Week 3 Roundup: Heritage upsets Viera, Cocoa Beach exceeds '25 wins
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Heritage and Viera entered its Week 3 matchup on Sept. 4 trending in opposite directions.
The Panthers suffered two home losses to Melbourne 35-10 and Eau Gallie 41-0. Viera earned road wins over Rockledge and Sebastian River to start 2-0.
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In a back-and-forth game, Heritage made the biggest play of the game with a fumble returned for a touchdown with 6:11 remaining in regulation to seal a 28-22 upset win at Viera.
“It was a must win for us,” Heritage head coach Mykel Benson said. “We’re coming off some hard weeks the last couple weeks, but the guys showed relentless effort. We talked about being all in and the guys played all in for four quarters.”
Viera opened the fourth quarter with possession and began just milking the clock with nine of the first 10 plays being runs. On the 11th play of the drive, Viera faced a 3rd-and-7 at the Heritage 30-yard line when senior Cordae Copeland punched the ball out from a scrambling Hawks quarterback Jaamal Crittington.
Picking up the loose ball was senior Izael Johnon, who went 71 yards to the end zone for the eventual game-winning touchdown.
“I thought I was going to get caught. I’m not going to lie,” Johnson said. “I thought somebody was going to catch me since I started cramping up at the end, but it was the stuff that we needed.”
Johnson produced on both sides of ball, recording 21 carries for 138 yards and 1 touchdown. He recorded four runs of at least 15 yards and scored a 7-yard touchdown with 2:48 remaining in the first half to tie the game at 14-14.
“It was real effective,” Johnson said. “We struggled the first two weeks with the run game and we picked it up (tonight) with the help of the O-line.”
Heritage’s defense finished the night with 3 takeaways. On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Panthers senior Joseph Johnson recovered a fumble on a dropped pitch.
After Heritage’s scoop and score, Viera fumbled the ball two plays later on a dropped handoff exchange with junior Kenny Caballero Jr. recovering it.
The takeaway enabled the Panthers to burn 4:09 off the clock as Viera got the ball back at its own 30 with 53 seconds remaining.
“I thought we played well on defense. We gave up some big plays. The times they did … Viera is a very good team,” Benson said. “Well coached. They’re huge up front. They got some running backs, so we just played another great team and I think our guys responded well to it. We got a lot of things to fix from this and a lot of good film to see from this too.”
The Panthers found an offensive rhythm on Sept. 4 after combining for 10 points over the first two games. Sophomore Dreyvon Lee opened the scoring late in the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run.
Heritage retook the lead 21-14 on a 29-yard touchdown pass from senior Christian Ryder Borhi to junior Alex Fralin.
“Putting points on the board, that was the biggest thing. I didn’t care at times when it looked ugly,” Benson said. “I’m proud of those guys. We really committed to something (tonight). I think we found our identity and we’re going to roll with it.”
Heritage found a way to regroup after two disheartening defeats to two of the best teams in the county in Melbourne and Eau Gallie. Johnson said this game was one they needed to get.
“We just trust each other. That’s all we did,” Johnson said. “We fought through the battles from the first two weeks. We just fought all at once to pull this win off.”
The Panthers enter the win column at 1-2. They begin district play on Sept. 11 versus Legacy.
“I think it showed everything about our team. I think that’s the type of team we have this year. This is the closest team I’ve been around since I’ve been here,” Benson said. “They trust each other and you don’t hear the negative. You hear a lot of positive. Even when things looked bad last week, there’s still a lot of positive going into the week of practice. Now we’re going into homecoming week.”
Viera played shorthanded but still put itself in a position to win the game sporting two 7-point leads.
“We had to step up. We had four starters that were injured. Our best offensive lineman, best running back, our leading tackler and our best defensive end,” Viera head coach Tony Gulla said. “We had to pick up the slack and we didn’t do a good job. You can’t turn the ball over against a good team. They’re not an 0-2 team. They were a pretty good team.”
The Hawks scored 14 straight points after falling behind 7-0 on 2 touchdowns run by Crittington.
The sophomore tied the game on a 14-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. He put Viera into the lead two more times with a 2-yard touchdown with 8:51 left in the first half and a 2-point conversion with 3:01 remaining in the third quarter.
“(Crittington) did sophomore stuff,” Gulla said. “He makes great plays and then he makes a couple sophomore mistakes. It wasn’t on Jaamal. It was on the team. That was a team loss.”
With star running back Duke Butler inactive, senior Raundae Monroe stepped up. Monroe scored on a 62-yard touchdown run when Viera trailed 21-14. He also set up Viera’s first touchdown with a 70-yard reception.
“Big touchdown run there,” Gulla said. “(Monroe’s) an athlete playing a new position at running back.”
