Prep Football Week 8 Capsules, Polls & Predictions

By  //  October 18, 2013

SPACECOASTDAILY.COM TEAM COVERAGE

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FNLR-435-090513EDITOR’S NOTE: Space Coast Area high schools enter Week 7 of the 2013 Football Season and SpaceCoastDaily.com’s incomparable team of experts offer their insight and prognostications below on this Friday’s games. SpaceCoastDaily.com’s team of prep football gurus includes recruiting expert Rae Kameka, Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong, Steve Wilson and Anthony Nachreiner, and SpaceCoastDaily.com’s Matt O’Hern and Ron Lighthall.

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, OCT. 18 GAMES

FNLR-595-090513

Friday Night Locker Room – Mike Erdman Cadillac Nissan Games of the Week
FRIDAY NIGHT LOCKER ROOM GAME OF THE WEEK
MELBOURNE (4-2) @ VIERA (6-1) – WPIO 89.3/90.3 FM

FRIDAY NIGHT LOCKER ROOM GAME OF THE WEEK
ASTRONAUT (2-5) @ PALM BAY (5-2) – WMEL AM 1300 

BAYSIDE (6-1)@ PORT ST. LUCIE  (2-3) 
COCOA (5-1) @ SPACE COAST (6-1) 
COCOA BEACH (0-6) @ ATLANTIC (1-4) 
MERRITT ISLAND (6-0) @ TITUSVILLE (4-2)
OCALA CHRISTIAN (2-4) @ MERRITT ISLAND CHRISTIAN (1-6)
ROCKLEDGE (1-5) @  SATELLITE (3-4) 
TRINITY PREP (4-3) @ MCC (6-0)  

GAME CAPSULES & PREDICTIONS

(1) Heritage: BYE

(2) Cocoa vs Space Coast
Space Coast has proven that they are a contender for 4A District 5 playoffs. Senior quarterback Nick Rittenhouse leads the State of Florida with 2236 total yards Offense, has his team playing great offensively. Rittenhouse has 1627 yards passing and will need to have a tremendous game to upset the Tigers.

Junior wide receiver Alec Dansereau has been his favorite target and is #9 in Florida with 693 yards, 11 TDs. Senior defensive back Jamel Jackson verbally committed to Temple this week and adds to a long list of NCAA Division 1 commits and offers on the Cocoa defense. Space Coast has great defenders as well. Junior defensive lineman Elijah Milledge leads brevard county with 10 sacks this season. Milledge and Space Coast defense will need to put pressure on Cocoa’s freshman quaterback Bruce Judson into making mistakes. Look for another big game from Lorrenzo Pratt who rushed for 347 yards en route to a victory of Daytona Seabreeze last week.

Prediction: Cocoa 49, Space Coast 21

Key Players: Cocoa: Freddie Booth-Lloyd (Sr, DT, Tulane Commit), James Folston(Sr, ILB, Purdue,Minnesota Offers), Jamel Dean(Jr, DB Ohio State Offer), Chauncey Gardner (So, DB Miami Commit), Jamel Jackson(Sr, DB Temple Commit), Lane Burnett (Sr, DL), Tavares Parks (Sr, DL), Lorrenzo Pratt (Sr, RB), Bruce Judson(Fr,QB). Space Coast: Nick Rittenhouse (Sr. QB), Chase Colantino (Sr,WR), Ellijah Milledge (Jr, DL), Alec Dansereau (Jr, WR).

(3) Merritt Island @ Titusville
Titusville who has one of the toughest schedules in Florida is coming off a 49-14 loss to palm Bay. Now they will face the undefeated #3 ranked Mustangs. Its does not look good for Titusville who will try its fast break offense against a solid defense. Senior defensive back Shaq Jones aka “Shaq Island” is having a great season but will need tested by outstanding wide receiver Tommy Cobb. If Merritt Island can contain Cobb and slow down sophomore running back Jaleel Davis this game will be a rout.

