Week 5 Roundup: Eau Gallie beats Cocoa, Merritt Island wins again

Cocoa and Eau Gallie squared off on Sept. 18 in what was the Tigers' third game of the season and the first home game of the season for the Commodores.

It was scoreless deep into the second quarter, but Eau Gallie hit on four big plays resulting in touchdowns as the Commodores defense stifled the Tigers offense in a 28-14 win.

"We played gritty. The biggest thing for us is we didn't have a lot of calls on our side, but our guys stayed in there and played hard to the end," Eau Gallie head coach Chris Sands said. "We made some plays. We missed some plays too but at the end of the day, we did not turn the ball over. We played great special teams and we came out a two-score victory."

It was a frustrating first half for Eau Gallie marred by missed opportunities. The Commodores started at midfield or in Cocoa territory on all six drives in the first half but managed to score only 7 points.

"We had to adjust a little bit to get our guys open. We were confident in our defense and special teams," Sands said. "We're going to make our plays. They're going to eventually pop open. We made some plays."

Eau Gallie sophomore Captain Rolle sparked the Commodores on both sides of the ball finishing with a touchdown reception and 3 interceptions on defense.

"Great way to come out," Rolle said. "People said we thought we were going to lose and all the trash talking. Felt good to get this win back on our feet."

On the next play from scrimmage following a Cocoa missed field goal, Rolle caught a pass over the middle of the field and sprinted away from the Cocoa defense for an 80-yard touchdown. That made it 14-0 with 8:15 left in the third quarter.

Defensively, Rolle iced the game with a career-high 3 interceptions on Cocoa sophomore Kadin Claflin-Coy. The sophomore picked off a deep ball in the middle of the field with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter.

The final two Cocoa drives were ended by Rolle interceptions on the goal line.

"Just looking at the players and the route concepts," Rolle said. "Our defense helps me look at the receivers and the QBs, so just reading them and getting my picks."

Rolle caught his first touchdown of the season and he recorded his first career multi-interception game of his career. After intercepting 3 passes last year, the sophomore increased his total to 4 this year at the season's halfway point.

"I feel like I know the defense more and the game more so I can kind of play around with it," Rolle said.

Eau Gallie almost exclusively threw the ball due to Cocoa's defensive scheme. The Commodores finished the game with only four designed runs.

Senior quarterback Joseph Allen completed 18-of-35 passes for 301 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The lone score in the first half was an 11-yard touchdown pass by Allen to junior Tay Johnson. After Rolle's score, Allen combined with junior Zay Hawkins for a 60-yard touchdown with 2:58 left in the third quarter on the ensuing drive after Cocoa scored to make it a one score game.

Allen's final touchdown with a 23-yard completion to freshman tailback Michael Bradshaw on the first play of the fourth quarter.

"When they're sending eight guys and just playing cover zero, that's what's going to happen," Sands said. "I'm really proud of Joseph (Allen). He stuck in there and played really hard and got our guys the ball. Really protected the football."

Eau Gallie finished the night with 9 sacks on defense. Senior Kayden Jaquez led the unit with 3 sacks. Senior Zay Floyd and junior Gabriel Player posted 2 sacks each. Senior Lukas Viselli and senior Nickello Yee recorded 1 sack.

"Our big-time players made big time plays," Sands said. "We're supposed to do that. We got to move on and get back into district and keep getting better every week."

Eau Gallie earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season and improved to 3-2. The Commodores return to district play on Sept. 24 against Astronaut.

Although the results have been uneven coupled with an injury to star running back X'Zavier Corbin, Sands said the team is battle tested to attack the second half of the season.

"That was the goal playing teams like Carrollwood Day and Seminole, those elite state teams and we traveled to them because our goal at the end of the day is to win the state title," Sands said. "We licked our wounds a little bit with it, but we got to get rolling and start playing more consistent."

It was an offensive struggle for Cocoa for most of the night in its second road defeat of the season.

The Tigers went three-and-out on their first seven possessions before moving the chains for the first time with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter. Defensively, they were hurt by Eau Gallie's big plays resulting in touchdowns.

"We knew we would be able to get pressure on them. That was the game plan. Defense did a good job all night," Cocoa head coach Nate Hooks said. "We had four mental errors and it ended up in 4 touchdowns. It's a game where you pay if you make mental errors."

Claflin-Coy finished the night completing 10-of-25 passes for 133 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He was sacked 9 times.

"We're trying to get him to be a little bit more poised and take care of the ball, but his athleticism is (Claflin-Coy's) biggest asset," Hooks said. "He has to be the leader of the offense and the team."

