RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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As Merritt Island and Cocoa lined up for the opening kickoff of the 2026 season, inclement weather forced the game into a 90-minute weather delay.
The game had an electrifying beginning with touchdowns scored on the first three possessions. Merritt Island, who fell behind 12-6, pulled away in the second half as it scored 38 unanswered points to finish off a 44-19 season-opening win.
“I thought we came out on fire on offense. We started a little slow on defense,” Merritt Island head coach Tyler Murray said. “But on offense, we came out firing on all cylinders. Executed the game plan and we got out on top that we thought we were going to do.”
Merritt Island scored every offensive touchdown on the ground. The Mustangs got 2 touchdowns from junior Zaylan Chapple, two from senior DeShaun Thomas and one from senior Alain Adams.
“Five touchdowns, that’s a great thing. That’s something we didn’t have last year,” Murray said. “I tell you what, Kevin (Verpaele) wants to throw a lot of touchdowns but the biggest thing that he wants to do is win a football game. I’m happy we got that done on the ground. Shout out to the offensive line and running backs.”
Chapple, in his return to Cocoa after transferring from the Tigers over the summer, scored the Mustangs’ first touchdown of the season on a 10-yard carry. His score came two plays after Cocoa capped its opening drive with a touchdown. Chapple’s score was set up on a 70-yard completion by senior Kevin Verpaele to junior Tim Sedaros.
After a fumble recovery by junior Abel Stricklin, Chapple scored two plays later on a 17-yard rush to put Merritt Island into the lead for good. His second score began the run of 38 unanswered points.
“We did good. They were talking a lot, but I got through that,” Chapple said. “We just got down the field. We scored as a team and we just need to keep it going. Move on to the next game."
Chapple rushed the ball 90 times for 458 yards and 7 touchdowns for Cocoa last season. The junior said it’s been a seamless transition to Merritt Island.
“They got me right, especially in the weight room,” Chapple said. “Getting good on the field and getting my fitness up so I can stat on the field longer.”
It was a shaky start for the Merritt Island defense, allowing Cocoa touchdowns on the first two possessions of the game.
Tigers sophomore quarterback Kadin Claflin-Coy led the team 73 yards right down the field, ending the opening drive on a 6-yard touchdown completion to senior Tank White.
Cocoa then drove 90 yards on its second drive with junior Anthony Whaley bouncing off multiple Mustang defenders on a screen pass from Claflin-Coy. Whaley ran 37 yards to the end zone.
After a fumble recovery by senior Mycul Glover, Cocoa drove the ball into the red zone and had a wide open White in the end zone with 5 seconds left before halftime but the pass couldn’t get caught. The Tigers went on to miss the field goal to remain down nine.
“Our quarterback (Claflin-Coy) showed everybody the things he’s capable of in that first half,” Cocoa head coach Nate Hooks said. “We were one play away from going into halftime down by only two. That tells you the fight and the future that this football team has.”
The Mustangs defense pitched a shutout for the rest of the game with Cocoa’s final touchdown coming on a scoop and score by senior Kyree Brooks in the game’s final minute.
Merritt Island led 21-12 at halftime with Adams’ touchdown from 9 yards out the final score of the half. After back-to-back touchdowns by Thomas to start the second half, Mustangs sophomore Elijah Mitchell put the game away with a 96-yard pick six.
“We settled down and got it figured out. It took a couple drives, so something that we want to work on starting fast but I thought as a whole we played well," Murray said. "They had a couple freak plays, so we need to clean up some stuff."
Cocoa begins the season 0-1 and it’ll host Fort Pierce Central on Aug. 28. Hooks said he was proud of the team for the way it fought.
“We have 18 new starters. That’s a tremendous amount of young guys asked to step into roles they’ve never been in before. It’s going to take time and it’s going to take these young men going through experiences like (tonight),” Hooks said. “I’m proud of our kids because they didn’t back down from a bigger, older, more experienced football team. (Tonight) showed us exactly where we are and it also showed us where we are going.”
Merritt Island’s schedule doesn’t get easier next week as it heads to Melbourne on Aug. 28.
“We’re playing a really good Melbourne team next week. Watched them on film last week against Cocoa. Last year, they were up 14-0 on us going into halftime and we came out storming with 21 in the second half,” Murray said. “It’s one of those things that they were in it to beat us last year and they didn’t lose anybody. We didn’t lose anybody. It’s going to be a really good battle. It always is. I’m excited to watch those guys play.”
Friday’s football scores
Viera def. Rockledge 25-20
For the second year in a row, Viera and Rockledge played a one possession game. The Hawks won 22-21 last year and win by 5 points this season to start 1-0.
Viera remains on the road to play Sebastian River on Aug. 28. The Raiders host Spruce Creek on Aug. 28.
Astronaut def. Tohopekaliga 43-39
Astronaut prevailed in an offensive shootout, winning the season opener for the third consecutive year.
The War Eagles will put their 1-0 record on the line at New Smyrna Beach on Aug. 28.
Calvary Chapel def. Geneva Classical Academy 40-0
Calvary Chapel pitched its first shutout in 2 years with a rout of Geneva Classical. The Eagles led 12-0 at halftime and scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to pull away.
The Eagles move to 2-0 and they’ll play at Eastland Christian on Aug. 28.
Cocoa Beach def. Discovery 43-0
Cocoa Beach is 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2012 after 43-point performances. The Minutemen scored 28 point...
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