3 keys to victory for Florida High to hoist its first state title against Cocoa

For all the marbles.

Friday marks the FHSAA 2S State Championship showdown between Florida High and Cocoa to determine who will take home the trophy.

Kickoff is set for at 7 p.m. at Gene Cox Stadium.

The Seminoles (14-0) are looking to complete an undefeated season after advancing to the title game with a 38-28 win over Bishop Verot to finally break through and make another championship appearance to pair with 2019.

The Tigers (10-3) have gotten hot as well and has won eight straight games, not smelling defeat in over two months. They return to the state championship a year after falling in the 4A title game.

Both of these teams are surging and has a sense of redemption surrounding them.

But how do the Seminoles celebrate their first championship in program history led by coach Jarrod Hickman?

Here are three keys to victory.

MORE BIG BEND PREPS COVERAGE

Solid startLincoln boys basketball finding early success in Colville's return to sidelines

'I miss that smile':5 years after his death, Cam Brown's legacy beams brightly at Florida High

Make your selectionVote for this week's Big Bend Preps Athlete of the Week

Seminoles have to be smart with the ball, rely on ground game

The Tigers' defense is dangerous.

Firstly, it only allows 12.8 points per game.

Secondly, the Tigers have intercepted opposing quarterbacks 15 times this season led by senior defensive back Jameer Smith.

The Seminoles must remain opportunistic whenever junior quarterback Jeremy Johnston drops back to pass and look for his favorite targets in classmate Ashton Hampton and senior Brooks Hickman.

Running backs Micahi Danzy and Rhyder Poppell both rushed for over 100 yards and combined for three touchdowns against Bishop Verot last week.

It would only help the Seminoles for them to keep that tandem going to wear down the Tigers.

Florida High defense blockades the scoring of Cocoa

The Tigers can run up the scoreboard as they average 39.6 points per game.

In fact, they scored over 50 points on three occasions this season, highlighted by a 76-point outing against crosstown opponent Space Coast.

The Seminoles give up 13.4 points per game and has only allowed over 30 points once this season from when they played South Walton scored 44 in a first round loss.

Tigers senior quarterback Blake Boda has thrown 47 touchdown passes and added three rushing scores this season.

The Seminoles will have to pressure him and alter his timing with their rabid pass rush led by senior outside linebacker, who has 11 sacks this season.

As a team, the Seminoles have 46 sacks and 68 quarterback hurries.

Seminole seniors must remember that feeling from 2019

The Seminoles finally have gotten back to the state championship.

The team's 16 seniors were freshmen when they lost the 2019 3A title game to Chaminade-Madonna.

Friday will be their last chance to redeem that loss.

Now, the question will remain if that will be enough to fuel the Seminoles as they chase history and secure the school's first football state championship win.

Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

Follow the Tallahassee Democrat on social media at Tallahassee Democrat (Facebook), TallahasseeDemocrat (Instagram), and @TDOnline (Twitter)

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 2S State Title: How Florida High can defeat Cocoa in championship