Brevard County High School Football Returns: Complete 2026 Season Preview

The 2026 High School Football Season Starts this Week

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Another high school football season is here, and as the days count down to Friday night lights, we take an in-depth look at each Brevard County football team.

The upcoming 2026 football season is sure to be filled with climactic moments and surprises as some teams gear up for a potential state title run.

The 2026 football preview will first highlight the top eight teams as a part of the preseason rankings, then the other nine football teams.

*Rankings are based on last season, talent retained and gained, as well as strength of schedule. As the season goes along, rankings will vary based on performance and strength of schedule.

TOP 8

1. Eau Gallie Commodores: 2025 record (9-4)

Last season the Commodores finally ended the Cocoa Tigers dominate streak of 28 in-county wins in a row and while they were not healthy the entire season, you could feel the momentum switch. Eau Gallie’s hunt for back-to-back final four appearances fell short in the Regional Finals as they loss to Bishop Moore, 31-28. However, the team is back this season loaded with talent once again.

Key Players

• Senior Quarterback, Joesph Allen (Towson Commit)

• Junior Linebacker, Gabriel Player

• Sophomore Athlete, X’Zavier Corbin

Key Games

• 9/18 vs Cocoa

• 10/9 vs Merritt Island

• 10/30 vs Vero Beach

2. Cocoa Tigers: 2025 record (8-5)

Coming off of three state championships in a row, everyone was thinking the 2025 Cocoa Tigers were headed right back to the state title. However, by week seven, the Tigers sat at 2-4, and there was a real chance that they would not make the playoffs. The Tigers found their stride after defeating previously undefeated Villages in dominating fashion, rattled off six wins in a row, and reached yet another final four. The road did end there, though, as they ran into Cardinal Mooney, who went on to win the state championship. Now under head coach Nate Hooks, can the Tigers continue their dominance?

Key Players

• Junior Running back, Javeon Scott

• Sophomore Quarterback, Kadin Claflin-Coy

• Junior Wide Receiver, Jayden Maul

Key Games

• 8/21 vs Merritt Island

• 9/18 @ Eau Gallie

• 10/23 vs Raines

3. Merritt Island Mustangs: 2025 record (7-5)

The 2025 Mustangs were just a couple of plays away from being 9-3 or even 10-2, while Merritt Island was not able to defeat Eau Gallie when it counted most in the playoffs. Last year’s team had a lot of talent and showed it. Led by now-senior quarterback Kevin Verpaele, the Mustangs’ offense was electric, and this season will be a lot of the same. Over this past offseason, the Mustangs have acquired many transfers that have consequently improved their team tremendously. Can Merritt Island make a run back to the state championship just as they did in 2021?

Key Players

• Senior Quarterback, Kevin Verpaele (USF Commit)

• Senior Tight end, DeShaun Thomas (Pitt Commit)

• Sophomore Athlete, Elijah Mitchell

Key Games

• 8/21 @ Cocoa

• 9/4 @ Ponte Vedra

• 10/9 @ Eau Gallie

4. Melbourne Bulldogs: 2025 record (6-5)

The Melbourne Bulldogs put the county on notice last season with the run they had last season. Sitting at 6-2 at one point, the Bulldogs were underrated and ready to compete with anyone, but the season did not end how they would have liked it to, dropping their last three games of the season. However, the positive to take is the experience that the young group gained and can apply to this season.

Key Players

• Junior Quarterback, Cj Hall

• Sophomore Running back, Tyrese Jefferson

• Senior Defensive back, Demond Scott (UConn Commit)

Key Games

• 8/28 vs Merritt Island

• 9/10 @ Oviedo

• 10/2 vs Viera

5. Viera Hawks: 2025 record (7-5)

I think most can agree that Viera’s 2025 season caught many by surprise; they were better than their record shows, and the kind of notion around last season’s squad was that they were rebuilding. Great senior leadership made the season go better than expected, but the underclassmen group is looking to build back the Viera football team we were accustomed to seeing in the early to late 2010’s. Despite not going deep into the postseason, the Hawks did enjoy an impressive 54-13 opening-round victory over Riverview.

