Home » PREP FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT: Merritt Island vs Viera

PREP FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT: Merritt Island vs Viera

By  //  August 22, 2014

Rae Kameka Previews Merritt Island and Viera Kickoff Classic, Makes His Predictions On All Space Coast Games

Space Coast Daily will be team with Steve Wilson and Orville Susong of the Friday Night Locker Room to provide game coverage and live updates tonight from the fields of Brevard County’s high school football teams.

#5 Merritt Island at #4 Viera, 7:30 p.m.

See below for Rae Kameka’s top-rated Space Coast prep football players.
See below for Rae Kameka’s top-rated Space Coast prep football players and team rankings.

Continued dominance or is it a new day in Brevard? This question will be answered at the end of the Kickoff Classic Friday night. Merritt Island has been one of the dominate teams in Brevard for the past 30 years, but times are a changing.

Merritt Island comes in as the underdog up against a very talented Viera team looking to make their own history. Many believe Viera has the team to make a deep playoff run.

Tonight will provide a glimpse into how far this Viera program have grown in recent years.

Here’s a look at the two teams position by position:

• Quarterbacks: Advantage Viera
Both teams will have a new QB under center but the advantage would have to go to Viera QB Hayden Kingston throwing to two D1 recruits Devin and Tre Nixon.

• Running Backs: Advantage Merritt Island
With a New QB at the helm, Merritt Island will look to Jr. FB Raleigh Barfield, Jr. ATH Malek Folston, and So. RB Rydell Peterson to lead this RB by Committee and play smash-mouth football. Each player brings something different to the table, and running behind an experienced line will make Merritt Island tough to beat.

• Offensive Line: Advantage Merritt Island
Probably the best offensive line group in Brevard, lead by Sr. T Dakota Dean, Sr. G DJ Richards, and Jr. C Bailey Herring. This veteran group is big, fast and will open lots of running lanes for the Merritt Island running backs.

• Wide Receivers: Advantage Viera
Devin Nixon and Tre Nixon, both with multiple offers, lead a talented group of Viera receivers. Being able to stretch the field with these explosive athletes will open up things underneath for other receivers.

• Kickers/Punters: Advantage Viera
Jacob Kutcher has a strong, consistent leg. If Viera gets inside the 30 yard line, they are almost guaranteed 3 points.

• Defense: Tied
Both teams have great defense. The question that needs to be answered are – Will the Viera defensive line be able to stop Merritt Island offensive line and rushing attack, and will Merritt Island secondary be able to contain Viera passing attack?

Prediction: Viera 24, Merritt Island 23

JAMBOREE SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, AUG. 22

#11 Astronaut at #9 Bayside, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Bayside 31 Astronaut 18

#13 Satellite at #12 Space Coast,7 p.m.
Prediction: Space Coast 23, Satellite 14

#17 Cocoa Beach at Lafayette (Mayo,FL), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Lafayette 35, Cocoa Beach 6

#8 Eau Gallie at #15 Rockledge, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Eau Gallie 42, Rockledge 7

#14 Holy Trinity @ Liberty (kissimmee), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Liberty 29, Holy Trinity 21

#7 Melbourne at #10 Titusville, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Titusville 28, Melbourne 17

#6 MCC at Leonard (Greenacres)
Prediciton: MCC 42, Leonard 14

#2 Palm Bay at Vero Beach, 7 p.m. 
Prediction: Palm Bay 21, Vero Beach 14

#3 Heritage at Gainsville, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Heritage 17, Gainesville 10

