Eau Gallie and Cocoa both earned wins in the FHSAA regional semifinals on Friday, Nov. 21. The Commodores advance to the Region 2-3A final, while the Tigers will move on the Region 2-2A final.
Eau Gallie 35, Merritt Island 14
In Melbourne, Eau Gallie defeated Merritt Island to earn a spot in the Region 2-3A final.
The Mustangs scored first in the game with Kevin Verpaele scoring on a 3-yard run with 2:15 left in the first quarter. The Commodores took a 7-6 lead with 42 seconds left in the quarter after Xavier Lherisse scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown.
Lherisse doubled Eau Gallie’s lead after he ran 88 yards for a score in the second quarter. Merritt Island tied the score with 26 seconds left in the half after Donterrius Robinson Jr. caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Verpaele. The Commodores went into halftime ahead 21-14 after Lherisse found Captain Rolle for 34-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first half.
James Agenor scored the only points of the third quarter after he intercepted a pass and returned it 63 yards for an Eau Gallie touchdown late in the quarter. Trae Hill returned an interception 50 yards in the fourth quarter to score one final touchdown for Eau Gallie. Rolle also grabbed an interception late in game to help close out the win for the Commodores.
Eau Gallie (9-3) will travel to Orlando to play Bishop Moore (11-1) in the regional final on Friday, Nov. 28. Merritt Island finishes its season with a record of 7-5.
Cocoa 34, Calvary Christian 33 (OT)
Cocoa advances to the Region 2-2A final after earning an overtime win over Calvary Christian in Clearwater. The Tigers scored 24 points in the first half and went into halftime with a 24-6 lead. Calvary Christian scored 21 points in the second half and Cocoa scored three points in the fourth quarter to put the score tied at 27-27 at the end of regulation. The Warriors scored first in overtime but missed their extra point. Cocoa then scored a touchdown and made the extra point to win the game. Cocoa (7-4) will make the trip to Starke to play Bradford (11-1) in the Region 2-2A final on Friday, Nov. 28.
Armwood 49, Viera 0
In Seffner, Viera fell to Armwood in the Region 2-6A semifinals. The Hawks end 2025 with a record of 7-5.
Carrollwood Day 49, Melbourne Central Catholic 6
MCC dropped its Region 2-1A semifinal game on the road in Tampa against Carrollwood Day. MCC kicker Will Stewart made two field goals in the game. Stewart made a 38-yard field in the first quarter and added one from 45 yards in the second quarter. The Hustlers close out their season with a record of 3-8 and as District 6-1A champions.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Eau Gallie, Cocoa earn wins to advance in FHSAA playoffs
Reporting by Chasite Banks, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
