VIDEO: Palm Bay, Rockledge, Viera, Heritage All Impressive Following Kickoff Classic Weekend

New head coaches are 5-3 in sideline debuts

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong, Steve Wilson and Caleb Brown bring you the Brevard County Prep Football Kickoff Classic action as the Cocoa Tigers host the Clearwater Tornadoes.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Brevard County High School Football Kickoff Classic action features the Satellite Scorpions and Space Coast Vipers. On the call is Alan Zlotorzynski, Jordan Rocco and Gina Liberto.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Brevard County Prep Football Kickoff Classic action features Eau Gallie at Merritt Island.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA– The 2018 Kickoff Classics are in the books and there was more than a few surprises from the teams on the Space Coast after the dust settled. 

The obvious storyline heading into the weekend was how would the eight new head coaches fare in their debuts?

Eau Gallie, Merritt Island, Merritt Island Christian, Viera, Cocoa, Bayside, Space Coast and Titusville all began the season with new head coaches.

They did just fine, thank you very much, as the ‘new guys’ finished 5-3.

Andrew Capuano, Matt Diesel, Derek Smith, Hurlie Brown and Ryan Schneider all watched as their teams Titusville, Space Coast, Viera, Merritt Island and Cocoa registered wins.

It’s important to keep in mind, two of those new head coaches faced one and other as Brown’s Mustangs took on Chris Sands and his Eau Gallie Commodores.

The other big storyline was young or new quarterbacks under center for many Brevard teams. They also played well.

Viera sophomore signal caller Bryce Norton had a major part in all four Viera offensive touchdowns. Juniors, Michael Moss (Mustangs) and Chris Squires (Space Coast) also played extremely well as did many of the new quarterbacks in the county in what was an exciting weekennd of kickoff classic action.

TITUSVILLE 12 SEABREEZE 3

It began on Thursday night when Andrew Capuano and his Titusville Terriers traveled to Daytona Beach and defeated Seabreeze 12-3 on Thursday night.

The offense got off to a slow start but scored two second-half rushing touchdowns while the defense allowed just three points in the contest for the win.

MERRITT ISLAND 33 EAU GALLIE 27

Even though one of the new guys had to lose in the Merrit island and Eau Gallie game, both new head coaches, Chris Sands and Hurlie Brown can call their debuts a success. Brown’s Mustangs needed to come from behind and some O-Dome magic to get the win.

Eau Gallie took the lead when Jarad Baker Jr. hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass with two minutes and thirty seconds to play. The Mustangs weren’t finished as Devaruis ‘Buck’ Mitchell returned the ensuing kickoff 84-yards to tie the game.

In overtime, junior QB Michael Moss would find Mitchell on their first possession and the Mustangs defense held for the thrilling 33-27 win.

SPACE COAST 24 SATELLITE 14

Space Coast Vipers head coach Matt Diesel fancies himself as a defensive guy and his first test as a new head coach would be against a team that averaged 47 points per game last year in the Satellite Scorpions.

By the time the game was over the Vipers defense held the Scorpions to three first-half points and 14 total for the 24-14 victory. Space Coast running back Chris Shingles rushed for over 200 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 57, 47 and two yards.

Junior quarterback Chris Squires also played well as he found WR Justin Brown for an 80-yard touchdown pass. Squires also kept plays alive with his legs picking up valuable yards and first downs.

COCOA 49 CLEARWATER 34

While the defense has always led the way for Cocoa, new head coach Ryan Schneider’s offense needed to come up big for the Tigers to get the kickoff classic win on Friday. Four Star recruit Caziah Holmes scored five Tiger touchdowns three different ways.

Holmes scored three rushing touchdowns (1,1 and 2), he also caught a 24-yard touchdown pass and scored on a dynamic 90-yard kick return after the Tornados cut the Tigers lead to seven at 21-14.

The Tigers will open the season Friday night at home against the Palm Bay Pirates.

VIERA 35 VERO BEACH 28

ABOVE VIDEO:  Highlights of the Hawks kickoff classic win over Vero Beach

Vero Beach scored on the first play from scrimmage but sophomore QB Bryce Norton’s athleticism took over in the second quarter and the Hawks went on to beat the Indians, 35-28, in a rematch of last year’s kickoff classic won by Vero Beach at the Citrus Bowl.

Norton factored in all four of the Hawks offensive touchdowns as he rushed for scores of six and 31 yards and passed for touchdowns of 11 and 13, both to H-Back, Dan Steen.

The Hawks hit paydirt on defense when freshman Jamari Lyons found himself under a deflected pass and after hauling it in scampered six yards for an official pick-6 and Viera defensive touchdown.

Viera will travel to face the Rockledge Raiders in a highly anticipated rematch from last years storm-shortened game the Hawks eeked out 13-6.

RAINES 34 ROCKLEDGE 28

The Raines Vikings have now defeated two of the finest teams Brevard County has to offer in their past two games. However,  it’s fair to say that both Space Coast teams had their chances to beat the defending Class 4A State Champs.

In what was arguably the best kickoff classic game of the weekend, the Raiders led the state champs late but a game-tying TD pass and a Rockledge fumble allowed the Vikings to escape with a win.

Following Raines’ 40-yard TD pass that tied the score at 28, the Raiders went to work on a drive but fumbled. Despite graduating QB Ivory Durham IV, the Vikings still have home run hitters and one of them, receiver Matt Drayton, hauled in a 60-yard touchdown with 34 seconds to play.

Junior running back Lardarius Tennison scored twice for Rockledge as he hit paydirt from 60 yards out on the ground and on a 76-yard TD pass.

Raines defeated Cocoa in the 13-10 in the Class 4A title game last year in Orlando.

The Raiders will open at home against Viera.

Week 1 gets underway this Friday with a trio of games on Space Coast Daily TV that include Palm Bay at Cocoa and Viera at Rockledge.

Thursday’s scores

• Palm Bay 34, Melbourne 7
• Titusville 12, Seabreeze 3

Friday’s scores

• Merritt Island 33, Eau Gallie 27 (OT)
• Space Coast 24, Satellite 14
• Cocoa 49, Clearwater 34
• Viera 35, Vero Beach 28
• Holy Trinity 36, Ft. Pierce Central 13
• Heritage 20, Winter Springs 0
• Centennial 6, Astronaut 0
• Harmony 52, Bayside 0
• Bronson 64, Merritt Island Christian 12

Saturday’s scores

• Raines 34, Rockledge 28
• Gulliver Prep 44, MCC 38

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