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We are open to broadcast any sporting event in Brevard County and beyond. If you want to see your program aired, reach out.
🏈 BSN YOUTH FOOTBALL: COCOA TIGERS 14U WIN PROLIFIX SPORTZ NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP — A PERFECT 15–0 SEASON, A DYNASTY, AND A DEFENSE BUILT FOR HISTORY
Some seasons are impressive.
Some seasons are dominant.
And then there is Cocoa 14U’s 2025 season, a season that shattered ceilings, rewrote expectations, and ended on the biggest stage with a national championship win.
The Cocoa Tigers 14U finished the year 15–0, completed a three-peat as ACYAA 14U Champions, and on Saturday captured the 2025 Prolifix Sportz AAU National Championship with a 26–6 win over the United Thoroughbreds from Philadelphia, PA.
The Tigers 14U are National champions. Undefeated. Unshaken. Unmatched.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
After playing three games in less than a week, Cocoa’s 14U went into halftime of the title game leading just 7–6, but championship moments require championship responses — and the Tigers delivered two of them in the red zone on defense.
The Tigers forced two Thoroughbred turnovers, one Cocoa turned into six points on a scoop and score.
These plays flipped the momentum, flipped the scoreboard, and flipped the entire national title game on its head.
From there, Cocoa did what Cocoa always does: capitalize, punish mistakes, and close the door.
The Championship Game MVP was Jah’quel Garner, who turned in a performance he will remember for the rest of his life.
THE PATH TO A NATIONAL TITLE
To reach Saturday’s final, Cocoa survived a heavyweight fight in the semifinals against Tre Mann Elite from Middleton, Florida. The Tigers outlasted them, winning 22–14 in a game that tested their poise but they never blinked.
In pool play, the Tigers made their presence known immediately: They picked up a forfeit win over the Tampa Lions and then ran through, over, and around the Ocala Thunder and the Ragsdale Steelers from North Carolina by scores of 32-0 and 37–0.
Three pool wins, two shutouts, and an early message sent to the nation: Cocoa came here to claim what they knew was theirs, the national championship.
THE FULL SEASON : BY THE NUMBERS
What this team accomplished statistically borders on ridiculous:
15–0 overall. Only 26 points allowed all season. Just 1.8 points allowed per game. The offense averaged 35 points per game.
Shutouts in the ACYAA semifinals (34–0) and Super Bowl (35–0) and two shutouts in the National Championships. Only one team all year reached double digits, and that was in the national semifinals.
They allowed just six points all year in ACYAA play. The Tigers possessed a defense that erased hope and an offense that erased other team’s wills to keep playing.
In the end, this was a team forged in the July sun and this past weekend, they walked into the fire, kicked the door off the hinges, and completed their mission with the kind of finish only champions understand.
THE DYNASTY
Under Head Coach Tony Williams, with assistants Antwan Ford, Adam Franco, Bryk Lancaster, Kenneth Webster, Andretti Williams, and Antonio Williams, Cocoa played with discipline, maturity, and a level of consistency rarely seen at the 14U level.
Cocoa 14U is now the three-time ACYAA 14U Champion and the 2025 Prolifix Sportz AAU National Champion. 15–0 with one of the toughest defenses ever assembled at this age level.
This was the purest definition of ‘The Perfect Season’
Congratulations to Coach Williams, his staff, and every player who made this run unforgettable.
2024 COCOA TIGERS 14U ROSTER
Head Coach: Tony Williams
0 — Annorris Reed
1 — Jahiem Scott
2 — Zymaine Gedeon
3 — Jah’quel Garner
4 — Marquez Young
5 — Jayden Bartley
6 — Makih Pelt
7 — Joshua Gowins
8 — Orlando Bembry II
9 — Davin Reynolds
10 — Rashad Burns
11 — Timarjai Price
12 — Michael Arthur
13 — Jackson Franco
14 — Jamari Player
16 — Micah Knight
18 — Amari Taylor
19 — Trayon Douglas
21 — Lamont McCurdy
22 — Justus Jones
23 — Alejandro Adorno
25 — Maree Johnson
33 — Ryaunte Blount
34 — Gabriel Young
52 — Brian Heggs Jr.
56 — Ryelin Sims
95 — Connor Lancaster
99 — Ayden Dixon
This post sponsored by Gamerz R' Us
Cocoa Youth Athletics Atlantic Coast Youth Athletics Association
BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NO. 13 TEXAS, NO. 18 MICHIGAN TO MEET IN 2025 CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL, 3:00 PM NEW YEARS EVE:
No. 13 Texas and No. 18 Michigan will square off in the 2025 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Florida Citrus Sports announced Sunday.
The 80th edition of Orlando’s New Year’s Classic kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Camping World Stadium and will air live on ABC.
