Cardinal Gibbons And Cocoa Title Preview

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs challenge the Cocoa Tigers for the FHSAA Class 4A state championship at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday night. It will be the first football state title game played in South Florida since 2006. The FHSAA football finals were held at what is now known as Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. 

     Cardinal Gibbons(10-2) is the defending Class 4A state champions and look to capture their third state title in the last four seasons. The Chiefs have the shortest trip of any team this weekend with their campus being four miles east of the venue. They have outscored their opponents 404-200 this year and won their last five contests. Cardinal Gibbons blanked Pine Crest 42-0 in the regional semifinal, edged Gulliver Prep 36-33 in the regional final and beat Lakewood 36-18 in the state semifinal. 

     Chiefs quarterback Dylan Rizk transferred from American Heritage in Delray Beach during the offseason and has guided their offense. Running backs Kamari Moulton and Willie Reed will get their rushing opportunities from the backfield. Rizk can connect passes to wide receivers Davon Kiser, Elisha Edwards, Gabriel Morgan, Jesse Anderson, Komani Beneby and Patrick Stepleton. 

     Cocoa(11-1) have outscored their opponents 416-245 this season. They have won nine consecutive games since their one-point loss to Venice in Week 3. The Tigers routed South Sumter 41-0 in a regional semifinal, knocked off the The Village Charter 54-21 in a regional final and defeated Bolles 35-24 in a state semifinal. 

     The main emphasis of the Tigers offense is their rushing attack with running back O.J. Ross. Quarterback Davin Wydner will attempt to find wide receivers Jamaryae Robinson, Donte Cook, Damargio Grimes, Eumari Dixon and Kyon Calhoun on passes downfield.