The Hawks were without multiple starters in Butler, senior defensive back and linebacker Paul Hanna and offensive lineman Coby Wallace. Army commit Wallace is out for the season after suffering a season-ending injury in the Kickoff Classic.
“(Wallace’s) the best offensive lineman that came out of Viera High School ever. Losing him in the Kickoff Classic was a big blow,” Gulla said. “We got to get those kids healthy, We should be at full strength next week.”
Viera will look to bounce back on a short week on Sept. 10 at Lyman. It’s the district opener for the Hawks.
“I think it was a reality check for us,” Gulla said. “We got a senior-led team and I think they were feeling pretty good, but I think we had a come-back-down-to-Earth type of game. Our two goals going into the year was beat Rockledge and winning the district championship. That stuff is still in front of us.”
Week 3 scores
FHSAA
Merritt Island 45, Ponte Vedra 37
The Mustangs faced their first adversity of the season trailing 20-0 in the second quarter. They stormed back, scoring 24 unanswered points and outscoring 2025 Class 5A state semifinalist Ponte Vedra 28-17 in the fourth quarter.
Merritt Island quarterback Kevin Verpaele combined for 4 touchdowns. Verpaele rushed for scores of 2 and 4 yards. Through the air, Verpaele hit tight end DeShaun Thomas for a 30-yard touchdown and sophomore Elijah Mitchell for a 5-yard touchdown.
Mitchell also scored a rushing touchdown of 35 yards. Mustangs junior Zaylan Chapple capped the night with a 95-yard touchdown run.
Merritt Island improved to 3-0 and it’ll host Astronaut on Sept. 11 in its first home and district game of the season.
Melbourne 55, Winter Springs 14
Melbourne bounced back from its Week 2 defeat to Merritt Island and dominated winless Winter Springs.
Bulldogs running back Tyrese Jefferson scored 4 first-half touchdowns. He caught a 13-yard pass from quarterback Will Reinhold, returned a punt 72 yards and rushed for scores of 1 and 34 yards.
Senior Howard Dewitt returned a kickoff for an 87-yard touchdown and rushed for a 1-yard tally. Cornerback Marvell Cunningham intercepted and returned it for a 70-yard touchdown. Tailback Kymarion Johnson capped the night with a 4-yard touchdown run.
Melbourne improved to 2-1 and it’ll head to Oviedo on Sept. 10 for its district opener.
Seminole 27, Eau Gallie 13
Eau Gallie fell to Seminole after allowing 246 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. The Commodores drop to 1-2 and it’ll head to Rockledge on Sept. 11.
Bishop Moore 41, Melbourne Central Catholic 13
For the second straight year, Bishop Moore defeated Melbourne Central Catholic by the exact same score of 41-13. The Hustlers suffered their first defeat of the season heading into a bye week before their next game on Sept. 18.
Spruce Creek 23, Titusville 14
The Terriers lost their first game of the season to Spruce Creek. Titusville hosts Palm Bay on Sept. 11 in the first game of district play.
Fort Pierce Central 35, Rockledge 0
After both teams had their Week 2 games rescheduled due to weather, Fort Pierce Central handed Rockledge its second defeat of the season. The Raiders will look to enter the win column on Sept. 11 versus Eau Gallie in the district opener.
Newberry 14, Cocoa 13
Cocoa lined up for a game-winning field goal attempt as time expired, but kicker Keelan Gonzalez slipped as he kicked the ball leading to a missed attempt and a 1-point win for Newberry.
The Tigers fall to 0-2 and will enter a bye week before their next game at Eau Gallie on Sept. 18.
SSAA
Cocoa Beach 28, Foundation Academy 21
Cocoa Beach exceeded last season’s win total on Sept. 4 with a 7-point win over Foundation Academy.
Minutemen running back Ryan Rogers scored 3 touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving. Jay Craft finished with 1 touchdown pass and running back Jordon Rooks also scored a rushing touchdown.
Cocoa Beach improves to 3-0 and it’ll head to Inlet Grove on Sept. 11.
Space Coast 48, Celebration 0
Space Coast recorded a 48-0 for the second consecutive week as it shut out Celebration for its third straight win.
Vipers tailback Charlie Williams scored 3 touchdown runs for a combined yardage of 40 yards. Kaleb Klingenberg recorded a 50-yard touchdown run. Chad Johnson and Ryland Travis scored on runs of 10 and 5 yards, respectively. Quarterback Zion Sandy capped the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kadyn Thomas.
Space Coast improved to 3-1 and it’ll head to Discovery on Sept. 11.
Hardee 56, Bayside 7
Bayside allowed the first 21 points of the game to Hardee and couldn’t dig itself out of the deficit. The Bears scored on a passing touchdown before the end of the first quarter for their lone score.