The milestone matchup will be just the third all-time meeting between the Longhorns (9-3, 6-2 SEC) and Wolverines (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten). Texas won both previous contests, including a 2024 regular-season victory in Ann Arbor and an unforgettable 38-37 win in the 2005 Rose Bowl. This year’s bowl game will also mark Texas’ first postseason trip to Orlando.
Michigan, meanwhile, will be making a record-setting seventh appearance in the Citrus Bowl, and its first since 2020. The Wolverines are 4-2 in six previous contests, with triumphs over Florida (2016 and 2008), Auburn (2001) and Arkansas (1999), and would tie Tennessee (5-1) for the all-time lead in Citrus Bowl wins with a victory over the Longhorns.
On offense, the Wolverines feature one of college football’s most potent ground attacks, with 213.2 rushing yards per game on the season, good for 16th among FBS teams. The unit is led by Jordan Marshall (932 yards and 10 touchdowns), who averaged 126.2 rushing yards per game over his final five games after stepping into a featured role following an injury to Justice Haynes (857 yards and 10 touchdowns).
The sophomore Marshall’s 6.21 yards per carry also ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 17th in the country.
Under center, quarterback Bryce Underwood led an offense that ended the regular season with 59 total plays (36 passing, 23 rushing) of 20-plus yards.
The consensus No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, Underwood finished his debut season with 2,229 passing yards and nine touchdowns through the air.
His 12.5 yards per completion ranked fourth in the Big Ten, and his top two targets, Andrew Marsh (641 yards) and Donaven McCulley (534 yards) each averaged 15.3 yards per catch. Underwood also had 323 rushing yards and scored five rushing scores this season.
On the SEC sideline, Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, finished the regular season with 2,942 passing yards and ranked 4th in the SEC with 24 passing touchdowns. Manning also led the Longhorns with eight rushing scores this season and was responsible for 198 total points, 10th among all FBS players.
Manning’s top target, Ryan Wingo, led the team in catches (50), receiving yards (770) and receiving touchdowns (seven). Redshirt freshman Parker Livingstone also added six touchdown receptions, and his 18.9 yards per catch ranked second in the SEC and 12th nationally.
On special teams, Ryan Niblett is one of the country’s most electric return men. Niblett led the SEC and finished second in the entire FBS with 23.6 yards per punt return, with two punt return touchdowns on the season. His 646 kick return yards also led the SEC and ranked fifth among FBS returners.
Defensively, the Longhorns held opponents to just 98.1 rushing yards per game, 10th among FBS programs, and ranked 23rd nationally in scoring defense at 19.8 points allowed per game. Jelani McDonald led the team in both tackles (73) and interceptions (three), while Colin Simmons paced the team in tackles for a loss (13.5), including a team-high 11 sacks.
Like Texas, Michigan also boasts one of the nation’s sturdiest defensive fronts.
The Wolverines allowed just 18.7 points per game this season, good for 16th nationally, while their total defense (312.3 yards per game, 22nd) and rushing defense (101.7 yards, 13th) also ranked in the Top 25 among FBS schools. They’re led by edge rusher Derrick Moore, who finished third in the Big Ten and 12th in the country with 10 sacks this season.
One of college football’s longest-running bowl events, the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl debuted on Jan. 1, 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl, with Catawba defeating Maryville 31-6 in the inaugural game.
Over the eight decades since, the event has grown into one of the sport’s most respected legacy postseason contests, strengthened by more than 30 years of partnership with the SEC and Big Ten.
This year’s game will also mark the long-awaited return of beloved mascot Prince Cheddward, who returns to the sidelines after years of fan demand.
Additionally, fans at the game will have access to a free postgame concert from multi-platinum country music artist Jordan Davis, who will help Orlando ring in 2026 with a full set presented by Geico after the final whistle.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl tickets are available now. visit
CheezItCitrusBowl.com to buy or to learn more about group, premium and other ticket offers, or to purchase Corona Sunbrew Field Pass upgrades for the postgame concert.
THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY Natwick Insurance, Inc.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Florida Citrus Sports
BSN BOYS WRESTLING: MERRITT ISLAND CAPTURES 13TH ANNUAL BARBARA PILL MEMORIAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
The Merritt Island wrestling program continues to build one of the strongest traditions in Brevard County.
Under head coach Graham Smith, now entering his 16th season, the Mustangs opened the 2025–26 campaign as three-time defending Cape Coast Conference Champions and a program that has reached the State Duals Final Four in each of the last four seasons.
Last year, freshman standout Timmy Boda became the 10th Mustang in program history to win a state championship, raising Merritt Island’s total to 14 individual state titles.
With four returning state medalists and a deep, seasoned lineup, expectations for this season are high.
Those expectations were backed up this past weekend as the Mustangs captured the prestigious 13th Annual Barbara Pill Memorial Tournament at Bayside High School.
