Familiar Face Returns To Space Coast

There is no getting around that the football program at Cocoa Space Coast has not enjoyed success on the football field over the past decade.   This is a program that has pushed the reset button quite a few times, and with the return of a familiar face, there is the feeling that things will start to move in a positive direction.   Jake Owens resigned as the Space Coast head coach in 2017 to take some time from coaching but returned in 2020 to coach at Merritt Island as an assistant.   After his first tenure at Space Coast, he spent two seasons with the Palm Bay Pirates until eventually accepting a coaching job in Northern Kentucky in early 2023. Owens took over the Pirates football program in 2021 and led the team to an 8-4 record in 2022.   During Owens' first go around as Space Coast football head coach, the Vipers enjoyed their best season with a 7-4 overall record in 2013, including a second playoff appearance in program history.   While the face of football has certainly changed over the past decade in the region, developing players has to be the objective, and Owens has had that experience in the past.   While the 2024 schedule is challenging for this very young team, there is reason to be optimistic after a successful off-season.   The success of this team will certainly be on the shoulders of a senior class for experience, leadership and maturity.   Here are some of those seniors:   [player_tooltip player_id='1243299' first='Damion' last='Bauder'], DB/WR, 6-4, 160.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18643040/Damion-Bauder?</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1224594' first='Christian' last='Burt'], Athlete, 6-0, 185 – 3.06 GPA.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16403324/6547c4912352620a404cd589</a>   Chris McDonel, RB/LB, 5-7, 161.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16436150/Christopher-Mcdonel?</a>   Lucas Paul, LB/K, 5-8, 170.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18943865/Lucas-Paul</a>   Chris Viers, OL/DL, 6-0, 265.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16046191/Christopher-Viers</a>   AWAITING VIDEO   Deaundrea Parker, DB/WR, 5-9, 162   Camron Walker, DL/TE, 6-2, 207   [player_tooltip player_id='1320828' first='Brandon' last='Wiggins'], DB/WR, 5-7, 130   THIS IS A VERY YOUNG FOOTBALL TEAM   Nobody is hiding the fact that this program is certainly a work in progress. While there are some quality seniors, there are several young prospects that will get the chance to impress.   Here is a look at the many football players who will be competing for the first time at the varsity level:   CLASS OF 2026   Alex Banachoski, LB/WR, 6-3, 194.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16677010/Alex-Banachoski?</a>   Kole Gamble, LB/RB, 5-9, 151.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19370683/Kole-Gamble</a>   Drayton Gamradt, DB/WR, 5-11, 158.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16046316/Drayton-Gamradt?</a>   Jacob Starkey, LB/WR, 6-1, 165.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18115768/Jacob-Starkey</a>   AWAITING VIDEO   Seth Crissman, OL/DL, 5-7, 243   Jayden Pyatt, DL/OL, 5-9, 219   Devin Thomas, DE, 6-1, 182   CLASS OF 2027 Dominic Berger, OL/DL, 5-9, 207.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17685231/Dominic-Berger</a>   E.J. Clouser, WR/LB, 5-8, 192.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16744117/Ej-Clouser?</a>   Bryson Gavin, OL/DL, 6-1, 252.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16378022/Bryson-Gavin?</a>   Damarion Kidd, WR/DB, 5-10, 150.   TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19964474/Damarion-Kidd?</a>   AWAITING VIDEO   Conner Andersen, DB/WR, 5-7, 140   Farren Cleary, WR/DB, 6-0, 138   Dylan Eckler, WR/DB, 5-7, 120   William Ferguson, WR/DB, 5-9, 138   Gavin Holland, LB, 5-9, 175   Angel Jones, DB, 5-10, 136   Evan Kleinman, OL/DL, 5-9, 191   Henry Klingberg, DB/QB, 5-9, 139   Carter Quinlan, OL, 5-11, 263   Chase Santiago, LB, 5-10, 177   Beau Story, OL, 6-2, 256   CLASS OF 2028   AWAITING VIDEO   Mitch Devoe, DL, 6-3, 190   Aizion Sandy, QB/DB, 5-8, 126   Nathan Strong, LB, 6-0, 175   UPDATED CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: <a>https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/updated-2025-florida-rankings-2/</a>   Florida Summer 30 Football Teams. <a>https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/florida-summer-30-teams/</a>   Busy Off-Season Across The Sunshine State. <a>https://prepredzone.com/2024/05/busy-spring-across-the-state/</a>   Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a>   You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: <a>Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.   COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! <a>Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.

There is no getting around that the football program at Cocoa Space Coast has not enjoyed success on the football field over the past decade.