Bayside falls to 2-2 and will host 2025 state runner-up West Nassau on Sept. 11.
SSAA 8-man
Calvary Chapel 46, Riverview Academy 0
The Eagles kept their perfect record intact thanks to a 3-touchdown performance from back Gavin Stewart. He scored on runs of 16, 26 and 60 yards. Quarterback Chace Evans completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Nere.
Defensively, Nere scored on a 40-yard pick six and lineman Wyatt Daigle returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown.
Calvary Chapel improves to 3-0 and it’ll host Lake Mary Prep on Sept. 11.
Sept. 10
Satellite 35, Seabreeze 2
After two convincing road wins, Satellite returned home to face its stiffest test of the season in FHSAA Class 4A Seabreeze in a matchup of unbeatens.
The Scorpions mirrored the same recipe of success as they did in their first three games. Thanks to a tenacious defense and an efficient offense, they earned a 35-2 win.
“Just real proud of them,” Satellite head coach Dan Burke said. “We prepared a short week and the kids prepared hard. It’s kind of a rivalry and our guys came out and played well in every facet of the game.”
Satellite’s defense pitched another shutout, extending its shutout streak to 188:41. The Sandcrabs scored a safety on a high snap off a punt that was recovered in the end zone.
Seabreeze entered Scorpions territory on three of its 10 possessions. It punted the ball six times.
“They were flying around, making plays,” Burke said. “Proud of them. They prepare hard too.”
Scorpions linebacker Anthony Romero made the first statement with a punishing hit on Seabreeze quarterback Noah Bogdanowicz, jarring the ball loose with defensive lineman Max Lopez recovering the fumble.
In the third quarter, linebacker Luke Herte lowered his shoulder for a big hit on Sandcrabs wide receiver Danny Spada, popping the ball in the air and leading to an interception for defensive back Kade Whitworth.
“All these guys, you’ll find plays like Kade Whitworth. Somebody different steps up. Levi Mumme breaking up passes,” Burke said. “It’s a great team effort. It’s fun to watch. They play the way you’re supposed to play. Proud of the effort and the teamwork.”
The Satellite offense fed off the defense, scoring three touchdowns off three takeaways. Quarterback Brody Grennan finished the night with 155 passing yards and two touchdowns. Three rushers scored touchdowns.
“We came out and punched them in the mouth. It was a great team effort. Controlled the ball. We didn’t have many mistakes on offense. Proud of the team,” Grennan said. “We got to come back Monday and get ready for Pine Ridge, but that’s a statement win for our team. I feel like a lot of people were questioning how good we were. That definitely proves we’re a good team.”
Grennan connected with wide receiver Noah Corriveau on both touchdown passes. The signal caller evaded a sack in the pocket and launched a deep ball to Corriveau, who shed a tackle for an 80-yard score. Corriveau caught a 33-yard touchdown pass to cap the first drive of the second half.
“Me and Noah (Corriveau) have been playing together since we were like 10. Me and him are like best friends. We’re always together and I feel like that helps a lot,” Grennan said. “We communicate so well on the field. Everything is just simple. It’s easy. Just give him the ball and he could score.”
After Romero’s strip sack, running back Raiden Kerr raced to the end zone on a 40-yard run to open the scoring. Herte scored a 1-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive following his big hit that lead to the interception. A fumbled kickoff by Seabreeze set up tailback Tristan Sejeck for a 1-yard touchdown run.
“The running game is always amazing,” Grennan said. “It takes a lot off me and it’s really easy to just pound the ball and tire them out. That’s what we did. We tired them out.”
Satellite improved to 4-0 and will return to SSAA play versus Pine Ridge on Sept. 11. Grennan said the confidence is sky high.
“Space Coast, a great win. That was a great team. The other two games, we should have won those games,” Grennan said. “After this one, we just shot ourselves up there higher and higher and the momentum is going to be as high as possible. The next two games are good teams. It’s the start of our gauntlet and we got to keep going. We have momentum, so I think we can.”
Merritt Island Christian 48, Florida School for the Deaf & Blind 14
In a rematch of last year’s SSAA 8-man state quarterfinal, Merritt Island Christian prevailed after falling behind 6-0 following the first quarter.
Senior Quarterback Maddux Martinson completed 7-of-9 passes for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns. Senior Micah Branch caught 3 passes for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior John Hey finished with 4 receptions for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior Korbin Kugler and freshmen Slater Williamson and Landen Fink rushed for 1 touchdown each.
The Cougars improved to 4-0 after winning their home opener. They have a bye week before returning to the field on Sept. 18 versus Academy at the Lakes.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Week 3 Roundup: Heritage upsets Viera, Cocoa Beach exceeds '25 wins