team believes they can bring home a 2S state crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year has watched a strong senior class lead the way – like state passing leader <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128298' first='Blake' last='Boda']</strong> (6-4, 185), who came from Daytona Beach Seabreeze and ended up throwing for 4,000 yards and establishing himself as one of the best in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But Boda wasn't the only show for this team. Other Class of 2023 prospects also made an impression. Players such as <strong>Alan Bailey</strong> (RB, 5-8, 186), <strong>Anthony Bridgewater</strong> (RB, 6-0, 205), <strong>Kyon Calhoun</strong> (WR, 6-5, 185), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128760' first='Caleb' last='Dobbs']</strong> (DB, 6-0, 160), <strong>D'Andrevius Dorsey</strong> (DL, 6-0, 265), <strong>Jaden Edgecombe</strong> (WR, 5-10, 170), <strong>Cedrick Hawkins</strong> (S, 6-0, 175), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128776' first='Jordan' last='Holmes']</strong> (DB, 6-2, 175), <strong>Rodennique Pratt</strong> (OL, 6-2, 265), <strong>Alex Ramirez</strong> (PK, 6-0, 215) and defensive back <strong>Jameer Smith</strong> (6-1, 175).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE TIGERS HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As good as this team was this season, you can expect to see things remain the same for the future – with Class of 2024 juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='951719' first='C.J.' last='Bragg']</strong> (Athlete, 5-11, 165), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1551148' first='Jaden' last='Brown']</strong> (Slot, 5-6, 140), <strong>Joshua Brown </strong>(OLB, 5-11, 175), <strong>Nathan Chaisson</strong> OLB, 5-11, 180), game-changer <strong>DayDay Farmer</strong> (WR, 6-0, 170), standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404257' first='Samadrae' last='Hawkins']</strong> (LB, 5-11, 225), Jonathan Joiner Jr. (OT, 6-2, 275), <strong>Jamez Nunnally</strong> (OG, 6-2, 230), <strong>Dai'veon Parham</strong> (Edge, 6-3, 205), <strong>Da'Varrius Robertson </strong>(DL, 6-1, 267) and offensive lineman <strong>Messiah Robinson</strong> (OL, 6-3, 260).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other juniors who have made an impression include <strong>Mao Saito</strong> (PK, 6-0, 177), <strong>Damian Seymour</strong> (OL, 6-4, 320), <strong>Jayshawn Smith</strong> (WR, 6-1, 180), <strong>Xavier Solis</strong> (OL, 6-3, 315), <strong>Ryder Varis </strong>(WR, 6-0, 185), <strong>Cedric Walker</strong> (DT, 6-3, 260) and defensive lineman <strong>Loren Ward</strong> (6-3, 270).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class of 2025 sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='953682' first='Jayvan' last='Boggs']</strong> (WR, 6-1, 178), <strong>Nathan Chaisson</strong> (DB, 5-11, 180), <strong>Malachi Coney </strong>(RB, 5-9, 185), <strong>Jaquez Henderson</strong> (DB, 5-11, 175), <strong>Javion Hilson</strong> (DE, 6-5, 230), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128073' first='Jaquez' last='Joiner']</strong> (CB, 6-0, 170), <strong>Don'Tavian Sloan</strong> (RB), <strong>Xadrian Smith</strong> (DE, 5-11, 235) and receiver <strong>Nicholas Teeler</strong> (WR, 5-8, 160) are solid. So are Class of 2026 freshmen <strong>C.J. Hester</strong> (WR, 6-1, 175) and <strong>Tremain Wells</strong> (DL, 5-9, 240).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COCOA TIGERS (10-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ORANDO JONES, L 29-19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 42-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>COCOA SPACE COAST, W 76-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Melbourne, W 44-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sanford Seminole, L 35-29 (OT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TITUSVILLE, W 47-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Titusville Astronaut, W 56-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Palm Bay, W 35-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ROCKLEDGE. W 28-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DUNNELLON, W 52-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PALM BAY, W 49-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bushnell South Sumter, W 35-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starke Bradford County, W 31-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You Can Contact <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='111610' first='Larry' last='Blustein']</strong> with prospect or team information at: <strong>Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->