Watch Merritt Island Christian 2025 Prep Football Preview: After Winning a Championship Two Seasons Ago, Cougars Look to Make Another Run at a Title
By Zane Garcia // August 17, 2025
Merritt Island Christian won the SSAA 3A 8-Man State Championship in 2023
Watch: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Zane Garcia talks about the last two seasons and the upcoming 2025 season with Merritt Island Christian Cougars head coach Matt Handwork and his players. The Cougars still reminisce over how last season ended, but have their eyes set on getting back to the top of the football world by winning their second state championship in three seasons. Matt Handwork, head coach of the Cougars, explains that the standard has now changed and winning a state title is the expectation for Merritt Island Christian. Almost every player on this team has experienced a state title and surely knows what it takes to accomplish it.
BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Friday Night Locker Room’s Zane Garcia previews the upcoming 2025 Merritt Island Christian Cougars prep football team.
2024 Recap: Merritt Island Christian is one of the most unique teams across Brevard County, being an 8-man football team. Since going winless in 2019, the Cougars have been amongst the elite in 8-man football and went 11-1 in 2024. MIC took a tough loss to Countryside Christian, but will be right back in the playoffs in 2025.
11-1 is a successful season nonetheless, but for the Merritt Island Christian Cougars, it does not mean much. Having won a state championship in 2023, the Cougars know what it takes to compete for a state title. With a 20-5 record over the past two seasons, the Cougars look to take the field in 2025 with a chip on their shoulder as they prepare for a state championship run. Nearly the entire squad is seniors; the 2025 Cougars do not lack any leadership and can leave a legacy for years to come.
DON’T MISS ALL THE LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY ACTION ON SPACE COAST DAILY TV
This is the 31st season of high school football coverage for the principals of Space Coast Daily and the Friday Night Locker Room – brought to you by Erdman Automotive, Health First, 4Ever Young of Merritt Island, and All Points.
The 2025 season is filled with talented student-athletes all across Brevard County, and many are being sought after by some of the best college football teams across the country.
With many decisions to be made by numerous athletes on where to pursue their college dreams, the Space Coast Daily – Friday Night Locker Room team is your go-to source for the latest announcements and commitments made by the athletes.
This year’s coverage on Space Coast Daily TV will once again feature a dynamic broadcast lineup, marking the first official media entity to bring prep football play-by-play coverage to Brevard County on both radio and TV.
Space Coast Sports Hall of Famers Steve Wilson and Orville Susong of the Friday Night Locker Room will once again bring you all the live action from the broadcast booth. In addition, Tom Palermo, Jim Palermo, Giles Malone, Zach Clark, Zane Garcia, Juan Rodreguiez, Terry Spain, JC Meyerholz, Matt O’Hern, Gavin Keith, and Brian Dillon will anchor or produce play-by-play football broadcasts and coverage 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!
TEAM-BY-TEAM 2025 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW SNAPSHOTS
As we move to summer training camps, we take a look ahead to the fall prep football season around the county. Recapping each school’s 2024 season and highlighting what every team has to look forward to in the 2025 season.
■ Cocoa Tigers
2024 Recap: The Cocoa Tigers went 11-3, playing some of the best teams nationally. They ended the season defeating Gadsden County 38-27 to win their third straight state championship. Cocoa also had another Mr. Football in the state of Florida; quarterback Brady Hart won the award after wide receiver Jayvan Boggs won it in 2023. Reloaded with talent, Cocoa will look to win a fourth straight championship.
Key Departures:
QB, Brady Hart- Texas A&M
OL, Chavez Thompson- Florida State University
DE, Javion Hilson- University of Missouri
Key Returners:
LB, Tyion Jacobs
FS, Cj Hester
WR, Tank White
■ Biggest Games in 2025
9/19 vs. Eau Gallie
10/3 at Miami Norland
10/10 vs. Apopka
■ Rockledge Raiders
2024 Recap: The Raiders finished the season 6-4 and did make the playoffs after being unbeaten in district play. However, they were defeated in the first round by Zephyrhills 35-15. With the new hiring of former Rockledge Raider himself, John Holmes, the Raiders are looking to head back to prominence.
Key Departures:
RB, Jaelyn Bradley
LB, Josiah Allen
DE, Joshua Williams
Key Returners:
QB, Joseph Watkins
ATH, Elijah Floyd
DE, Conlan Oakley
*Biggest Games in 2025*
9/5 at Cardinal Mooney
10/3 vs. Mandarin
10/31 vs. Cocoa
■ Eau Gallie Commodores
2024 Recap: The Eau Gallie Commodores had a historic 12-win season that ended in the Regional finale. The eventual state champions, Northwestern, halted their dream season, but the Commodores, with Coach Sands at the helm, are ready to cement themselves as a powerhouse around the county.
