2A: Cocoa Defends Title Against Gadsden County

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 3 Cocoa (10-3) vs. No. 1 Havana Gadsden County (13-1), Thursday, Dec. 12, 12:30 p.m. </strong>This is a matchup with a program that has been in this situation many times against a newcomer to the state championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While many may not know much about the Jaguars, who jumped into the spotlight this season, just about everyone knows all about the two-time defending state champion Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before the start of any season, this is the destination that this team and its fans expect to be in every year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are loaded with playmakers and have once again run a gauntlet of state powers to arrive at yet another state championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers are loaded with big time playmakers and have played some high level teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gadsden County also boasts some impressive talent, and by beating Miami Booker T. Washington, they showed that they can line up against the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are a very confident team that is heading south, and while they know what they are up against, they believe they can win the 2A title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COCOA TIGERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HEAD COACH: </strong>Ryan Schneider</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='953682' first='Jayvan' last='Boggs'], WR (FSU signee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - D.J. Bryant, S</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 – [player_tooltip player_id='1251729' first='D.L.' last='Hardison'], WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='1573238' first='Brady' last='Hart'], QB, (Texas A&amp;M signee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 – C.J. Hester CB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='749702' first='Javion' last='Hilson'] Edge (Missouri signee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - Nycere Jacobs, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 - [player_tooltip player_id='895933' first='Tyion' last='Jacobs'], LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='833761' first='Nicholas' last='Teeter'], WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 - Chavez “Sandman” Thompson, OL/DT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ROAD TO MIAMI</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Titusville, W 42-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daytona Beach Mainland, W 51-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradenton IMG Academy, L 34-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Palm Bay Heritage, W 39-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Venice, L 54-51</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Norland, L 33-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Villages Charter, W 54-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Titusville Astronaut, W 48-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockledge, W 37-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Lake Placid, W 63-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Tampa Berkeley Prep, W 37-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Newberry, W 40-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, W 31-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HAVANA GADSDEN COUNTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HEAD COACH: </strong>Russell Ellington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - Christian Barrett, Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - Kemarrion Battles, RB, (Towson signee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026&nbsp;- Jahmarri Clark, OC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='827391' first='Kelvin' last='Crawford'], OLB/TE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - Tristen Davis, RB&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027&nbsp;- [player_tooltip player_id='1672994' first='Landon' last='Dougherty'], QB&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 - [player_tooltip player_id='1581853' first='Daylen' last='Green'], LB/WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 - Kelvontae Hamilton, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='1022363' first='Byron' last='Jackson'], OLB, (South Alabama signee)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - Devonte Roberts, Athlete, (Charleston Southern signee)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 - [player_tooltip player_id='1581858' first='Jahderian' last='Stokes'], DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - Jamari Stokes, S</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='1684048' first='Jeremiah' last='Thomas'], Athlete (South Alabama signee)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='1315661' first='Lamar' last='Williams'], OT, (Maryland signee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - Austin Powell, OT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - [player_tooltip player_id='1022367' first='Samontre' last='Paramore'], DT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ROAD TO MIAMI</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tift County, Georgia, W 45-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCallie, Tennessee, W 27-23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Godby, W 48-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coffee County, Georgia, L 27-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Donaldson Seminole County, Georgia, W 60-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacksonville Impact Christian, W Forfeit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Lincoln, W 31-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Florida High, W 42-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1895147' first='Crawfordville' last='Wakulla'], W 49-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry Taylor County, W 34-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Baldwin, W 48-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Tallahassee Florida High, W 42-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Jacksonville Bolles, W 21-9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Miami Booker T. Washington, W 47-27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily.</strong> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at:</strong> Floridakids1@aol.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! </strong><a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->