Cocoa, Titusville Get Huge Rivalry Game Victories in Final Regular Season Game of Football Season
By Space Coast Daily // October 31, 2025
MERRITT ISLAND AND EAU GALLIE TO CLASH IN district championship ON TUESDAY
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The final week of the FHSAA high school football season saw a little bit of everything as it ended on a Thursday night.
Annual rivalries ending in blowouts, a nail-biting game coming down to the last minute, upset victories, and the beginning of the SSAA playoffs.
This is the 31st season of high school football coverage for Space Coast Daily and the Friday Night Locker Room principals – brought to you by Erdman Automotive, Health First, 4Ever Young of Merritt Island, and All Points.
Cocoa 36 – Rockledge 0 WATCH REPLAY:
After back-to-back victories, the Cocoa Tigers have found their stride at just the right time. Winning the last two over district opponents, Cocoa entered the annual BBQ bowl against Rockledge with a lot of momentum, and it sure carried into this one. Cocoa’s stifling defense and prolific offensive weapons shone in the 36-0 shutout victory over their rivals. They are now riding high, headed into the postseason.
Titusville 37 – Astronaut 3
The battle for the Hudson trophy has seen the Titusville Terriers claim it in the past three seasons, and that was not going to change last night. Astronaut started the game off hot with a successful drive down the field, putting up three points, but from that point on, it was all Titusville. Quarterback Bill Billingsley and the offense scored 37 unanswered points on their way to an enormous 34-point margin of victory.
Merritt Island 35 – Viera 14
Merritt Island came into this game off a tough loss from a week ago, and Viera came off a huge win over Melbourne. Merritt Island came out ready to play in this one, leading from the start and never looking back as they won convincingly. As this was Viera’s last game, Merritt Island will now prepare for its huge district championship matchup with Eau Gallie next Tuesday.
Heritage 30 – MCC 28
This one went back and forth the entire game, with several lead changes; both teams were desperate for the win. When it mattered most, senior Quarterback Jordan Pidala was able to make the winning plays necessary as the Heritage Panthers came out with the win. Although both teams did not have the seasons they would have liked, Heritage is ranked second in the district and will head to the playoffs.
Palm Beach Gardens 36 – Melbourne 22
Melbourne could not get the win a week ago, losing to Viera in a battle for second place in the district, and this week looked to have a very winnable game on their hands. Palm Beach Gardens had other ideas and pulled off an enormous upset over the Bulldogs in the season finale. Melbourne had a good season, but it did not finish the way they would have liked.
American Heritage (Delray) 35 – Bayside 7
Despite not having a great season, the Bayside Bears did make the playoffs in the SSAA division. Facing a top seed in American Heritage was not going to be easy by any stretch, and they were sent home early after being defeated. Bayside will now look towards the off-season and prepare for spring in a couple of months.
Space Coast 20 – Coral Springs 6
The Space Coast Vipers have once again put together a stellar regular season and head into the playoffs with ultra confidence. The road to repeat seems clear for the Vipers, and they got the job done in the first round of the playoffs. This one stayed close for the first three quarters before the Vipers pulled away in the fourth. Alex Banachoski had a big game with an offensive and defensive touchdown in this one.
Satellite 28 – LaBelle 15
Satellite nearly went undefeated in their first year under legendary head coach Dan Burke, but they dive into the postseason with confidence, ready to make a statement. LaBelle came in as no slouch either, with a perfect record, but it was the Scorpions who controlled the game from the second quarter on, winning this one by two touchdowns.
Matanzas 41 – Palm Bay 14
Palm Bay has not had a memorable season by any means, but one thing they can say is that they did not have another winless season. Now, under head coach Kevin Mays, he is looking to revamp his alma mater back to its glory days, but that is not something that can happen overnight. The uphill climb is steep, but with the staff and coaching pedigree from Mays, he is destined to bring the Pirates back to glory.
Space Coast Daily-Friday Night Locker Room Week 11 High School Football Rankings
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County’s week 10 of the high school football season saw some in-county matchups and also some out-of-county matchups. Some top teams fell on the road and other top teams saw big wins, playoff seeding is taking shape as we enter the last week of the regular season.
This is the 31st season of high school football coverage for Space Coast Daily and the Friday Night Locker Room principals – brought to you by Erdman Automotive, Health First, 4Ever Young of Merritt Island, and All Points.
No. 1 – Eau Gallie Commodores (6-3)
Eau Gallie has gone through a gauntlet of a season without their starting quarterback, but yet have put together a strong season. This past Friday saw one of the Commodores toughest test as they went down south to Atlantic High School. Atlantic came into the game undefeated and left the game undefeated beating Eau Gallie 48-18, the Commodores will now have a full week to prepare for the rescheduled showdown against Merritt Island.
No. 2 – Cocoa Tigers (4-4)
The Tigers were sitting at 2-4 with their district title streak at hand, but dominated the Villages 27-6 which saw the offense find the groove they have been looking for all season. Last Friday they saw another district game against Astronaut and the momentum continued, winning 38-3 and winning another district championship out right. Cocoa will have two games within the next week as they face their arch rivals Rockledge and the reschedule contest against Apopka.
No. 3 – Merritt Island Mustangs (5-3)
Merritt Island has been solid all year long and their three losses on the season only come by a combined 19 points. Week 10 they saw a very challenging game as they went west to face Carrollwood Day, the Patriots came in undefeated and remain undefeated winning 24-14. Merritt Island has two games within a week as they will face Viera on Thursday and Eau Galllie on the following Tuesday, the Eau Gallie game being the district championship.
No. 4 – Titusville Terriers (4-5)
Despite some of the narrow losses the Terriers have improved week by week and are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. A three point loss to Merritt Island was not the outcome they wanted, but they followed it up with a huge shutout victory over Palm Bay 42-0. Now the Terriers will battle for “the Ville” in their annual rivalry against Astronaut, both teams are needing the win as playoff hopes are still in sight.
No. 5 – Viera Hawks (6-3)
Viera has put together an impressive season and now sit at the no. 2 spot in the district after beating Melbourne on Friday. The Bulldogs came into the bout with loads of confidence and the Hawks seemed to be in complete control defeating Melbourne 24-7. The win gives them their sixth win which is a two win improvement from a year ago. The Hawks will now finish their season hosting Merritt Island on Thursday.
No. 6 – Melbourne Bulldogs (6-3)
The Bulldogs entered Friday night’s contest with a 6-2 record and trying to finish their season on a. high note and secure the second spot in the district. Viera had other plans and ultimately won the game 24-7, Melbourne will still have ahead of chance for an “at-large” bid to the playoffs as they finish their at home on Thursday with Palm Beach Gardens. Despite the loss the Bulldogs have a lot to look forward to within the program.
No. 7 – Holy Trinity Tigers (7-2)
Holy Trinity has continued their winning ways and now surpassed their win total from a year ago. Defeating Master’s Academy on Friday 28-7 the Tigers will now wait and see the matchup they are given for the upcoming playoffs. The journey to a state championship will begin in a few weeks and the Tigers more than anything would love to redeem themselves from a year ago.
No. 8 – Rockledege Raiders (3-6)
Rockledge has improved each week despite the loss to New Smyrna Beach 31-21. The Raiders are looking to finish their season on a high note this Thursday in the annual BBQ bowl against their rivals in Cocoa. While the playoffs seem unlikely for Rockledge this season, the team is filled with a lot of youth and the future is bright going forward under head coach John Holmes.
