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Cocoa Dethrones Palm Bay
Cocoa Tigers Midgets defeated defending DII National Champions Palm Bay Rockets 28-14.
This game provided lots of hard hits and great plays by both teams. This game was billed as one of the most anticipated matchups of the season and it did not disappoint. Cocoa took the opening Kickoff and opened the scoring with a 12 play 55 yard drive capped off by a 7yard TD run by RB Chancel Barton (PAT) Willie Gaines. Palm Bay quickly answered on a 39 yard Reception by Lawrence Santos-Simmons and a 1 yard TD run by Darrin Chandler making the score Cocoa 8 Palm Bay 6.
Palm Bay showed its championship form as they took the lead on a 15 yard TD run by Shean Gaspard giving Palm Bay the lead 14-8.
On the Cocoas next drive Chancel Barton ripped off a 42 yard run down to the Palm Bay 3 yardline. On the ensuing play Cocoa tied the game on a 3 yard TD run by Latrevish (TJ) Johnson sending teams into the half tied 14-14.
Cocoa started the second half scoring with a 12 yard TD Pass from Willie Gaines to (Hotbed Youth All-American) Adreal Johnson giving Cocoa a 22-14 lead.
Palm Bay took the ball down to the Cocoa 15 yardline behind the running of Shaun Gaspard and Sheridon Archer. Offensive Penalties brought out to the 40 yardline setting up 4th and long. Palm Bay turned the ball over on downs as Archers pass to Lawrence Santos-Simmons was broken up by Willies Gaines near the goal line. On the next play from scrimmage, Cocoa closed out the scoring and put the game out of reach as Willie Gaines ran 60 Yards up the middle for the final score Cocoa 28 Palm Bay 14.
Both teams came in tied in a 4way Tie for 1st Place. The loser of this game was essentially knocked out of the Post Season hunt. The winner moving on for a 3 team Kansas City Tie breaker to be played10/20/2014.
| BOX SCORE | 1st QTR | 2nd QTR | 3rd QTR | 4th QTR | FINAL |
| COCOA | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 28 |
| PALM BAY | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Cocoa Passing | C/ATT | YARDS | TD | INT |
| Willie Gaines | 4/5 | 62 | 1 | 0 |
| Chancel Barton | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Palm Bay Passing | C/ATT | YARDS | TD | INT |
| Sheridan Archer | 1/4 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| Cocoa Rushing | CAR | YARDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| Willie Gaines | 11 | 116 | 10.5 | 1 | 60 |
| Chancel Barton | 7 | 90 | 12.8 | 1 | 42 |
| Johnny Jones | 5 | 22 | 4.4 | 0 | 6 |
| TJ Johnson | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 1 | 4 |
| Palm Bay Rushing | CAR | YARDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| Sheridan Archer | 12 | 63 | 5.2 | 0 | 10 |
| Sean Gaspard | 7 | 39 | 5.6 | 1 | 15 |
| Chay Chay Fluellen | 8 | 40 | 5.0 | 0 | 18 |
| Darrin Chandller | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 1 | 27 |
| Cocoa Receiving | REC | YARDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| Adreal Johnson | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 1 | 12 |
| Jarrod Baker | 1 | 18 | 18.0 | 0 | 18 |
| Johnny Jones | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 0 | 24 |
| Palm Bay Passing | REC | YARDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| Lawrence Santos-Simmons | 1 | 39 | 39.0 | 0 | 39 |
UP NEXT:
Palm Bay will close out the season next week against Port Orange. Cocoa will play
Cocoa will play October 20th in a Kansas City Tie Breaker with Melbourne Ducks and North Brevard Hawks to decide the 1st and 2nd place seedings heading into the Playoffs
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