Merritt Island crowned six champions as Nate Webster (132), Timmy Boda (138), Landon Quiroga (144), Nolan West (150), Titus DeYoung (157), and Tre Driggett (215) all walked out with gold around their neck.
In all, 11 Mustangs earned medals. Makana Tieri finished as runner-up, while Justus Giglietti, Alex Wardenburg, Robi Aiseia, and Rian Dufrene also secured podium finishes.
The Mustangs took control early with 84.5 points after Friday night and never surrendered the lead.
They closed the tournament with 247 points, finishing 34 points ahead of runner-up Heritage. Palm Bay placed third, Space Coast finished fourth, and defending champion Viera rounded out the top five.
Coach Smith, a proud Merritt Island alumnus, once again has a squad built for a deep postseason push. The talent is real, the depth is solid, and the momentum is already building.
A strong opening test and the Mustangs passed it with authority.
106 VinDaryus White Palm Bay
113 Nolan Halulko Martin County
120 Carter Rivera St. Cloud
126 Ashton Swanson Space Coast
132 Nathaniel Webster Merritt Island
138 Timothy Boda Merritt Island
144 Landon Quiroga Merritt Island
150 Nolan West Merritt Island
157 Titus DeYoung Merritt Island
165 Jerrell Dossous Space Coast
175 Brendon Whiting Heritage
190 Benjamin Gordon Heritage
215 Tre Driggett Merritt Island
285 Elijah Cardwell Astronaut
TEAM SCORES: TOP 10
1 Merritt Island 247
2 Heritage 213
3 Palm Bay 184
4 Space Coast 162.5
5 Viera 156.5
6 St. Cloud 140.5
7 Astronaut 122.5
8 Martin County 97.5
9 Titusville 97
10 Lyman 85
BSN SAYS:
Merritt Island didn’t just show up m, they showed who they are. This is a program built on standards, not surprises, and their performance proved that nothing has changed.
Six champions, eleven medalists, and wire-to-wire control of a tournament as respected as the Barbara Pill Memorial is the kind of start that tells the rest of the county and state the Mustangs are serious about where they expect to be come March.
Boda looks every bit the returning champ. The middle weights are tough, disciplined, and dangerous.
The upper weights are as steady as anyone in the region. And when Coach Smith, who Is one of the best coaches regardless of sport, has a group this deep and this locked in, Merritt Island becomes a problem for everyone standing across from them.
It’s a long season ahead, but make no mistake, the Mustangs are already wrestling like a team with championship expectations. And they hit the mark this past weekend.
ABOUT BARBARA PILL:
Barbara Pill was a Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy who was fatally attacked during a routine traffic stop in March of 2012. Deputy Pill was a caring and loving wife and mother to two former Bayside Bear wrestlers, and she was a tremendous supporter of the Bayside wrestling program during the early stages of the school’s existence.
Bayside High School has hosted this tournament each year for the past 13 years to honor Deputy Pill and all law enforcement officers. Deputy Pill served with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years and dedicated 30 years of her life to law enforcement.
Merritt Island Wrestling
This post sponsored by ROBERTSON’S PAVERS:
BSN GIRLS WRESTLING: VIERA CAPTURES SECOND STRAIGHT BARBARA PILL MEMORIAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
Last week, the Viera Hawks girls team came within close to winning the Flagler Girls Rotary Tournament, finishing second out of 38 teams in one of the tougher early-season tests in the state.
Under head coach Jason Custer, they went straight back to work. And on Thursday at Bayside High School, that work paid off in a big way as the Hawks won the 13th Annual Barbara Pill Memorial Wrestling Tournament.
It marks back-to-back tournament championships for the Lady Hawks, who also captured this prestigious event last season. This year’s title was equally impressive if not more emphatic.
Viera dominated the field from start to finish, powered by 11 Top Five finishers, eight finalists, and six weight-class champions.
Savanah Nazario-Darnell (170), Lillian Straessley (140), Cassidy Harrington (135), Ryauna Nepomuceno (125), Catalina Kenney (120), and Elizabeth Pinto (110) all brought home gold as the Hawks once again proved they are one of the premier girls wrestling programs in Florida.
Viera finished with 269.2 points, nearly 100 points ahead of runner-up Cocoa Beach, who posted 169.5.
Olivia Gapud and Michelle Amyot both claimed runner-up honors, while Zahar Zouaki wrestled her way to a strong third-place finish. Reese Townsend and Keliana Velazquez rounded out Viera’s Top Five performers with fourth- and fifth-place finishes in their respective divisions.
