Cocoa Tigers Fall to Raines Vikings For Second Straight Year in Class 4A Title Game
By Alan Zlotorzynski, Senior Editor // December 7, 2018
tigers committ 5 turnovers in loss
ABOVE VIDEO: Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong, Steve Wilson and Alan Zlotorzynski recap the Raines Vikings 27-13 win over Cocoa in the State Championship Game.
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – The Raines Vikings defeated the Cocoa Tigers for the second straight year on Thursday night at Camping World Stadium to capture the FHSAA Class 4A state championship.
The Tigers fell 27-13 and had their chances to win the game that was dominated by the defenses.
In the end, missed red zone opportunities, missed field goals and five turnovers proved to be the difference.
Defensively for Cocoa, linebacker Allen Pierce and lineman Dejevon White tied for the team lead with nine tackles each. White also recorded 1.5 sacks and registered two tackles for a loss.
The Vikings defense was equally impressive as they held Cocoa’s rushing attack to just 15 yards on 24 carries.
The two defenses combined to register 19 tackles for a loss.
The Tigers finish the season 10-4 and could be a favorite to return to Orlando again next year in the state championship game.
Cocoa graduates only six seniors, including Willie Gaines, who was one of the best running backs in Brevard County this season.
Gaines amassed nearly 4,000 total yards in his high school career and is currently a verbal commit to the Toledo Rockets.
FINAL TAKE
The Tigers improved every week under first-year head coach Ryan Schneider. Next season, with returning players like QB DJ Arroyo, Dada White, as well as running back Caziah Holmes, its hard to imagine this team being anything other than its been in the past 14-years, one of the best in all of Class 4A.
ABOVE VIDEO: Cocoa trailed Raines at halftime. Orville Susong, Steve Wilson and Alan Zlotorzynski recap the first half.
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