It was another big night for Tigers junior Anthony Whaley on both sides of the ball. Whaley caught 4 passes for 81 yards and 1 touchdown. The junior now has 3 touchdowns in 3 games.

"Anthony (Whaley) is a weapon. He's good on defense. He's disciplined," Hooks said. "He's a big kid. That makes him a weapon on offense. We need to get him the ball even more."

Whaley caught a 22-yard touchdown to get Cocoa on the board. Tigers senior Tank White hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-goal to make it a two-score game with 10:39 remaining.

Defensively, Cocoa got to Allen four times for sacks including three from junior Elyias Wilson and one from junior Xavier Melendez.

Cocoa dropped to 0-3 and it'll head home to host Heritage on Sept. 25.

"We easily have the toughest schedule in the county with the most inexperienced team in the county. Progress each week, that's what we have got to strive for," Hooks said. "There's no such thing as moral victories. We just played a team that's arguably the best in the county and they knew we were there."

The Mustangs remain perfect after defeating last year's regional finalist Bishop Kenny by three scores.

Quarterback Kevin Verpaele threw 4 touchdowns and ran for 1. Verpaele threw a 24-yard touchdown to DeShaun Thomas, a 37-yard score to Elijah Mitchell , a 59-yard score to Zaylan Chapple and a 68-yard score to Tim Sedaros. Chapple also rushed for a 37-yard touchdown and Verpaele's rushing score was 15 yards.

Defensively, the Mustangs forced 2 turnovers on an interception by Abel Stricklin and a forced fumble by Nathan Schafer.

Merritt Island improved to 5-0 and it'll host Titusville on Sept. 24.

Merritt Island, defeats BIshop Kenny 45-23 in Week 5 football

Melbourne bounced back with a blowout win over Palm Bay behind 153 yards and 3 touchdowns from Tyrese Jefferson. Howard Dewitt scored 2 rushing touchdowns and Kymarion Johnson punched a score into the end zone. Will Reinhold competed 14-of-18 passes for 228 yards and 1 touchdown to Connor Gale.

Palm Bay loses by the same scoreline for the second week in a row. The Pirates' only touchdown was a 15-yard touchdown pass by Mik Zades to Gio Spann.

The Bulldogs enter their bye week with a 3-2 record. Palm Bay falls to 1-3 and it'll head to Rockledge on Sept. 25.

Heritage posted its second straight shutout home win in district play with a 38-0 victory over Fort Pierce Westwood.

Izael Johnson scored 3 touchdowns from 1, 5 and 18 yards. Christian Ryder Borhi scored on a 1-yard run and Dreyvon Lee scored on a 7-yard run to end the night.

The Panthers improved to 3-2 and they'll head to Cocoa for a non-district game on Sept. 25.

Melbourne Central Catholic 48, Father Lopez 15

In their return from the bye week, the Hustlers kicked off district play with a dominant road win in Daytona Beach over Father Lopez.

Melbourne Central Catholic improves to 3-1 and it'll host Wildwood in its final district game of the year on Sept. 25.

The Minutemen stay undefeated with a one-score victory over St. Edward's. Ryan Rogers scored 2 rushing touchdowns and Jay Craft hit Jaxen McQueen for a passing touchdown.

Cocoa Beach improved to 5-0 and it'll face fellow unbeaten Satellite on Sept. 24.

Satellite's game in Port Orange at Atlantic was canceled with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter due to weather. The Scorpions led 16-0 when the game stopped.

On social media, Satellite said both teams will look to reschedule the game.

Merritt Island Christian 57, Academy at the Lakes 20

The Cougars improved to 5-0 after pulling away from the Academy at the Lakes. Maddux Martinson threw 3 touchdowns and rushed for 1. Slater Williamson, Korbin Kugler and John Hey scored 2 touchdowns each. Micah Branch caught 1 touchdown.

Merritt Island Christian hosts Lake Mary Prep on Sept. 25.

Calvary Chapel earned a road win at Ocala Christian behind 2 rushing touchdowns from Gavin Stewart and Zach Wolfe. Chace Evans threw a touchdown to Carter Follrod and ran for one.

The Eagles move to 5-0 and they'll head to City of Life Christian Academy on Sept. 25.

The Tigers recorded their second straight shutout of the season blanking Somerset Canyons in Boynton Beach in their first road game of 2026.

Holy Trinity improved to 3-1 and it'll play at St. John Paul II Academy on Sept. 25.