Congratulations ladies and coach Custer and good luck the rest of the season. PLEASE 🙏 KEEP BSN UPDATED ALONG THE WAY:
TEAM SCORES : TOP 10
1. Viera 269
2. Cocoa Beach 169.5
3. Lincoln Park Academy 141
4. Heritage 134
5. Cypress Creek 100.5
6. Gateway 95
7. Bayside 93
8. Tohopekaliga 73
9. Davenport 72.5
10. Fort Pierce Central 69.
FIRST PLACE FINISHERS:
100: Rylee Beville (Cocoa Beach)
105: Kailyn Brooks (Davenport)
110: Elizabeth Pinto (Viera)
115: Mackenzie Allcroft (Fort Pierce Central)
120: Catalina Kenney (Viera); 125: Ryauna Nepomuceno (Viera)
130: Elysse Fredenburg (Cocoa Beach)
135: Cassidy Harrington (Viera)
140: Lillian Straessley (Viera); 145: Sariah Franco (Cypress Creek)
155: Abigail Reid (Tohopekaliga)
170: Savanah Nazario-Darnell (Viera)
190: Kaelyn Toombs (Lincoln Park Academy)
235: Makayla Brianvil (Lincoln Park Academy).
ABOUT BARBARA PILL:
Barbara Pill was a Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy who was fatally attacked during a routine traffic stop in March of 2012. Deputy Pill was a caring and loving wife and mother to two former Bayside Bear wrestlers, and she was a tremendous supporter of the Bayside wrestling program during the early stages of the school’s existence.
Bayside High School has hosted this tournament each year for the past 13 years to honor Deputy Pill and all law enforcement officers. Deputy Pill served with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years and dedicated 30 years of her life to law enforcement.
This post sponsored by ORANGE PEST CONTROL
Viera High School
#vierawrestling #floridawrestling
BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL: THE 12-TEAM PLAYOFF FIELD DROPS WITH SHOCKWAVES, CONTROVERSY AND CHAOS
The College Football Playoff bracket dropped on Sunday, and the 12-team field will have college football fans debating the selections all week.
The chaos comes from the final four selections. A year after both programs were left looking into the postseason from the wrong side of the glass, Alabama and Miami finally got the break they needed and are in this year’s tournament.
The Crimson Tide and Hurricanes survived the final cutdown on Sunday, edging out Notre Dame for the last at-large berth.
Alabama is the second three-loss team to reach the 12-team field, but the Crimson Tide are the first to do so as an at-large selection. Three-loss Clemson reached the CFP last year, but the Tigers earned an automatic bid as ACC champions.
At the top of the field sits a story nobody saw coming a decade ago.
Indiana, undefeated Big Ten champions at 13–0, is crowned the No. 1 seed. The Hoosiers defeated Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, winning the conference outright for the first time in 80 years (1945).
They’re joined by the No. 2 Buckeyes, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 4 Texas Tech as the four teams receiving first-round byes, each securing its place as one of the highest-ranked conference champions.
After No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 8 Oklahoma, the true disruption showed its ugly head.
For the first time in playoff history, two Group of Five champions punched their ticket into the bracket in the same year. Tulane, winners of the American at 11–2, and James Madison, 12–1 Sun Belt champions, earned automatic bids as top-25 conference winners.
JMU, only a few seasons removed from transitioning to the FBS, landed the No. 12 seed and a first-round matchup at Oregon. Tulane enters at No. 11 and draws Ole Miss in a rematch of a September blowout by the Rebels.
The most heated moment of the day came at the bubble line.
After weeks of being ranked ahead of Miami — including this past Tuesday when the committee released its final poll before the conference championships — Notre Dame fell out of the field entirely.
The Irish were No. 10 in Tuesday’s CFP rankings with Alabama No. 9. BYU was No. 11 and Miami No. 12.
Then came the conference championship games, and despite its 28–7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Title Game and a 10–3 record, the Crimson Tide stayed at No. 9, Miami moved to No. 10, and Notre Dame became the first team out, with BYU the second team out at No. 12.
Miami did not play on conference championship weekend. Neither did Notre Dame. Both beat Boise State — the lone opponent on either schedule that lifted a trophy Saturday. Yet the Irish saw their résumé strengthened and still fell backward.
The Irish reached the National Championship Game last year as a No. 7 seed, falling to No. 8 Ohio State.
According to CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek, the committee had previously refused to compare the Hurricanes and Irish head-to-head because BYU separated them in the rankings. Once BYU fell, the committee finally put the two rivals side by side.
And when they did, Miami’s Week 1 win over Notre Dame — long ignored in previous rankings — became the deciding factor.
Meanwhile, Duke’s win over Virginia helped James Madison leap into the highest-ranked-champions group, pushing out others behind them and earning the Sun Belt its first-ever playoff berth.
The result is a bracket with everything: upsets waiting to happen, rematches, new blood, blue bloods, and fanbases ready to riot or rejoice.
HOW THE COMMITTEE VOTES
The College Football Playoff committee evaluates teams by comparing strength of schedule, head-to-head results, performances against common opponents, and any factors that may have affected a team’s season or could influence postseason readiness.
After reviewing each résumé, the committee ranks 25 teams. The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the playoff, and the next seven highest-ranked teams fill the remaining spots.