Prediction: Merritt Island 35, Titusville 7

Key Players: Ty Schwab ( Sr. LB Boston College Commit), Shaq Jones (Sr. ATH South Alabama Commit), Nick Smith(Sr,QB), Johnny Batch(Sr, DB)

(4) Trinity Prep vs MCC

The secret to MCC success is actually no secret at all… his name is Brandon Ziarno (Jr,QB). Ziarno has completed 65% of his passes for 1300 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only 1 INT. That proficiency has MCC averaging 44 points and 370 yards per game. Troy Hart (Jr, LB) leads Brevard County in tackles with 11.7 per game. These are some very imposing numbers for Trinity Prep to face this week. Look for MCC to have a huge 3A District 3 victory.

Prediction: MCC 35 Trinity Prep 7

Key Players: MCC: Max Erdman(Jr. WR), Austin Perlman (Jr. WR), Brandon Ziarno (Jr. QB), Alec LeFlore (Sr,RB)

(7) Viera vs (8) Melbourne (UPSET ALERT)

This is one of the feature games of the week in Brevard County. The 7A District 12 is wide open for the taking. In what was a close District last season is turning into much of the same this season. Melbourne can take a lead in the district with an upset win. As good of a season Viera has had, none of those victories are as important as Friday nights game. After being upset by Eau Gallie last week,Viera needs this to stay in the playoff mix. Look for Melbourne to win a close one with strong running game and playaction passing from Dwane Robinson(Sr,QB).

Prediction: Melbourne 24, Viera 17

Key Players: Viera: Tre Nixon (So. WR), Devin Nixon (Jr. ATH), Cody Dentmon (Sr. QB), Zack Blanch(So,RB)

Melbourne: Dwane Robinson(Sr. QB), Bryson Hill(Sr. RB)

(9) Bayside vs. Port St.Lucie

After a upset loss to Melbourne last week Bayside will try to right the ship against Port St. Lucie. The Jaguars have not fared well against Brevard County (Palm Bay and Heritage) this season being outscored 81-13. Look for that trend to continue as Bayside will be eager to display another dominating performance.

Prediction: Bayside 35, Port St.Lucie 10

Key Players: Bayside: William Harrell (Sr.RB), Lucious McKay (Sr.ATH), Greg Miclisse (Sr. LB)

(10) Eau Gallie vs Martin County

Eau Gallie saved its season last week witha upset win over Viera and can control its playoff destiny with win over Martin County and Sebastian River the following week. First thing first they must take care of Martin County who needs a District win to stay in the playoff hunt as well. Eau Gallie scored 16 points in the 4th Qtr against a tough Viera defense. They will score early and often this week and find it much easier against a Martin County defense who give up 32.5 points a game. Look for Torrance Brown(Sr,QB) to have a big game.

Prediction: Eau Gallie 34, Martin County 14

Key Players Eau Gallie: Torrance Brown (Sr. QB),Antoine Rutledge (Sr. ATH)

(5)Palm Bay vs Astronaut
This could be a trap game for Palm Bay. This game figures to be a lot closer than most people think. Astronaut has lost four in a row by a touchdown less and they are a much better team than their record shows. Astronaut must figure a way to win this close game to stay in playoff contention. Look for Palm Bay to come out running the ball with Sekai Lindsey (Jr,RB) and Reginald Benjamin (Sr,RB). Hard nosed Pirate defense leads them to victory in this one.

Prediction:Palm Bay 28 Astronaut 21

Key Players: Palm Bay: Stephon Williams(Jr. LB), Alex Jasmin(Sr. DB), Sekai Lindsey (Jr. RB), Reggie Benjamin(Sr. RB)
Astronaut: Tez Keels(Sr. ATH), J.T Hassell (Sr. DE), Brandon Wright(Sr,RB)

 

RAE’S TOP 10

PREP-FOOTBALL-BROADCASTERS-180 1. Heritage 2. Cocoa 3. Merritt Island 4. MCC 5. Palm Bay 6. Space Coast 7.Viera 8. Melbourne 9. Bayside 10. Eau Gallie

ANTHONY’S TOP 5

1. Cocoa 2. Heritage 3. Merritt Island 4. Palm Bay 5. Melbourne

STEVE’S TOP 5

1. Heritage 2. Cocoa 3. Merritt Island 4. Palm Bay 5. Melbourne

ORVILLE’S TOP 5

1. Cocoa 2. Heritage 3. Merritt Island 4. Palm Bay 5. MCC

MATT’S TOP 5

1. Cocoa 2.Merritt Island 3. Heritage  4. Palm Bay 5. Space Coast