Cocoa outlasts Bradford to come away with Florida 2S football championship

The Tigers overcome four turnovers en route to repeating as 2S state state champions

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - When the clock hit all zeros at Friday night’s Class 2S state championship game, Cocoa head coach Ryan Schnieder seemed relieved. 

He could take a deep breath because his Tigers were able to overcome four turnovers the and, quite possibly, having their worst offensive showing of the season. 

In the end, it didn’t matter as Cocoa was able to limit Bradford to one score and hold on for a 20-6 victory at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Ken Riley Field. With the victory, Cocoa comes away with the sixth state championship in program history. 

"Bradford has a really good team. A lot of athletes up front and well coached," Cocoa head coach Ryan Schnieder said. "We didn't play great. I made some crappy calls that put us in some bad spots. We talk about all the time how are we going to handle adversity. How are we going to handle the good moments and the bad moments. I think our kids did a good job handling it tonight."

Adversity for Cocoa came in the form of facing a deficit for only the second time in their last twelve games. 

Bradford was labeled the away team but you wouldn't have known it based on the crowd support for the Tornadoes, who scored first in the contest. The Tornadoes, midway through the first quarter, found the end zone when quarterback Daejon Shanks hit Chalil Cummings for a 15-yard touchdown pass to go up 6-0. 

This is a shocking start @DaeJonShanks hits @ChalilCummingss on this 15-yard touchdown pass @BHSTornadoFB 6, @CocoaFootball 0, 1st Q 6:24 @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL @CenFLAPreps @football305407 @SportsFla @polk_way @DylanOliver23 @CountyPolk @PascoCountyFB @HernandoCtyFB… pic.twitter.com/eCjmqL1vhx

— Andy Villamarzo (@Andy_Villamarzo) December 9, 2023

Bradford's defense lived up to the billing of being one of the state's best units. The Tornadoes' defensive group had allowed only 70 points through 14 games (5.0 points per game) and proved to be up for the challenge of Cocoa's offense. 

The match-up of the evening, when it came to skill players, was between Cocoa wide receiver Jayvan Boggs (Ohio State commitment) and Bradford defensive back Chalil Cummings. With Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline on hand watching, the two would jostle on every route run and Cummings' defense played a role in disrupting Cocoa's mojo on offense. 

"The kid is a great football player and he did a great job," Schnieder said of Cummings' playing Boggs 1-on-1. "Other guys stepped up and that's what I'm proud of. I've always said Cocoa isn't about just one person, it's a family. Everyone stepped up when they needed to."

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Cocoa got on the board at the 4:07 mark of the first when Hart connected on a 36-yard touchdown strike to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead. The Tigers had a chance to build on their lead after a Willie Pollard fumble, but a Hart fumble out of the back of the end zone eliminated that opportunity. 

The Tornadoes (13-2) dialed up plenty of pressure in getting to Hart, as they forced the sophomore quarterback into uncomfortable passing situations throughout the evening. 

The Tigers wouldn't score again until the 3:33 mark of the second quarter when tailback Latrison Lane reached pay-dirt on a 10-yard scamper. Leading 14-6, it looked like the best case scenario seeing that they turned over the ball twice. 

.@LaTrisonLane20 scores on this 10-yard touchdown run to give a little breathing room for the Tigers. @CocoaFootball 14, @BHSTornadoFB 6, 2nd Q 3:33 @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL @CenFLAPreps @football305407 @SportsFla @polk_way @DylanOliver23 @CountyPolk @PascoCountyFB… pic.twitter.com/vKFJiJ4xMm

— Andy Villamarzo (@Andy_Villamarzo) December 9, 2023

Cocoa (15-0) wouldn't find the end zone again in the second half as Bradford's defense held strong despite having to play many players both ways. The Tigers' 20 points was the team's lowest point total since Week 1's 22-20 victory over Jones. 

Schnieder had to settle for a pair of Gunnar Trout field goals as they helped add to Cocoa's lead in the final 24 minutes. For Bradford, the inability to score another touchdown after the first quarter loomed large, despite a valiant effort defensively. 

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Photos by SBLive Sports Florida photographer Matt Christopher 

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FHSAA 2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl