One year ago, Viera High had never won a high school football playoff game. By the time the postseason ended, the Hawks had won four in a row and played in the Class 7A state championship game in Orlando, finishing as the runner-up to St. Thomas Aquinas.
Cocoa Tigers team captains approach midfield for the coin toss Friday night. Jekevius Henry, Zach Beagle, Naceiya Gilmore, and Bruce Judson.
It is time to begin the process once again. The 11-week regular season ended Friday, one week after five Brevard County teams wrapped up playoff spots.
ICYMI: Roundup of Friday’s Week 11 games
On Friday, four of those will play at home. Viera, Palm Bay, Cocoa and Melbourne Central Catholic earned first-round home games as district champions, while Merritt Island will travel.
Here is a look at the regional challenges facing each playoff team.
Viera
In Class 7A, St. Thomas Aquinas stood atop the next-to-last state rankings compiled by the Associated Press, despite a couple of regular-season losses. But before the Hawks need to consider Aquinas, they must navigate a seven-team regional that begins with a home game against East River.
Second-ranked Plant would appear to be the team to beat in the region. At 9-0, Plant was off in Week 11. the District 8 champions could meet another playoff regular, District 7 champion Lakeland, which Viera eliminated last season in its regional final.
Should the Hawks get past East River and the Martin-County Lake Nona winner, one of those powerhouses will be waiting.
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Palm Bay, Merritt Island
Palm Bay will host Eustis as it makes its 20th postseason trip in 21 years. The Mustangs drew the defending state champions, Bishop Moore of District 13, on Friday in Orlando.
One team will emerge from that foursome to play in the regional final, and the odds lean toward it facing a team from District 16. The district champion was Plantation American Heritage, and Cardinal Gibbons was the runner-up. Both were ranked last week, with American Heritage (9-0) in the No. 1 spot.
The Pirates (9-0) were No. 4 in the poll, while Cardinal Gibbons (8-1) was seventh.
Of note for the Mustangs is that they have a smaller chance at a home game as long as they survive in the postseason. District champions always host over runners-up, until the state semifinal round.
Cocoa
The Tigers (7-1) could see a lot of familiar faces on the way to the state final in Orlando.
Cocoa will start with the same team it faced last season, Bishop Verot. If Avon Park can defeat Orlando Jones in its own regional semifinal, it would get a rematch with Cocoa as well. Nevertheless, should Jones win its road game, that will bring an even more familiar opponent to Cocoa Stadium, the District 5-4A runner-up.
Because Classes 4A through 1A have fewer teams than the larger classifications, the brackets are half the size. Cocoa would need just two wins to claim a 10th consecutive regional championship, as as the top-ranked team in 4A, the Tigers are the heavy favorite to move on to the semifinal round.
Melbourne Central Catholic
The 9-0 Hustlers have been one of the surprise teams in the state this year, and certainly the surprise team of Class 3A.
MCC may have the toughest challenge Friday of any of Brevard’s home teams. Cardinal Mooney has eight wins, including a 46-15 season-opening win over the 4A team that will visit Cocoa on Friday, Bishop Verot.
Mooney, which has gotten votes from state sports writers during this season’s polling, finished second in District 5 to Clearwater Central Catholic. CCC took a turn in the top spot in the 3A rankings and should be considered the favorite to win the regional title. On the other hand, four of MCC’s last five wins have come over teams either ranked or receiving votes in various classes.
Friday’s playoff schedule
All games at 7:30 p.m.
Class 7A
East River (5-4) at Viera (7-2)
Class 5A
Eustis (5-5) at Palm Bay (9-0)
Merritt Island (7-3) at Bishop Moore (9-1)
Class 4A
Bishop Verot (6-4) at Cocoa (7-1)
Class 3A
Cardinal Mooney (8-2) at Melbourne Central Catholic (9-0)
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