Merritt Island Goes Undefeated, First Time Since 1979
By Space Coast Daily // November 9, 2013
MCC ALSO GOES 10-0 IN REGULAR SEASON
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Space Coast Area high schools enter Week 11 of the 2013 Football Season and Space Coast Daily’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.
THURSDAY, NOV. 7 GAME
PALM BAY 51, BAYSIDE 15
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Palm Bay’s Junior running back Sekai Lindsey was a one-man wrecking crew as the Pirates crushed Bayside 53-15 Thursday night. Lindsey rushed for 246 yards and three scores as he lead the Pirates ground game which churned out more than 400 yards.
Defensively, the Pirates held the Bears to less than 150 yards as Palm Bay’s 6-foot-3, 215 pound DE Le’troy Wolters had three of the Pirates eight QB sacks.
Next week, both teams play in first round playoff games. Palm Bay (overall 7-3, district 4-1) travels to Orlando to take on Bishop Moore (overall 8-2, district 4-0). Bayside (overall 7-3, district 5-1) is also on the road as the Bears play the Naples Golden Eagles (overall 7-2, district 4-0).
WEEK 11 – FRIDAY, NOV. 8 GAMES
Friday Night Locker Room – Mike Erdman Cadillac Nissan Games of the Week
FRIDAY NIGHT LOCKER ROOM GAME OF THE WEEK
SPACE COAST 60, TITUSVILLE 30 (Final)
FRIDAY NIGHT LOCKER ROOM GAME OF THE WEEK
SATELLITE 19, COCOA BEACH 11 (Final)
MELBOURNE 33, ASTRONAUT 0 (Final)
COCOA 55, ROCKLEDGE 14 (Final)
HERITAGE 55, SEBASTIAN RIVER 0 (Final)
HOLY TRINITY 31, WINTER GARDEN 6 (Final)
MCC 40 LAKE HIGHLAND PREP 9 (Final)
EAU GALLIE 27, HARMONY 0 (Final)
MERRITT ISLAND 42, PONTE VERDA 0 (Final)
WEEK 11 GAME PREVIEWS
(1) Heritage vs Sebastian River
Heritage came from behind to defeat Bayside and win the district last week. They played an outstanding second half but will need to fine-tune its game and play Heritage Football for an entire game if they want win a State Championship. This tune up game vs Sebastian gives Heritage one more chance to work on somethings before the playoff gauntlet with teams like Naples, Miami Central, Mainland, Armwood, or Navarre down the road. Heritage needs to play their dominating Football and win this game in another blow out.
Prediction: Heritage 40 Sebastian River 7
Key Players Heritage: Clinton Moxam (Sr. QB), Josh Gaines (So. RB), Dedric Witherspoon (Sr. ATH), Josh Harden (So. RB)
(2) Cocoa @ Rockledge
The last time Rockledge beat Cocoa was 2005. Since that time, Cocoa has outscored the Raiders 195-24. None of those stats mean anything though, because this is a storied rivalry and anything can happen in a rivalry game. Rockledge will not play in a playoff game this season but nothing would be sweeter than to upset Cocoa and have bragging rights for another 365 days.
Rockledge will call upon its strong defense to keep the score close and hope to get a turnover on defense to pull the upset. Lorrenzo Pratt leads 4A in scoring with 20 touchdwons and is third overall in rushing yards, with 1329. Look for Cocoa to win this one big as they are to big in the trenches for Rockledge.
Prediction: Cocoa 45 Rockledge 6
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), Lor’renzo Pratt (Sr,RB), Bruce Judson(Fr,QB)
Key Players: Rockledge: Jundarius Dukes(Jr,DB), Traven Phillips(Sr. FB), DeAnthony Henderson(Sr. DL)
(3) Merritt Island vs Ponte Verde
This game will serve as a warm up for the playoffs for Merritt Island and look for them to score plenty in this one. Ponte Verde has had a tough time scoring this season and Merritt Island has one of the toughest defenses in Florida. Merritt Island might leave in all of its starters against Ponte Verde after learning they will receive a Bye for the first round of Playoffs. Tavares was supposed to be its first round opponent but was forced to forfeit a district win due to playing with a player that was past the FHSAA age limit of 19. Merritt Island will await the winner of Palm Bay vs Bishop Moore.
