Cocoa defeats Gadsden County in clash for Florida 2A title: Live updates recap

Tigers top Jaguars for a state championship 3-peat

Class of 2026 quarterback Brady Hart (Cocoa High School, Florida) is committed to play college football at Michigan. / Matt Christopher

The Florida High School Athletic Association's (FHSAA) high school football state championship series goes from The Villages in Mid-Central Florida down to the 305 in Dade County.

A matchup many may not have expected will kick things off when Gadsden County (13-1) takes on Cocoa (10-3) for the Class 2A state championship.

High School On SI will be providing live updates all afternoon long as the Tigers and Jaguars clash at Pitbull Stadium in Miami.

(Keep refreshing page for live updates from the game)

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Gadsden Co.	7	2	6	12	27
Cocoa	14	0	3	21	38

PREGAME

The Class 2A state championship is slated to kickoff at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Gadsden County wins the coin toss and elects to receive.

1st quarter

Third play from scrimmage and a big play, Cocoa's Duran Guilford with an interception and the Tigers start deep in Gadsden territory.

Cocoa goes for it and converts 4th-and-1 from the 11, with a QB dive by Brady Hart.

Brady Hart rolls right and finds superstar receiver and FSU signee Jayvan Boggs in the back of the end zone for a great 11-yard TD pass and catch. Cocoa takes a 7-0 lead at 8:18 in the opening quarter.

Jeremiah Thomas with a long kickoff return gives Gadsden the ball into Cocoa territory to start the next drive.

Gadsden converts 4th-and-1 with a short run by Kemarrion Battles to keep the possession alive.

On 4th-and-inches from the 11, Kemarrion Battles runs it into the end zone for a touchdown as Gadsden ties it up at 7-7 with 3:33 in the quarter.

Jayvan Boggs with a 54-yard reception brings it down the Gadsden 6-yard line.

Next play Latrison Lane runs in a 6-yard touchdown, Cocoa makes it 14-7 with 1:04 left in the quarter.

End of 1st quarter Cocoa leads 14-7

2nd quarter

In game already with three big 4th down conversions, Cocoa stuffs one on a TFL by Javion Hilson.

Bad snap on a punt way over Cocoa punter Marcus Trout's head and the ball bounces all the way to the end zone, where Trout can only kick it out of bounds resulting in a safety. Gadsden inches closer to 14-9 at 8:37 in the quarter.

Gadsden's Kelvin Crawford down for a long time with 27 seconds left, finally able to get up and walk off under his on power. Heading straight to the locker room.

Marcus Trout missed a 24-yard field goal try, pulling it wide left. Cocoa had a first down on the Gadsden 7 but the Jaguars defense held.

Halftime Cocoa leads 14-9.

3rd quarter

Kelvin Crawford, who left the game late in the second quarter with a stinger, was back for Gadsden to start the half and had a big sack on the opening drive.

Kemarrion Battles with his second TD of the day, this one on a 3-yard run. After a penalty negated a 2-point try, the snap was bad on the extra point. Still, Gadsden takes its first lead, 15-14 at 6:00 in the quarter.

Gadsden with a goal-line stand after Cocoa had 1st-and-goal from the 1. Cocoa settles for a 21-yard field from Marcus Trout to go back in front 17-15 with 1:38 left in the quarter.

Gadsden fails to convert on 4th-and-2 from its own 28 and that's how the third quarter ends. Cocoa clinging to a 17-15 lead gets the ball back deep in Gadsden territory.

4th quarter

Latrison Lane takes a pitch and runs it in for a 3-yard touchdown, Cocoa takes advantage of the turnover on downs by Gadsden to take a 24-15 lead with 10:31 to play.

Daylen Green hit in stride on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Landon Dougherty, though Cocoa's Tyion Jacobs blocks the PAT, Gadsden pulls within 24-21 with 9:01 remaining.

Brady Hart scores on a 1-yard QB keeper for what could be the clinching touchdown, Cocoa up 31-21 with 5:21 to go.

Landon Dougherty finds Christian Barrett for a 30-yard touchdown pass but can't connect on the 2-point try, Gadsden pulls within 31-27 with 3:31 to play.

Big 3rd-and-14 play coming for Cocoa with 1:16 left.

It's 4th-and 2 and Latrison Lanes runs for a 42-yard touchdown, his third of the day, as Cocoa looks to have this locked up ahead 38-27 with 1:04 remaining.

Injury to Gadsden's Kemarrion Battles has the ending of this game on hold. There's only 38 seconds left.

Battles, who had just made a catch, being helped off unable to put weight on his left leg.

A small fight broke out and there's also another Gadsden player down with an injury. There are 4 seconds left, ugly ending to a game that is effectively over.

Finally the game is over. Cocoa with a 38-27 victory over Gadsden County to win the 2A title, completing a state championship 3-peat.

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