Week 6 Preview: Titusville, Merritt Island collide in district play

A packed Week 6 begins on Sept. 24 and ends on Sept. 25. The slate is headlined by marquee matchups and the return of multiple district games.

On Sept. 24, Titusville-Merritt Island and Astronaut-Eau Gallie face off in District 8-3A games. Undefeated Cocoa Beach squares off against undefeated Satellite in SSAA play. Heritage-Cocoa, Palm Bay-Rockledge and Space Coast-Bayside compete in all-Brevard games on Sept. 25.

Here’s a preview of the Week 6 games.

Sept. 24

FHSAA

Titusville (4-1) at Merritt Island (5-0), 7 p.m.

In the most anticipated game of the season so far, Titusville will look to avenge last year’s playoff defeat to Merritt Island.

It’ll feature two high-scoring offenses with Merritt Island averaging 42.8 points per game and Titusville averaging 34.8 points per game. Merritt Island edges Titusville in total yards per game 440-364.

Both lean on the running game with the Terriers rushing for 193.6 yards per game led by junior Tamarion Walker’s 401 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Merritt Island sits at 172.8 yards per game behind junior Zaylan Chapple’s 530 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

In the air, Mustangs quarterback Kevin Verpaele has completed 69.4% of his passes for 1,335 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. In his first FHSAA season, Titusville senior Remy Vigne has completed 63% of his passes for 750 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

Defensively, both teams have allowed less than 90 total points in five games. Titusville allowed 13.4 points per game and Merritt Island is at 17.2 points per game allowed.

Merritt Island senior Alain Adams leads the defense with 51 tackles. The Mustangs have forced nine takeaways, including six interceptions. Senior Kamar Fielder intercepted two passes and broke up four passes.

Terriers sophomore Van Russell leads the team with 43 tackles and two sacks. As a unit, they’ve recorded 7.5 sacks, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Astronaut (2-2) at Eau Gallie (3-2), 7 p.m.

Both teams are coming off wins in Week 5. Eau Gallie defeated Cocoa 28-14 behind four touchdown passes from senior Joseph Allen and three defensive interceptions by sophomore Captain Rolle. The Commodores finished the game with 12 sacks, including four from senior Kayden Jaquez.

Allen, in his first season back from injury, has thrown for 1,103 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Junior Zay Hawkins leads the pass catchers with 20 receptions for 392 yards and three touchdowns.

Jaquez and junior Gabriel Player lead the defense with 38 and 35 tackles, respectively. Player has 12 tackles for loss and six sacks. Rolle leads the team with four interceptions.

Astronaut seeks its first district win of the season after a Week 4 defeat to Merritt Island. On Sept. 18, the War Eagles defeated Eustis 31-6 to move back to .500.

SSAA

Cocoa Beach (5-0) at Satellite (5-0), 7 p.m.

The biggest SSAA game of the season in Brevard County takes place on Sept. 24 at Satellite where unbeatens Cocoa Beach and Satellite square off.

The Minutemen, who went 2-8 last season, improved to 5-0 following a 28-20 win over St. Edward’s. Satellite saw its game at Atlantic canceled due to weather.

Satellite enters this meeting still riding its 236:41 shutout streak on defense. The unit has allowed one touchdown this season which came on the first possession of the season versus Space Coast. The Scorpions have outscored their opponents 198-9 this season.

Cocoa Beach has outscored its opponents 182-73. Junior Jay Craft has thrown for 758 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. Senior Ryan Rogers leads the rushing attack with 450 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Minutemen have forced 15 turnovers with eight fumbles and seven interceptions. Junior Conner Hansford and freshman Jordan Stevens have recovered two fumbles. Sophomore TJ Santerfeit leads the team with 2 interceptions. The top tackler is senior Charlie Grissom with 30.

Sept. 25

FHSAA

Heritage (3-2) at Cocoa (0-2), 7 p.m.

Heritage and Cocoa face off in a non-district game with both teams going in opposite directions.

After an 0-2 start, the Panthers have rattled off three straight wins including the last two in district play. They defeated Fort Pierce Westwood 38-0 last week. Cocoa is still searching for its first win of the season after defeats to Merritt Island, Newberry and Eau Gallie.

Panthers senior Izael Johnson leads the offense with eight rushing touchdowns. Johnson rushed into the end zone for three scores against Westwood. Sophomore Dreyvon Lee scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season versus Westwood while senior Christian Ryder Borhi increased the team total to 11 rushing touchdowns with his second score.

Cocoa will look to get more out of its offense after a strong showing by the defense versus Eau Gallie. The Tigers finished with 216 total yards on Sept. 18 with sophomore Kadin Claflin-Coy completing 10-of-24 passes for 171 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

A bright spot has been the play of junior Anthony Whaley. He leads the team with eight receptions, 219 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Heritage has pitched back-to-back shutouts recovering seven fumbles this season. Junior Kenny Caballero Jr. recovered two fumbles this season. Senior Cordae Copeland leads the team with 24 tackles.

Tigers senior Kenny Brooks leads the team with 22 tackles. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times. Junior Gregory Graham recorded 3.5 sacks and junior Elyias Wilson sacked Allen three times last week.

Palm Bay (1-3) at Rockledge (0-4), 7 p.m.

Palm Bay and Rockledge are both looking to snap multi-game losing streaks and pick up a key district win.

The Pirates are coming off a 49-6 defeat at Melbourne when junior Mik Zades threw a 15-yard touchdown to sophomore Gio Spann for the team’s lone score. After beating Nova Lakes 41-7 in Week 1, Palm Bay has been outscored 137-37 in three consecutive defeats.