#1 Cocoa -Idle

#16 Merritt Island Christian – Idle

RAE KAMEKA’S SPACE COAST TOP PRESEASON PREP FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Rank Name Position Height Weight High School Offers/Commitments Highlights
1 Jamel Dean DB 6′ 2″ 195 Cocoa Ohio State commit Jamel Dean
2 Sekai Lindsay RB 5’10” 205 Palm Bay Pitt Commit Sekai Lindsay
3 Devin Nixon WR 6′ 0″ 190 Viera 7 Offers Devin Nixon
4 Brandon Ziarno QB 6′ 2″ 195 MCC   Brandon Ziarno
5 Charles(CJ)Allen OL 6’4″ 320 Palm Bay Cincy Offer Charles(CJ)Allen
6 J’Von Butler ATH 6′ 4″ 195 Holy Trinity   J’VonButler
7 Elijah Milledge DE 6’3″ 225 Space Coast   Elijah Milledge
8 Stephon Williams LB 5’11” 230 Palm Bay   Stephon Williams
9 Asante Griffin ATH 6′ 0″ 180 Cocoa   Asante Griffin
10 Austin Evarts QB 6’3” 187 Bayside   Austin Evarts
11 Aaron McRoy DB 5’11” 175 Cocoa   Aaron McRoy
12 Cedric Barnes LB 5′ 10″ 230 Palm Bay   Cedric Barnes
13 Jaron Greene LB 6’1” 226 Cocoa   Jaron Greene
14 James Lowder ATH 6′ 2″ 188 Astronaut   James Lowder
15 Joshua Tyson WR 6’3″ 190 Bayside   Josh Tyson
16 Quincy Pratt DL 6’1” 245 Cocoa   Quincy Pratt
17 Tim Price RB 6’0″ 265 Eau Gallie   Tim Price
18 Marquise Lewis LB 6’0″ 205 Cocoa   Marquise Lewis
19 Andrew Osteen FB/MLB 6’1″ 240 Eau Gallie   Andrew Osteen
20 Brandon Phillips LB 6′ 2″ 195 Cocoa   Brandon Phillips
21 Matt Duquette OL 6′ 0″ 250 Palm Bay   Matt Duquette
22 Jacob Kutcher S 5’11” 175 Viera   Jacob Kutcher
23 D’Quadre Allen ATH 5′ 10″ 190 Palm Bay   D’Quadre Allen
24 Austin Pearlman Wr/S 6′ 1″ 190 MCC   Austin Perlman
25 Ashton Taylor ATH 5’9″ 180   Ashton Taylor
26 Juandarius Dukes DB 6′ 0″ 160 Cocoa   Juandarius Dukes
27 Max Erdman WR 5’9” 170 MCC   Max Erdman
28 Justin Weaver RB 6’1″ 180 Cocoa   Justin Weaver
29 Austin Whaley DB 5’10” 159 Merritt Is.   Austin Whaley
30 Bryce Walker DB 6’1″ 165 Eau Gallie   Bryce Walker
31 Traybion Smith LB 6’1″ 210 Merritt Is.   Traybion Smith
32 Taylor Streeter LB 6’0″ 185 Viera   Taylor Streeter
33 Jordan Watson  RB 5’8 163 Melbourne   Jordan Watson
34 Brandon Callahan DL 6’3″ 240 Viera   Brandon Callahan
35 Kevin Troutman WR 6’2″ 175 Cocoa   Kevin Troutman
36 Austin Pruitt WR 5’11” 165 Eau Gallie   Austin Pruitt
37 Daniel Welch S 6’1″ 185 Holy Trinity   Daniel Welch
38 Jordan Stengal LB 6’0″ 190 Viera   Jordan Stengel
39 Alex Hartfield WR 6’6″ 195 Bayside   Alex Hartfield
40 Alec Danseraus WR 5’10” 140 Space Coast   Alec Dansereau
               
               
 

WATCH LIST

            
  Travond Lee LB     Heritage    
  Kevin Grant TE     Melbourne    
  Brandon Callahan DL     Viera    
  Xzavia Banks DB     Melbourne    
  Jonathan Gonzalez DL     Rockledge    
  Edwin Molina FB     MCC    
         
  Kyle Taylor-Laird WR     MCC    
  Dekota Dean OL     Merritt Is.    
  Devon Cannon WR     Space Coast    
  Dominque Mack DL     Astronaut    
  Nadari Wideman WR     Eau Gallie    
  Alex Martinez WR     Titusville    
  Charles Burgess DB     Bayside    
  Zeth Peterson DL     Titusville    
  Cooper Christiano ATH     Melbourne    
  Anthony Beecham DE     Cocoa    
  Jiovanni Diaz WR     MCC    
  Kevan Cockrell S     Heritage    
  Troy Hart LB     MCC    
  Tommy Madden LB     Eau Gallie    
  Calvin Willis LB     Palm Bay    
  Tucker Bennett S     Merritt Is.    
  Dwayne Brown WR     Cocoa    
  Micah Hallock WR     Astronaut    
  Rickey Rivera LB     Melbourne    
  Rashaad Peeples DL     Cocoa    
  Weslaire Noel ATH     Heritage

Preseason Space Coast Team Power Rankings

1. Cocoa
2. Palm Bay
3. Heritage
4. Viera
5. Merritt Island
6. Melbourne Central Catholic
7. Melbourne
8. Eau Gallie
9. Bayside
10. Titusville
11. Astronaut
12. Space Coast
13. Satellite
14. Holy Trinity
15. Rockledge
16. Merritt Island Christian

Preseason East Coast Rankings

1. Cocoa
2. Central(Fort Pierce)
3. Palm Bay
4. Heritage
5. Viera
6. Merritt Island
7. Melbourne Central Catholic
8. Vero Beach
9. Melbourne
10. Eau Gallie
11. Bayside
12. Treasure Coast
13. Titusville
14. John Carroll
15. Astronaut
16. Southfork
17. Space Coast
18. Satellite
19. Jensen Beach
20. Holy Trinity
21. Martin County
22. Sebastian River
23. Rockledge
24. St. Edward
25. Centennial
26. Fort Pierce Westwood
27. Okeechobee
28. Merritt Island Christian

Preseason Treasure Coast Rankings

1. Central(Fort Pierce)
2. Vero Beach
3. Treasure Coast
4. John Carroll
5. Southfork
6. Jensen Beach
7. Martin County
8. Sebastian River
9. St. Edward
10. Centennial
11. Fort Pierce Westwood
12. Okeechobee