Key Departures:
RB, Tay Welch- University of Rhode Island
DT, Brandon Brown – LSU
SS, Ahmed Forehand- Duquesne
LB, Josh Roberts- Florida Atlantic
Key Returners:
WR/CB, Xavier Lherisse
QB, Joseph Allen
RG/LG, Savion Johnson
*Biggest Games in 2025*
9/12 vs. TFA
9/19 at Cocoa
10/24 at Atlantic
■ Viera Hawks
2024 Recap: Since the late 2010s, the Hawks have just been mediocre at best. Finishing 4-7 last season, Viera still has a bad taste in their mouth about how last season ended. The Hawks would lose a heartbreaker to Merritt Island and be thumped by Osceola.
Key Departures:
RB, Ryan Boobar
WR/DB, Nnamdi Osuorah
DE, Isaac Hungerbuhler
Key Returners:
QB, Eric Nelson
LB, James Olson
DT, Sal Orlando
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/22 vs. Rockledge
10/10 at Osceola
10/31 vs. Merritt Island
■ Melbourne Bulldogs
2024 Recap: The Bulldogs were 5-3 before dropping their final three games of the season, disappointingly. Melbourne did make the playoffs, but has forgotten that game as they look forward to the new season with new head coach Jeff Pannucci.
Key Departures:
With the youth that Melbourne has there aren’t any key departures
Key Returners:
RB, Kymarion Johnson
QB, Edrick Hall
WR, Michael Rogers
LB, Tyler Gagen
■ Biggest Games in 2025
9/5 vs. University
9/26 vs. Osceola
10/31 vs. Crystal River
■ Palm Bay Pirates
2024 Recap: Palm Bay, just one year prior in 2023, was a playoff team finishing with a 7-4 record. However, this past season turned disastrous; the Pirates failed to win a game, finishing the season 0-10, and were shut out in five of their ten losses. Although the season was not something to remember, the Pirates are headed for a resurgence after hiring former Viera Hawks head coach Kevin Mays.
Key Departures:
WR, Derek Jones Jr
ATH, Jaden Howard
LB/C, Jake Day
Key Returners:
RB, Dorian Beauchamp
LB, Billy Brown
C, Gavin Rodriguez
■ Biggest Games in 2025
9/12 at Merritt Island
9/19 vs. Melbourne
10/17 vs. Eau Gallie
■ Bayside Bears
2024 Recap: After a 5-5 regular season, the Bayside Bears did make the playoffs a season ago but fell short to Frostproof. The Bears would have liked to go further in the playoffs, of course, but much improvement was made from the 2023 season, which didn’t see a single win. Bayside’s expectations for this upcoming season are surely to return to the playoffs as well as make a run for themselves.
Key Departures:
LB/RB, Malik Cruz
QB, Kaiden Brabham
Key Returners:
ATH, Colston Patterson
TE, Evan Sherburne
RB, Elijah Grimsley
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/15 at St. Edwards
9/26 vs. Astronaut
10/3 at Space Coast
■ Heritage Panthers
2024 Recap: At 5-5, Heritage had a mediocre regular season compared to the 9-1 regular season they had in 2023. However they did make the playoffs, but were defeated in the first round at Miramar. Heritage has been the team to beat in the southern part of Brevard County over the past couple of years and they want to keep it that way.
Key Departures:
RB, David Francis
RB, Daniel Khawly
LB, Zack Hicks Jr
Key Returners:
ATH, Nathaniel Owens
RB/LB, John White
LB/ATH, Landon Clements
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/29 vs. Seminole
9/12 vs. Cocoa
9/19 vs. Woodford County (KY)
■ Melbourne Central Catholic Hustlers
2024 Recap: The past two seasons, the Hustlers are a combined 17-6, and they want to keep that success train rolling this season. Last year, the Hustlers fell short in overtime to Orlando Christian Prep in the regional quarterfinals. This upcoming season, MCC will be looking to head right back to the playoffs and do damage.
Key Departures:
WR/CB, Ramel Hernandez
LB/DE, Harlan Peat
LB/SS, Ezra Engle
Key Returners:
QB, Brogan McNab
ATH, Noah Flores
ATH, Howard Dewitt
■ Biggest Games in 2025
10/10 vs. Cardinal Newman
10/17 vs. Orlando Christian Prep
10/30 at Heritage
■ Satellite Scorpions
2024 Recap: The 2024 season was to forget for the Satellite Scorpions, managing just one win; they will be eager to get back on the field in 2025. The 2024 season, however, did end with something to cheer about, and that is the hiring of legendary coach Dan Burke. Coach Burke spent 23 seasons at Palm Bay, leading them to state championships in 2000 and 2001.