If fewer than five champions are in the top 25, the committee continues ranking the remaining champions until five are included, placing any champion outside the top 12 at the bottom of the 12-team field.
The ranking process unfolds in four rounds. First, the committee selects the top four teams, which earn first-round byes. Next, it ranks teams five through eight, securing home games for those programs. Then it orders teams nine through twelve, designating the four visiting teams in the opening round while accommodating any conference champion that must be moved into the field.
The system is supposedly designed to balance merit, championships, and competitive fairness — even if it leaves plenty of room for debate. And it most certainly does.
In today’s vote, the committee elected to choose a second Group of Five team in James Madison University instead of an at-large such as Notre Dame.
THE PLAYOFF BRACKET
First-Round Byes (Top 4 Seeds)
No. 1 Indiana (13–0)
No. 2 Ohio State (12–1)
No. 3 Georgia (12–1)
No. 4 Texas Tech (12–1)
First-Round Games
No. 12 James Madison (12–1) at No. 5 Oregon (11–1)
No. 11 Tulane (11–2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (11–1)
No. 10 Miami (10–2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11–1)
No. 9 Alabama (10–3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10–2)
First-round games take place Dec. 19–20 on campus sites.
Quarterfinals follow on Dec. 31–Jan. 1, semifinals on Jan. 8–9, and the national champion will be crowned Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
BSN SAYS
It’s important to remember that the CFP committee never promises to select the 12 best teams in college football — which, in our opinion, is ridiculous.
The system is built around ranking the top 25, taking the five highest-ranked conference champions, and then filling the remaining spots with the next seven highest-ranked teams.
If it were truly the 12 best teams according to the CFP rankings, Notre Dame would have been No. 11 and BYU No. 12. Tulane was ranked No. 20 and JMU No. 24.
In the AP Poll, Notre Dame was No. 9, Miami No. 20, Alabama No. 11, and BYU No. 12.
So while Tulane and James Madison are absolutely legitimate top-25 programs, their inclusion doesn’t automatically mean they are among the 12 strongest teams in the country — it simply means they met the criteria the format requires.
The playoff is designed to honor conference champions and reward résumés within that structure, not create a pure “best 12 teams” tournament, and that distinction matters every year a controversial bracket drops.
Until the format changes, teams like Notre Dame — and last year, Miami — will continue to miss the CFP.
Miami absolutely belonged in the bracket this year, but so did Notre Dame.
Where the logic becomes flawed is simple: if a September loss to Florida was enough to keep say a team like Texas out of an at-large bid, how does a loss to 5 win Florida State and 21-point loss to Georgia on Saturday not push a 10–3 Alabama team outside the top 12?
In this case, the committee clearly rewarded Alabama for reaching the SEC Championship Game and beating Georgia at home during the regular season, while Texas fell to the Dawgs 35–10 on November 10.
The Longhorns’ other two losses were at Ohio State by seven and at Florida by eight. The standard can’t shift depending on the color of the jersey or what the network prefers.
And let’s be honest about the Group of Five: if Tulane or JMU lined up against Notre Dame, Texas, BYU, or even Vanderbilt ten times, they’re losing eight or nine times.
One G5 team feels like a meaningful inclusion. Two feels like the committee was making a statement instead of building the strongest field available.
The calls for a 16-team playoff won’t fix anything. If we’re already arguing about No. 12 versus No. 13, we’ll argue just as loudly about No. 16 versus No. 17. College sports is built on debate — we fight about No. 69 and No. 70 every March.
Here’s the kicker: Florida’s new head coach Jon Sumrall may one day look back and laugh that he took Tulane to the College Football Playoff before he ever took Florida there.
No system is going to satisfy everyone. But whatever this year’s process was — the last-minute shuffling, the selective emphasis on head-to-head, the constantly changing evaluation criteria — this ain’t it.y
BSN COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK: DON’T MISS THE FINAL 2 FREE YOUTH LACROSSE CLINICS ACROSS THE SPACE COAST!
The Space Coast Lacrosse Association is bringing the fastest sport on two feet to every corner of Brevard — and we’re doing it for FREE.
Whether you’re in Merritt Island, Viera, or Satellite, your child can try lacrosse with no cost, no experience, and no gear required. Just show up with cleats or tennis shoes and get ready to learn, run, and have fun!
These clinics are open to boys and girls ages U6–U14 and led by certified coaches from our local youth programs.
MERRITT ISLAND UNITED YOUTH LACROSSE
📍 Kelly Park West
🕒 Mondays, 4:45–6pm
📅 December 8 & December 15
2 FREE Learn-to-Play Clinics!
🟡 VIERA YOUTH LACROSSE
📍 Viera Regional Park
🕒 Wednesdays, 4:45–6pm
📅 – December 10 & 17
2 FREE Learn to Play Lax Clinics
SATELLITE YOUTH LACROSSE
📍 Satellite High School Practice Fields
🕒 Thursdays, 4:45–5:45pm
📅 December 11 & December 18
2 FREE Learn-to-Play Clinics
🥍 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• No experience needed
• No equipment needed
• Open to boys & girls U6–U14
• Just bring cleats or athletic shoes and be ready to learn!