The Raiders look to regroup following a bye week after losing two games in four days from Sept. 11-14. Rockledge managed to push Spruce Creek to overtime on Sept. 14 despite finishing the game with just 110 total yards of offense.

Rockledge junior Vondexter Tyler and sophomore Reggie Clark led the defense with 16 tackles versus Spruce Creek. The Raiders finished the night with 14 tackles for loss.

Viera (3-1) at Catholic Memorial (2-0), 6 p.m.

The Hawks make a rare road trip outside the state as they head north to face Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury, Mass. Before the team’s bye week, Viera shut out Lyman 47-0 to kick off district play.

Sophomore Jaamal Crittington combined for 209 total yards and 5 touchdowns. Crittington rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns. He threw touchdown passes to senior Slade Pulliam, junior Tristan Jordan and freshman Marquise Burns-Lane.

Hawks sophomore Derek Schmadeke led the team with nine tackles and three sacks. Senior Dimitri Jean recovered one fumble.

Catholic Memorial is arguably the best team in Massachusetts after it won the Division 2 state championship last season. The Knights are 2-0 this season and they’ve scored 86 points.

Wildwood (4-0) at Melbourne Central Catholic (3-1), 7 p.m.

Melbourne Central Catholic returns home for the first time since Week 2 after a district victory at Father Lopez last week. A win on Sept. 25 would clinch the Hustlers' fourth straight district title.

In his first year as the starting quarterback, sophomore Trenton Washington has completed 65% of his passes for 1,129 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior Grady Bonenberger is the top pass catcher on MCC with 23 receptions for 442 yards and five touchdowns.

Hustlers junior Will Warren and senior Ty Goetsch leads the team in tackles with 57 and 47, respectively. Goetsch posted three sacks for the team lead and senior Ian Crockett intercepted three passes.

Wildwood plays its first district game of the season after outscoring opponents 160-32 through four games. The Wildcats feature a 1,000-yard passer of their own in senior Wes Ammons. He’s thrown for 1,031 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Defensively, Wildwood has recorded 13 sacks, recovered eight fumbles and intercepted six passes. Senior Kiwanis Cope leads the team with 51 tackles and two interceptions.

Holy Trinity (3-1) at St. John Paul II Academy (1-3), 7 p.m.

Holy Trinity heads to south Florida for the second straight week as it faces St. John Paul II in Boca Raton.

The Tigers shut out Somerset Canyons 28-0 for their second straight win. Sophomore Jackson Mobley threw for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Mobley threw touchdowns to senior Chandler Hendley and sophomore Jacorey Mills. The sophomore also rushed for a touchdown.

Holy Trinity senior Oliver Esmailzadeh led the team with 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. Junior Nathan Reeve recovered a fumble that was forced by senior Ben Silsbee. As a defense, Holy Trinity allowed 118 total yards.

St. John Paul II is coming off a 34-28 defeat to Jupiter Christian. Two of its three defeats have been by one possession. Senior Julian Ayala has thrown for 691 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Sophomore Joziah Ferrer has caught 23 passes for 491 yards and five touchdowns.

Eagles sophomore Maurice Joseph leads the defense with 33 tackles. Senior Gianni Jones recorded four sacks and the Eagles have recovered six fumbles this season.

SSAA

Space Coast (4-1) at Bayside (2-3), 7 p.m.

Space Coast and Bayside collide in an SSAA matchup. The Vipers have won four games in a row since their Week 1 defeat at Satellite.

On Sept. 21, Space Coast posted its third consecutive shutout with a 56-0 win over Discovery. Junior Zion Sandy completed 11-of-13 passes for 287 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Kadyn Thomas was one of five touchdown pass catchers finishing with a team-high 89 yards.

The Vipers defense finished the game with 21 tackles for loss and two takeaways. Senior Ej Clouser recorded four tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. Freshman Da’bar Fluellen recovered a fumble.

Bayside returns to the field after a bye week looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

Bears senior Joey Costa has thrown for 688 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions this season. Junior Zion Jones leads the team in rushing with 510 yards.

Bayside junior Caiden Cavzos leads the team with 51 tackles and six tackles for loss. Junior Tyler Camby recovered 2 fumbles and intercepted one pass.

SSAA, 8-man

Calvary Chapel (5-0) at City of Life Christian Academy (1-2), 7 p.m.

The Eagles will look to double up their win total from last season after remaining unbeaten with a 38-8 win over Ocala Christian.

Calvary Chapel senior Gavin Stewart and sophomore Zach Wolfe rushed for two touchdowns. Sophomore Chace Evans rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to senior Carter Follrod.

City of Life Christian Academy won its most recent game on Sept. 10 over Florida School for the Deaf & Blind. The Warriors have rushed for 466 yards this season and they’ve forced five turnovers.

Lake Mary Prep (1-4) at Merritt Island Christian (5-0), 7 p.m.

The Cougars continue to dominate their opponents. After a 57-20 win over Academy at the Lakes on Sept. 18, Merritt Island Christian has outscored four opponents 185-48.

As a team, the Cougars have rushed for 752 yards with 10 different players. Junior Korbin Kugler leads the group with 239 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Maddux Martinson is 20-for-28 with 663 yards, 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions this season. Martinson also rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns.

Kugler leads the defense with 31 tackles. Juniors Mason Van Slyke and Shane Chandler have recorded two sacks and two interceptions, respectively.

Lake Mary Prep is on a three-game losing streak after losing 60-12 to Bradenton Christian on Sept. 18. It has totaled 26 points in four defeats this season.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Week 6 Preview: Titusville, Merritt Island collide in district play