Key Players

• Senior Running back, Duke Butler (Navy Commit)

• Senior Offensive Lineman, Coby Wallace (Army Commit)

• Sophomore Running back, Derek Schmadeke

Key Games

• 9/25 @ Catholic Memorial (Massachusetts)

• 10/2 @ Melbourne

• 10/30 vs Merritt Island

6. Titusville Terriers: 2025 record (5-6)

The 2025 Terriers had some ups and downs, but overall they were competitive through the entire season. Losing three games by one score and one game by two scores, they were in almost every game. In year one with Matt Diesel at the helm, Titusville found an identity with a stingy defense and dynamic offensive attack. Led by the most underrated player in the county and probably state, Elijah “Tank” Harvey, Titusville will look to have yet another successful campaign.

Key Players

• Senior Athlete, Elijah “Tank” Harvey

• Senior Quarterback, Remy Vigne

• Senior Linebacker, Semaja Glover

Key Games

• 9/4 vs Spruce Creek

• 9/25 @ Merritt Island

• 10/16 vs Eau Gallie

7. Heritage Panthers: 2025 record (4-7)

Although the 2025 season did not look glamorous, Heritage was a better team than the record shows. They finished 4-7, but lost three games by one score while playing one of the hardest schedules in Brevard County. Coach Benson has kept the Panthers competitive, but is still searching for a deep playoff run. With a lot of youth and new faces in the program, the future looks bright for Heritage.

Key Players

• Senior Linebacker, Anthony Hicks

• Sophomore Running Back, Dreyvon Lee

• Senior Quarterback, Christian Borhi

Key Games

• 8/21 vs Melbourne

• 9/25 @ Cocoa

• 10/9 vs Jensen Beach

8. Melbourne Central Catholic: 2025 record (3-8)

After an 8-3 2024 season, the expectations were high for the 2025 campaign, but it did not go as planned. Star quarterback Brogan McNab was destined for a breakout senior season, but his season was cut short by injury. Now, with former Cocoa head coach Ryan Schneider taking over at MCC, the future will be exciting for the Hustlers. MCC has had a lot of success in recent history and is looking to revitalize the program back to a Final Four team.

Key Players

• Senior Athlete, Noah Flores (Harvard Commit)

• Senior Wide Receiver, Grady Bonenberger

• Junior Linebacker, Will Warren

Key Games

• 8/28 @ Benjamin

• 9/4 @ Bishop Moore

• 10/23 vs SFA

REST OF BREVARD COUNTY TEAMS

Astronaut War Eagles: 2025 record (5-5)

Last season, Astronaut was looking to improve even further after winning six games in 2024, but finished right at even. The War Eagles are definitely not shying away from the competition this season as they have moved up to 3A from 2A, which they were used to. While the district will not be easy by any means, Coach Hallock and company know this is a step in the right direction for the future of the War Eagles program.

Key Players

• Senior Offensive Line, Adarian Dotson (FIU Commit)

• Senior Defensive Back, Kedron Davis

• Senior Athlete, Jaquan Hagans

Key Games

• 9/11 @ Merritt Island

• 10/2 vs Space Coast

• 10/23 vs Titusville

Holy Trinity Tigers: 2025 record (7-3)

Holy Trinity leaned a lot on some big-time players last year, and it worked in their favor. Seniors Rico Buitrago, Jaeden McMillan, Jordan Osborne, and Kriston Gibson led the team last year on offense and defense. However, the team did retain some key players and is looking to build off last season.

Key Players

• Junior Athlete, Aaron Raines

• Senior Defensive End, Oliver Esmailzadeh

• Junior Athlete, Hayden Argo

Key Games

• 8/14 vs MCC *KOC

• 10/2 @ John Carroll Catholic

• 10/16 vs Centennial

Space Coast Vipers: 2025 record (11-2)

The Space Coast Vipers went from 1-8 in 2023 to 21-5 over the past two seasons. Part of the change was moving from the FHSAA to the SSAA, but the talent has spoken for itself. Led by quarterback Azion Sandy over the past two seasons, the Vipers have been a very effective offense with depth as well. Their schedule is a lot more difficult this season than it was a season ago, so it should be interesting to see how they hold up against some formidable opponents.