🚀 Space Coast Lacrosse is growing — come be a part of it!
If your child has ever been curious about lacrosse, this is the perfect chance to try it in a fun, beginner-friendly environment.
Drop in, learn the game, and join the movement pushing lacrosse forward in Brevard County.
Space Coast Lacrosse Association
BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL NO. 22 GEORGIA TECH VS. NO. 12 BYU IN THE POP-TARTS BOWL — DECEMBER 27, 3:30 PM IN ORLANDO
One of college football’s most unique postseason games returns to Orlando, and it nearly featured both of the first two teams left out of the College Football Playoff.
Instead, by the end of Sunday afternoon, Florida Citrus Sports secured one of them, setting up a matchup between No. 22 Georgia Tech and No. 12 BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 27 at 3:30 p.m. inside Camping World Stadium.
A bowl game with a long history of name changes, personality, and now a life-size edible mascot, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has steadily grown into one of the marquee non–New Year’s Six destinations.
Born in Miami in 1990 as the Blockbuster Bowl, the event exploded out of the gate with over 74,000 fans watching Penn State battle Florida State.
Since moving to Orlando in 2001, the game has thrived under several title sponsors including the Russell Athletic Bowl but in 2023 Pop-Tarts entered the scene with a multi-year deal, elevating the bowl into a social-media phenomenon and a must-watch December showcase.
This year’s matchup brings together two programs that both flirted with the College Football Playoff but fell just short — and arrive in Orlando with something to prove.
BYU: SECOND TEAM OUT OF CFP
No. 12 BYU enters the Pop-Tarts Bowl with an 11–2 record, and the sting of being the second team out of the 12-team College Football Playoff still fresh.
Eight Power Four teams finished with at least 11 wins this season. BYU was the only one not selected for the CFP — the second straight year the Cougars posted double-digit wins and still missed the postseason field.
BYU had only two losses all year, both to No. 4 Texas Tech — once in Lubbock, and again in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington.
Ahead of the season, the CFP committee introduced new criteria stating that teams wouldn’t be penalized heavily for losing to high-quality opponents.
BYU took that to heart: no bad losses, and multiple notable victories over ranked programs including Utah and Arizona.
But BYU isn’t just a resume story — their on-field firepower is real.
The Cougars are driven by the explosive combination of quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin. Bachmeier completed 64.6% of his passes for 2,593 yards and 14 touchdowns with only four interceptions, while also rushing for 529 yards and 11 scores. His most efficient outing came against UCF, where he went 21-of-25 for 289 yards.
Martin, a powerful and reliable junior, carried 217 times for 1,229 yards (5.7 per carry) and 11 touchdowns while adding 224 receiving yards. His season highlight came in a 26–14 win at Cincinnati, where he exploded for 222 yards and two scores on 32 carries.
Reports circulated that BYU would face Notre Dame if the Fighting Irish missed the CFP.
But when Notre Dame was left out, the Irish chose not to play in a bowl game declining the invite to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. This forced the PTB committee to pivot — ultimately delivering a ranked showdown with No.22 Georgia Tech instead.
Despite the CFP disappointment, BYU arrives in Orlando chasing history. A win would secure the program’s first 12-win season since 2001.
This appearance marks BYU’s 42nd bowl game all-time, and under head coach Kalani Sitake, the Cougars are 5–2 in postseason games — including last year’s Alamo Bowl rout of Colorado.
GEORGIA TECH: FROM 8–0 TO ORLANDO WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE
Georgia Tech began the season as one of the most surprising stories in college football, racing out to an 8–0 start and climbing as high as No. 7 in the AP Top 25.
Then November happened. The Yellow Jackets stumbled down the stretch, dropping three of their final four to finish 9–3 — still their best regular season since 2014.
The Jackets are powered by dual-threat quarterback Haynes King, who passed for 2,697 yards and led the team with 922 rushing yards. Georgia Tech’s offense, built on tempo and versatility, presents a dangerous challenge for BYU’s disciplined and physical defensive front.
This bowl appearance marks Georgia Tech’s 48th all-time, the 14th-most in college football history.
Their .553 postseason winning percentage (26–21) ranks 12th among FBS programs. It is also the Jackets’ third appearance in the game now known as the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and their third postseason game inside Camping World Stadium — including the famous 1991 Citrus Bowl win that clinched the 1990 national championship.