Key Departures:
LB, Seth Hufty
CB, Collin Roddy
LB, Allen Steffen
Key Returners:
RB, Logan Waite
WR, Alex Batallas
QB, Brody Grennan
■ Biggest Games in 2025
9/5 at Oxbridge Academy
9/19 at Atlantic
10/10 at West Nassau
■ Space Coast Vipers
2024 Recap: The story of the 2024 Space Coast Vipers is genuinely inspirational. After amassing just five wins from 2020-2023, the Vipers won double that this past season and concluded the season with a state championship. With donations and support from NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Vipers took the field in new uniforms and more confident than ever, leading to their program’s first state title.
Key Departures:
RB/LB, Christopher McDonel
WR, Dee Parker
LB/QB, Christian Burt
Key Returners:
QB, Zion Sandy
RB, Kole Gamble
WR/CB, Kadyn Thomas
ATH, Alex Banachoski
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/29 vs. St. Edward’s
9/12 vs. Astronaut
10/17 vs. Master’s Academy
■ Cocoa Beach Minutemen
2024 Recap: 4-6 is not the prettiest record to show, but the Minutemen did improve one game from the 2023 season. Coach Ted Kimmey and staff are headed in the right direction in the 2025 season, and with the youth this team has, they should improve year by year.
Key Departures:
SS, Kyler Coe
ATH, Aaron Garber
WR, Brennan Berk
Key Returners:
RB/LB, Tristan Sejeck
QB, Remy Vigne
FS/LB, Austin Persico
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/22 at Melbourne
9/19 at St. Edward’s
9/26 vs. Space Coast
■ Titusville Terriers
2024 Recap: The Terriers went 7-5, winning a playoff game against Merritt Island before losing to Eau Gallie, who went on to the regional finals. Over the past three seasons, coach John Holmes turned a 1-10 Titusville squad into a true contender. However, Coach Holmes is now the new head coach at Rockledge, which means new beginnings for the Terriers.
Key Departures:
ATH, Jamarion Stephens
ATH, Tj Brothers
WR, Ralph Smith
Key Returners:
ATH, Tank Harvey
ATH, Camari Jackson
LB, Jabari Green
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/22 vs. Heritage
9/26 at Eau Gallie
■ Astronaut War Eagles
2024 Recap: The 2023 Astronaut War Eagles went a dismal 2-8 and were looking to turn the corner this past season. They did just that, going 6-4 they improved tremendously, but lucked out by not getting a playoff bid after they beat Villages Charter in their season finale. This upcoming season, the War Eagles have something to build off of and are headed in the right direction.
Key Departures:
CB/WR, Elijah Peters
TE/LB, Colt Steuerwald
RB/DE, Che’vion Beachem
Key Returners:
ATH, Delvontay Hunter
QB, Brennan Waldrop
OT/DT, Adarian Dotson
■ Biggest Games in 2025
9/12 at Space Coast
9/26 at Bayside
10/3 vs. Sebastian River
■ Merritt Island Mustangs
2024 Recap: Merritt Island put together a strong 7-4 season that ended with a 17-14 loss to Titusville. However, all three of their regular-season losses came by just one score; they were in the game against DeLand, Eau Gallie, and Titusville, all of whom are formidable opponents. The Mustangs have built a strong program and consistently remain competitive throughout the county. Look for them to have similar success in 2025.
Key Departures:
RB/LB, Delvonte Williams
LB, Cayden Herrick
ATH, Finn Sinclair
Key Returners:
TE/WR, Deshaun Thomas
WR, Donterrius Robinson Jr
DE, Jarvis Howell
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/29 vs. Melbourne
9/5 at DeLand
10/10 vs. Eau Gallie
■ Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Tigers
2024 Recap: The Holy Trinity Tigers went 5-5 last year, not making the postseason. Holy Trinity has been a solid program for years and will look to get the train back on track in 2025. The Tigers went 7-4 in 2023 and regressed last season; however, they have a lot of pieces that are game changers for them this season.
Key Departures:
WR, Dylan Jensen
LB, Griffin Brunger
LB, Beau Fleis
Key Returners:
DE, Oliver Esmailzadeh
QB, Rico Buitrago
■ Biggest Games in 2025
9/12 at Bayside
10/3 vs. New Smyrna Beach
10/17 Oxbridge Academy
■ Merritt Island Christian Cougars
2024 Recap: Merritt Island Christian is one of the most unique teams across Brevard County, being an 8-man football team. Since going winless in 2019, the Cougars have been amongst the elite in 8-man football and went 11-1 in 2024. MIC took a tough loss to Countryside Christian, but will be right back in the playoffs in 2025.
Key Departures:
WR, Trey Nevad
RB, Nathanael Buccio
WR, Carter Stevenson
DE/ATH, Brayden Murphy
Key Returners:
RB, Caleb Richeson
QB/LB, Bode Handwork
DE, Daiden Gilmore
■ Biggest Games in 2025
8/22 at Ocala Christian
9/5 at Countryside Christian
9/19 vs. Donahue Catholic
