Class 2S state championship football preview: Florida High vs. Cocoa

Class 2S Championship Game

Florida High (14-0) vs. Cocoa (10-3)

When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Gene Cox Stadium (Tallahassee)

Florida High

Averages: Scoring 35.2 points per game, allowing 13.4 points per game

Statistical leaders: QB Jeremy Johnston (Jr., 159-241, 2,432 yards, 23 TDs), RB Micahi Danzy (Jr., 1,585 yards, 17 TDs), WR Brooks Hickman (Sr., 61 catches, 864 yards, 7 TDs), LB Josiah Broxton (Sr., 102 tackles, 16 TFL)

Postseason: Beat South Walton 63-44 (regional quarterfinal), beat Pensacola Catholic 18-14 (regional semifinal), beat Suwannee 38-13 (regional final), beat Bishop Verot 38-28 (state semifinal)

Signature wins: Trinity Catholic 22-19 (Aug. 26), Munroe 42-7 (Oct. 7), Chiefland 42-21 (Oct. 21)

Recruit to watch: RB/S Micahi Danzy. Anytime a football player is one of the fastest runners in the state, colleges are going to take notice. Danzy, whose offers include Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, was fourth in the 200 meters and the state runner-up in the 400 meters at the Class 2S Track and Field championships in May.

Cocoa

Averages: Scoring 39.6 points per game, allowing 12.8 points per game

Statistical leaders: QB Blake Boda (Sr., 248-379, 3,772 yards, 47 TDs), RB Anthony Bridgewater (Sr., 614 yards, 5 TDs), WR Dayday Farmer (Jr., 52 catches, 783 yards, 9 TD), LB Samadrae Hawkins (Jr., 95 tackles, 12 TFL)

Postseason: Beat Dunnellon 52-6 (regional quarterfinal), beat Palm Bay 49-3 (regional semifinal), beat South Sumter 35-7 (regional final), beat Bradford 31-21 (state semifinal)

Signature win: Rockledge 28-20 (Nov. 4)

Recruit to watch: S Cedrick Hawkins. The Ohio State commit is a physical tackler who has racked up 14 interceptions and 43 passes break ups during his varsity career. The 6-foot-1, 177-pound Hawkins also has been a big part of the Tigers passing game with 38 cactehs for 671 yards and five scores this fall.

Inside the matchup

Cocoa is on an eight-game win streak since an overtime loss at Sanford-Seminole on Oct. 7. The Tigers, who played had the strongest strength of schedule in Class 2S, other two losses were against Jones (Class 3M regional champion) and St. Thomas Aquinas (3M state finalist). Florida High, the top-ranked team in the FHSAA power rankings during the regular season, has scored at least 38 points at least eight times this season. Cocoa’s offense has at least 250 passing yards in 10 games this season. Florida High has rushed for at least 200 yards in 10 consecutive games.