Both Georgia Tech and BYU enter the matchup having recently secured their coaching futures. Brent Key signed an extension locking him into his alma mater through 2030, while Sitake landed a long-term extension after drawing serious attention from Penn State.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN ORLANDO
Big 12 teams have won the last two Pop-Tarts Bowls — Kansas State in 2023 and Iowa State in 2024 — and BYU aims to continue that streak.
This matchup has everything a bowl game should bring:
A motivated BYU team seeking validation. A Georgia Tech squad looking to finish what it started. Two dynamic offenses. Two passionate fanbases. And a bowl environment that has become must-see every December.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl may have a playful name, but it consistently delivers serious football — and this year’s showdown is no exception.
December 27. Orlando. 3:30 p.m. Two teams with something to prove. One stage to do it.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
FCS Events
Post sponsored by Krissy Knows
BSN FOOTBALL: PALM BAY LEGEND RETURNS — JOE COHEN NAMED NEW PIRATES DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Palm Bay football just reached back into its proudest era and pulled out one of the faces that helped define it.
Head Coach Kevin Mays has officially named Joe Cohen the new defensive coordinator of the Palm Bay Pirates — and if you grew up on Space Coast football, you already know how big this is.
Cohen isn’t just a hire. He’s a homecoming. He’s a restoration of the standard.
A beloved Palm Bay alumnus, Cohen was a force long before he ever wore a Florida Gators uniform or lined up in an NFL huddle.
He starred for the Pirates during the program’s golden age, playing on both the 2000 and 2002 FHSAA State Championship teams, carving out a legacy as one of the most dominant two-way athletes Brevard County has ever produced.
He graduated in the Class of 2003, a top national recruit whose rare strength, athleticism, and versatility made him one of the most sought-after players in the country. Cohen chose the University of Florida, where he became a defensive anchor and helped the Gators capture the 2006 BCS National Championship.
From there, the dream continued.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Cohen in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He went on to play for the 49ers, Dolphins, Raiders, and Lions — even recording a sack on Brett Favre in 2009 — before finishing his pro career in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.
But the story has come full circle.
Cohen, who has coached for several programs in Brevard County and coached under Mays at Viera, returns to his alma mater bringing NFL experience, SEC pedigree, and a deep, personal understanding of what Palm Bay football is supposed to be.
He lived it. He helped build it. And now he’s here to rebuild it with the next generation.
Coach Mays couldn’t be more fired up.
“We are very excited to get Joe to come home. Our players will thrive from the experience that he has. Joe is an awesome person and coach.”
For a school built on tradition, toughness, and championship DNA, adding Cohen is more than a personnel move, it’s a message. Palm Bay is leaning back into its identity. Back into the grit, speed, physicality, and swagger that once shook the state.
There’s a different energy when one of your own comes back.
Palm Bay doesn’t just welcome Joe Cohen home, they rise a little taller knowing he’s on their sideline again.
The Pirates just leveled up. And everybody in 3A knows it.
THIS POST SPONSORED BY Natwick Insurance, Inc.
PBHS Pirate Football
🎄 HOLIDAY MEN & WOMEN ALUMNI GAMES – THE LEGENDS RETURN 🎄 Monday, December 29 • Kelly Park West, Merritt Island $20 • All Proceeds Support Space Coast Youth Lacrosse
The holidays are for coming home and this December, Brevard’s lacrosse family is doing exactly that.
Whether you repped Merritt Island, Viera, Edgewood, West Shore, Cocoa Beach, MCC, Heritage, or anywhere in between… this night is for YOU.
This is the Inaugural Holiday Lacrosse Alumni Games for Brevard County men and women— a chance for former players to reunite, compete, laugh, talk trash, relive the glory days, and most importantly: lift up the next generation.
Every dollar raised goes directly toward launching the new Space Coast Youth Lacrosse League, including buying sticks, pads, and essential gear for brand-new players stepping onto the field for the first time.
📍 Location: Kelly Park West
2455 N Banana River Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32952
📅 Date: Monday, December 29, 2025
👥 Women’s Alumni Game: 6:00 PM
👥 Men’s Alumni Game: 7:30 PM
💲 Cost: $20 per player
LINK TO SIGN UP THEN CLICK ON BOOK NOW 👇👇👇👇👇
🎁 Equipment Drive: Bring your old sticks, gloves, and gear (in good condition) to donate and help grow the game.
This isn’t about what jersey you used to wear — it’s about the sport we all love and the community we built along the way. Let’s make the first annual event one that becomes a tradition for years to come.
Limited spots available. Book now. Show up. Give back. Play hard.
🥍 Brevard Lacrosse: Past Meets Future on Dec. 29. Be part of it.
Tier One Lax Space Coast Lacrosse Association
BSN CROSS COUNTRY: HOLY TRINITY’S EVAN SPREITZER OBLITERATES THE 1A FIELD — RUNS AWAY WITH STATE TITLE IN A MASTERCLASS OF DOMINANCE
By Brevard Sports Network
TALLAHASSEE — There are state champions and then there are runners who own the course, the moment, and the history books.