Key Players

• Junior Quarterback, Azion Sandy

• Senior Wide Receiver, Kadyn Thomas

• Senior Linebacker, Ej Clouser

Key Games

• 8/28 @ Okeechobee

• 10/2 @ Astronaut

• 10/16 vs Cocoa

Rockledge Raiders: 2025 record (3-8)

In the first season of the John Holmes era, the Rockledge Raiders took a step back from what the expectation normally is when you suit up in the Raider blue and white, but the daunting schedule was the main excuse for that. Of the eleven opponents Rockledge faced in 2025, the opponents finished with a combined record of 105-43, easily one of the most difficult schedules in the state. There is a lot of work to be done; it will be interesting to see if they can improve from last season.

Key Players

• Sophomore Wide Receiver, Matthew Ford

• Senior Athlete, Michael Gonzalez Jr.

• Junior Running back, Raheim Cutter

Key Games

• 8/21 vs Viera

• 9/11 vs Eau Gallie

• 10/30 @ Cocoa

Cocoa Beach Minutemen: 2025 record (2-8)

The season did not transpire the way the Minutemen would have liked, especially after the momentum they had in 2024. However, a challenging schedule in 2025 proved to be difficult for them. This season, after retaining many players and adding some new transfers, Cocoa Beach will look to get back on track in 2026. Since Ted Kimmey took over the program in 2023, the program has trended in the right direction.

Key Players

• Senior Linebacker, Charlie Grissom

• Senior Running Back, Ryan Rogers

• Sophomore, Graham Kimmey

Key Games

• 9/25 @ Satellite

• 10/9 @ Space Coast

• 10/23 vs Bayside

Palm Bay Pirates: 2025 record (2-8)

The first season of the Kevin Mays era at Palm Bay was not about getting them into the playoffs, but seeing progress. After a winless season in 2024, the Pirates were desperate to get on the winning side. While they did win their first two of three games, they finished the season losing their last seven. Any rebuild takes time, and needless to say, Coach Mays and staff know what it takes to get them back on track.

Key Players

• Junior Quarterback, Mikkel Zades

• Junior Athlete, Tim Sederos

• Junior, Kayden Fonte

Key Games

• 9/18 @ Melbourne

• 9/25 @ Rockledge

• 10/9 vs Astronaut

Bayside Bears: 2025 record (3-8)

The Bayside Bears have been competitive, but have not put together a winning season in over a decade. While talent has come through the doors, they have not been able to sustain momentum. In 2025, they only won three games, but were in a lot of games that could have gone either way. Head coach Billy Miller and company will be looking to improve from some positives of last season.

Key Players

• Junior Wide Receiver, Malichi Barrett-Timmons

• Senior Athlete, Evan Sherburne

• Junior Athlete, Mason Leggins

Key Games

• 8/28 @ Palm Bay

• 9/25 vs Space Coast

• 10/23 @ Cocoa Beach

Satellite Scorpions: 2025 record (10-2)

Last season, Satellite entered the SSAA as opposed to the FHSAA for the first season and were wildly successful. The Scorpions put together a 10-2 record and looked like they were headed for a state title run. However, they ran into a strong American Heritage (Delray Beach) squad in the playoffs. This season, expect even more success as legendary coach Dan Burke looks to lead the Scorpions to a state title.

Key Players

• Senior Running Back, Tristan Sejeck

• Senior Wide Receiver, Noah Corriveau

• Senior Linebacker, Donald Cline

Key Games

• 8/13 vs Space Coast

• 9/18 @ Atlantic

• 10/2 @ Eustis

8-MAN FOOTBALL

Merritt Island Christian Cougars: 2025 record (11-2)

As far as a dynasty goes, when it comes to eight-man football, Merritt Island Christian has definitely made them into a dynasty over the past four seasons and will look to keep it going this season. The past two seasons, the Cougars have been a game away from returning to the state championship as they won it in 2023. With a new head coach, Josh Babin, the Cougars look to keep the winning tradition going.

*After losing nearly the entire team, there are no specific key players

Key Games

• 8/21 @ SFCA

• 9/25 vs Lake Mary Prep

• 10/23 vs CLCA

Similar Stories