Cocoa Tigers Defeat Rockledge Raiders 28-20 in BBQ Bowl on Space Coast Daily TV

SPACE COAST DAILY TV SPECIAL PRESENTATION

WATCH LIVE: BBQ BOWL: Cocoa Tigers host the Rockledge Raiders in the 43rd Annual BBQ Bowl from Dick Blake Stadium.

The 43rd edition of the BBQ Bowl, featuring the Rockledge Raiders at Cocoa Tigers, is the Game of the Year on the Space Coast. Be sure to tune into Space Coast Daily TV to watch all the action live!

WATCH ALL THE ACTION LIVE WITH THE PREGAME SHOW BEGINNING AT 6:45 P.M. FRIDAY

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This is the third decade of high school sports coverage for the principals of Space Coast Daily and the Friday Night Locker Room – brought to you again this year by Erdman Automotive, Health First, Eastern Florida State College, 4EverYoung Merritt Island, Space Coast State Fair and All Points.

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BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Call it what you want. The BBQ Bowl, the biggest rivalry on the Space Coast, or simply Cocoa vs. Rockledge. Whatever it’s called, this year, it is once again the biggest football game on the Space Coast, without question.

Coach Ryan Schneider’s Cocoa Tigers and Coach Wayne Younger’s Rockledge Raiders both come into this contest on win streaks. Cocoa has won their last three, and Rockledge their last four games.

Both teams are once again loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. And both teams can score at will.

QB Blake Boda of the Tigers has racked p 2,147 yards and 29 TDs and has thrown five interceptions. The Tigers feature three different receivers with at least 20 catches, with Boda hooking up with Dayday Farmer 30 times so far this year.

Farmer is a junior, 4-star wide receiver who transferred from Holy Trinity this past off-season, has more than 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Kyon Calhoun has caught 21 passes, with seven of those resulting in touchdowns.

Defensively, the Tigers have been tasked with defending some of the most challenging programs up and down the state. The team has totaled over 207 tackles and 21 sacks through seven games.

That being said, stud defensive back Caleb Dobbs, Jordan Holmes, and 4-star  Ohio State commit Cedrick Hawkins lead the secondary and are three players to keep an eye out for in this matchup.

The Rockledge Raiders enter Dick Blake Stadium looking to upset the Tigers, coming up short in last year’s BBQ Bowl. Rockledge has had a phenomenal 2022 campaign, having lost only one game this season, and is a perfect 3-0 on the road.

This is a very well-balanced team from top to bottom. Offensively, quarterback Traven Green has taken a significant leap this year, averaging a QB rating of 105. As a team, the Raiders have generated 2,867 yards total yards on offense.

On the ground, Jamarion Stephens leads the way with 758 yards and six rushing touchdowns through eight games. Florida Commit Bryce Lovett continues to lead by example, creating running lanes for all the Raider’s offensive weapons.

Satellite Scorps transfer Eddie Combs has made an impact with his electric speed, putting up four touchdowns and averaging 38.4 yards per game.

Defensively the Raiders stand out as Junior linebacker Derrick McCormick leads the team with 75 tackles and three interceptions through seven games. Rockledge has 534 total tackles and 13.5 sacks on the season heading into their final regular-season game.

The 43rd BBQ Bowl Rockledge vs. Cocoa Showdown has all the makings of another classic and is the game a Space Coast football fans have been pointing to since the beginning of the season.

Both teams would like to carry a BBQ Bowl win with them as the playoffs begin. Which one will it be? If you can’t make it to the game, tune in to Space Coast Daily for the Friday Night Locker Room’s broadcast of the “Game of the Year” to find out! Kick-off is at 7 p.m. and is brought to you by Erdman Automotive, Health First, Eastern Florida State College, 4EverYoung Merritt Island, Space Coast State Fair and All Points.

The Space Coast Daily – Friday Night Locker Room principals and the broadcast team have more than 100 years of experience covering youth and high school sports in Brevard County, and this season’s coverage on Space Coast Daily TV once again features a dynamic broadcaster lineup.

Space Coast Sports Hall of Famers Steve Wilson and Orville Susong of the Friday Night Locker Room bring you all the live action from the broadcast booth. In addition, Tom Palermo, Jim Palermo, Giles Malone, Zach Clark, Juan Rodriguez, Jordan Rocco, Ron Lighthall, Daryl Durand, Matt O’Hern, Michael Malone, Gavin Keith, Brian Dillon, will anchor or produce play-by-play broadcasts this season.

Don’t miss these live sports broadcasts featuring cutting-edge coverage on the streaming Space Coast Daily TV, along with player interviews, replays, highlights, pre-game and post-game analysis, and much more!

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS

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