Holy Trinity senior Evan Spreitzer didn’t just win the FHSAA Class 1A boys cross country state championship on Saturday at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee
he took the race, ripped the suspense out of it, and delivered a title run rarely seen at the state championships.
15:16.0 — flat. A statement. A coronation. A master class in distance running. His time was the second best of the day in any classification.
And honestly? What Spreitzer did was exactly what the two-time defending district and regional champion came to do.
A MAN ON A MISSION
Last season, Spreitzer left this same course with a silver medal and a time of 15:38.9, finishing state runner-up as a junior.
This season, he returned not just as a favorite but as a certified Florida distance running force.
Back in October, on this very layout, he blasted a 14:58.9 at the FSU Invitational/Pre-State, becoming just the third athlete in Florida high school history to break 15 minutes on the state course.
So when the gun fired on Saturday?
There was no hesitation. No waiting. No pack strategy. No drama.
Spreitzer took the lead almost immediately — and never gave it back.
The fog that covered the early races had fully lifted for the boys 1A championship. The course was clear. The view to the front was clear. And Evan made sure the only thing anyone saw was his back.
By the two-mile mark, the gap was ridiculous, the chase pack wasn’t even in the same frame.
As Spreitzer paced into the small valley and up the hill, the NFHS Network showed a lead that couldn’t find the other 234 runners in the race.
Coaches, spectators, and athletes alike were looking down the course at empty grass behind him. The race for second wasn’t even close to the race for first.
Evan Spreitzer crossed the line over 30 seconds ahead of the next competitor, destroying the field with a level of control rarely seen at a state meet.
A CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
This championship wasn’t a surprise, it was the completion of a run of dominance stretching through seasons, sports, and state meets.
This is now four FHSAA state championships since May that Spreitzer has celebrated.
Back in May at the outdoor state championships he won the 1A individual 3200m state title and was a part of the Tigers 4x800 state championship winning team.
The next state medal came when the Tigers hoisted the team state championship trophy.
And on Saturday, he captured his fourth gold in six months winning the 1A cross country state meet.
Four titles. Two sports. Three events. Six months and one undeniable legacy.
AND THE TEAM SHOWED UP TOO
Spreitzer wasn’t alone on the podium.
Holy Trinity teammate Luke Thomas delivered with an eighth place finish and earning a state medal. Their combined effort helped push the Tigers to a 3rd-place finish as a team, cementing Holy Trinity as one of Florida’s premier distance programs.
BSN SAYS
What Evan Spreitzer did on Saturday wasn’t luck, talent alone, or a good day at the office.
It was work. It was experience.
It was championship DNA.
Evan Spreitzer didn’t just win a state championship. He took it.
He owned it. He defined it.
And he just put the exclamation point on one of the greatest distance running years in Florida high school history.
This post sponsored by Krissy Knows
BSN CROSS COUNTRY: SELAH VIGNIER MAKES HISTORY — WEST SHORE’S FIRST-EVER INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPION
APALACHEE REGIONAL PARK — The fog rolled in thick over Tallahassee on Saturday morning, the kind that hangs low, eats sound, and turns a state championship course into something out of a movie, all silhouettes, breath, and nerves.
And through that fog, one silhouette broke free.
West Shore sophomore Selah Vignier didn’t just run the FHSAA 2A Girls State Championship.
She owned it.
The opening mile saw a tight pack of five moving together, all matching stride for stride, waiting for someone brave enough — strong enough — to make the first real move.
Selah made it.
When the course bent and the field hit rhythm, she surged. Not a reckless sprint — a champion’s separation. She broke from the pack, controlled the pace, and never gave the lead back.
By the time she climbed the final hill toward the finish chute, the fog swallowed everyone behind her. Second place wasn’t just beaten — she was out of sight.
Selah Vignier crossed the line in 18:14.7, a time, a performance, and a statement that rewrites school history.
West Shore’s first-ever individual state champion. In any sport. Ever.
And she did it with the poise of an athlete who understood the moment and rose above it.
But the Wildcats didn’t just bring home one medal — they brought home two.
Amelia Gutierrez delivered a massive run of her own, finishing 14th and earning a state medal, further solidifying West Shore’s rise in the FHSAA distance world.
And the team? Another milestone.
West Shore finished 7th in the state, completing a historic morning for the black and silver in Tallahassee.
A state champion. A state medalist.
A top-10 team finish. A page in school history rewritten forever.
BSN SAYS:
Championships aren’t given. They’re taken. Selah took hers with controlled fire, fearless separation, and a final-hill finish that left no doubt.
Congratulations to the Cross Country Wildcats — and to state champion Selah Vignier, the name that now sits at the top of every record the school has ever kept.
This post sponsored by ROBERTSON’S PAVERS
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