Football: Vero hosting Treasure Coast for District 12-4M title headlines Week 10 games

The annual Treasure Coast-Vero Beach game typically has plenty of on-field drama and storylines.

This year is no different.

Treasure Coast (3-4, No. 8 Class 4S) travels to Vero Beach (8-1, No. 8 Class 4S) on Friday and the stakes couldn’t be much higher.

The winner claims the District 12-4M championship and a year's worth or bragging rights.

Treasure Coast has won the past two meetings; Vero Beach dominated the series before that with nine consecutive wins. Three of the past four games have been decided by three points or less.

And these games have had a little bit of everything. A shootout in 2018 decided by a last-minute fourth-down stop. An overtime classic in 2019 — a game that saw both teams celebrate winning the game in the fourth quarter. The 2020 game ended with a successful hook-and-ladder on the final play of regulation followed by a failed two-point conversion with no time left on the clock.

Bottom line, this quietly has been one of the state's best rivalries over the last five years. Even last year's game, which Treasure Coast won by 21 points, saw Vero Beach rally from an early 21-0 deficit before the Titans pulled away in the second half.

More: An oral history of the wild final seconds of Treasure Coast's win at Vero Beach in 2020

More: An oral history of the chaotic finish in Vero Beach's OT win at Treasure Coast in 2019

Here are some of the other top games to watch in Week 10.

Eau Gallie (7-1, No. 5 Class 3S) at Rockledge (7-1, No. 2 Class 3S)

Eau Gallie, led by All-American athlete Robert Stafford and the sophomore running back duo of Delvonte Williams and Tay Welch, have rebounded well from last year’s 3-7 season. The team’s lone loss this season was an overtime loss against Merritt Island. Rockledge, which has wins against Gulliver Prep, Carrollwood Day and Merritt Island, has won three in a row and held opponents to seven points or less in all seven wins.

Seminole (7-1, No. 2 Class 4M) at Lake Mary (5-2, No. 7 Class 4M)

The rivals, who met three times last season (including the spring game), face off in a District 2-4M game. Seminole has won three in a row, including a 35-29 overtime win against Seminole on Oct. 7. Lake Mary is coming off a 21-17 loss against Apopka, which snapped a two-game win streak for the Rams. Lake Mary’s two losses — both to district opponents —have been by a total of five points.

Andrew Jackson (7-1, No. 6 Class 2M) at Raines (6-1, No. 7 Class 2M)

This one is for the District 1-2M championship. Jackson lost the season opener at Brunswick (Ga.) but has reeled off seven consecutive wins since — including three games decided by seven points or less. Linebacker Grayson Howard has been one of the most dominant players in the state this season, averaging more than 18 tackles per game. Raines is on a five-game win streak, with its lone loss this season coming on the road at Trinity Christian. Raines has scored at least 20 points in four straight — including a 20-17 win over Trinity Catholic on Sept. 23.

Pensacola Catholic (9-0, No. 6 Class 2S) at West Florida (5-2, No. 7 Class 2S)

The District 1-2S championship game is all that stands between Pensacola Catholic and its third perfect regular season in the past nine years. The Crusaders have played just one game this season – a 31-28 overtime win at Mobile Christians (Al.) — decided by 12 points or less. West Florida dropped consecutive road games against Pace and Pine Forest in September but is on a three-game win streak and is undefeated at home this season.

Mosley at Niceville

Mosley is 5-3; Niceville is 7-1 and No. 6 in Class 4S

Bolles at Bishop Kenny

Bolles is 5-3 and No. 8 in Class 2M; Bishop Kenny is 7-1

Tampa Bay Tech at Armwood

Tampa Bay Tech is 7-2 and No. 5 in Class 3M; Armwood is 5-3

Bradford at Palatka

Bradford is 7-0 and No. 3 in Class 2S; Palatka is 7-1

Chipley at Excel (Alabama)

Chipley is 8-0 at No. 5 in Class 1R; Excel is 9-0 and No. 8 in Division 3A in Alabama

Here are some of the top individual matchups to watch featuring top recruits

Fleming Island 2023 RB Sam Singleton vs. 2023 DL Gavin Hill

Singleton is committed to Florida State; Hill is committed to Florida

Stranahan 2023 WR Hykeem Williams vs. Cardinal Gibbons 2024 S Casey Etienne

Williams is committed to Florida State

Seminole 2023 WR Darren Lawrence vs. Lake Mary 2023 CB Braeden Marshall

Lawrence is committed to Florida State; Marshall is committed to UCF

Dillard 2023 RB Christopher Johnson vs. Lincoln 2023 LB Raylen Wilson

Wilson is committed to Georgia

Rockledge 2023 WR Eddie Combs vs. Eau Gallie 2023 ATH Robert Stafford

Stafford is committed to Miami

North Florida Christian 2023 WR Traylon Ray vs. Munroe 2023 S Makari Vickers

Vickers is committed to Oklahoma

IMG WR Carnell Tate vs. Middletown (Del.) 2024 DB Ronnell Davis

Tate is committed to Ohio State

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero hosting Treasure Coast for District 12-4M title headlines Week 10