WATCH REPLAY: 99-Yard Pick-Six Lifts Eau Gallie Over Merritt Island 48-22 for District Title

COMMODORES’s third straight district championship

WATCH REPLAY: A breathtaking defensive play by senior Gabriel Player turned the tide Friday night, sealing Eau Gallie High School’s third straight district championship with a 48–22 victory over Merritt Island.

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – A breathtaking defensive play by senior Gabriel Player turned the tide Friday night, sealing Eau Gallie High School’s third straight district championship with a 48–22 victory over Merritt Island.

With the score tied 14–14 and the Mustangs threatening just before halftime, Player blitzed untouched, deflected a short pass into the air, snagged the ball, and sprinted 99 yards the other way for a touchdown as time expired in the second quarter.

The interception return gave the Commodores a lead they never lost, swinging all the momentum to Eau Gallie’s sideline heading into the break.

Eau Gallie’s offense found its rhythm on the ground, led by a relentless rushing attack. X’Zavier Corbin and Donovan Richardson each scored twice, while Xavier Lherisse and TJ Monroe added rushing touchdowns of their own.

The Commodores improved to 7–3, while Merritt Island fell to 6–4 despite a strong night from quarterback Kevin Verpaele, who threw three touchdown passes — two to Keith Hamilton and one to Kamar Fielder.

The Mustangs left several big opportunities on the field — including a potential touchdown drop just before Player’s pick-six that could have changed the tone of the contest.

The two teams may not be done with each other just yet. Eau Gallie entered the game as the No. 2 seed in Region 2-3A, with Merritt Island close behind at No. 3. If both advance in the upcoming state playoffs, a rematch could take place in the regional semifinals — this time on Eau Gallie’s home turf.

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