Prediction: Merritt Island 34 Ponte Verde 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), P.J Kellem (Sr. DB), John Batch(Sr. ATH)
(4) MCC vs Lake Highland Prep
MCC still owns the longest winning streak in 3A and are the 2013 3A District District 3 Champions. That might sound great for some programs but MCC has State Championship aspirations. Some question MCC’s schedule this season but you play who is put in front of you and up to this point the Hustlers have been dominant.The first quest for that state championship dream is to finish the season undefeated, beat Frostproof in the first round, and await the winner of Holy Trinity vs Tampa Catholic. Look for MCC to dominate the winless Highlanders in a blowout.
Prediction: MCC 45 Lake Highland Prep 7
Key Players MCC: Max Erdman(Jr. WR), Austin Perlman (Jr. WR), Brandon Ziarno (Jr. QB), Alec LeFlore (Sr.RB)
(5) Melbourne vs Astronaut
Melbourne continues to roll on its won six games in a row. They will be tested against a talented Astronaut team who could not win the close games this season. Look for Astronaut to come out and show that War Eagle pride. Melbourne will establish the running game, play good defense. Chris Singh will rush for over 100 yards in this one as the the running game will be to much for Astronaut. War Eagles lose another close one.
Prediction: Melbourne 21 Astronaut 17
Key Players: Melbourne: Dwane Robinson (Sr. QB), Bryson Hill (Sr. RB), Chris Singh (So. RB)
Key Players: Astronaut: Tez Keels(Sr. ATH), J.T Hassell (Sr. DE)
(7) Eau Gallie @ Harmony
Eau Gallie suffered a shut out loss against Cocoa Beach last week and will look to right the ship in preparation for the playoffs. Eau Gallie should dominate this game but it all depends on what team shows up. The team that beat Viera 23-14 to get into playoffs or the team that just lost to Cocoa Beach. Harmony would like nothing more than to finish with a winning season and catch Eau Gallie looking ahead to the playoffs for the upset. Look for Eau Gallie to show up and deliver and finish with its best season since 2005.
Prediction Eau Gallie 28 Harmony 7
Key Players Eau Gallie: Torrance Brown (Sr. QB),Antoine Rutledge (Sr. ATH)
(9) Space Coast @ Titusville
Space Coast will make the Playoffs this season for the first time since 2008. Right now the only thing on the minds of the Vipers is the 51-14 loss Titusville put on them in 2012. This is a new Space Coast Vipers team led by one of the best Quarterbacks in Florida. Nick Rittenhouse leads Class 4a in passing with 2218 yards and total yards with 3115. Look for Space Coast to win this in a shoot-out.
Prediction: Space Coast 34 Titusville 32
Key Players: Space Coast: Nick Rittenhouse (Sr. QB), Chase Colantino (Sr,WR), Ellijah Milledge (Jr,DL), Alec Dansereau (Jr,WR)
Key Players: Titusville: Jaleel Davis (So. RB), Tommy Cobb (Sr. ATH), Josh Wayner (Sr. QB)
RAE’S TOP 10
1. Heritage 2. Cocoa 3. Merritt Island 4. MCC 5. Melbourne 6. Palm Bay 7. Eau Gallie 8. Bayside 9. Space Coast 10. Viera
ANTHONY’S TOP 5
1. Cocoa 2. Merritt Island 3. Heritage 4. MCC 5. Melbourne
STEVE’S TOP 5
1. Heritage 2. Cocoa 3. Merritt Island 4.Palm Bay 5. MCC
ORVILLE’S TOP 5
1. Cocoa 2. Heritage 3. Merritt Island 4. Bayside 5. MCC
MATT’S TOP 5
1. Cocoa 2.Heritage 3. Merritt Island 4. Bayside 5. MCC
