TITUSVILLE — Eau Gallie and Titusville squared off on Oct. 16 with sole possession of second place in District 8-3A on the line.
In an emotional game that saw multiple instances of extracurriculars following blown whistles, it was Eau Gallie who prevailed 30-13 for its fourth straight win over Titusville in the last three years.
“Our guys played hard. District game, in-county game. Really tough team,” Eau Gallie head coach Chris Sands said. “It’s hard coming off a game like we had last week emotionally. Our guys found a way to make some plays. We had a couple guys on offense play well and made plays when we needed it.”
Explosive plays propel Commodores
Titusville held Eau Gallie to three Preston Kennedy field goals and multiple punts after driving into Terriers territory, but the Commodores leaned on big passing plays to take control of the game.
Commodores senior Joseph Allen finished the night completing 15-of-24 passes for 321 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Six different players caught passes with four totaling at least 49 receiving yards.
“It all starts with Joseph (Allen). He’s really starting to get more comfortable coming off the injury. Our guys are playing hard and obviously those guys on the perimeter made plays,” Sands said. “Tay (Johnson), Zay (Hawkins) and Lukas Viselli and Troy (Silberzahn) made big plays when needed. Those guys are just product of Joseph. Some of those balls were perfect balls and they’re in the right spot and they’re making the plays, but Joseph Allen’s making everything work.”
Allen threw touchdowns to juniors Zay Hawkins and Tay Johnson. Hawkins caught a 71-yard touchdown to make it 10-0 with 52 seconds remaining in the first quarter. After a Titusville touchdown, Johnson flipped the momentum back in the Commodores’ direction with a 65-yard touchdown reception on the next play from scrimmage.
Hawkins ended the game with 95 receiving yards. Johnson recorded 69 yards. The junior duo have combined for nine touchdowns this season.
“They’re great ball players," Allen said. "I know I can put that ball out there and they’re going to make a play, but we built that in the offseason and in practice. I feel like I can throw them the ball and they’re going to make plays now.”
Eau Gallie's final touchdown of the night came on a 26-yard touchdown run by senior Donovan Richardson. The score was set up on a 50-yard catch-and-run by junior Troy Silberzahn.
Allen recorded a season high in passing yards on Oct. 16 and his fifth game of multiple touchdown passes. After missing all of 2025 with an injury, the senior has thrown for 1,916 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
“I feel like I’m getting more confident every week,” Allen said. “I’m trusting my guys even more and I feel like we’re starting to roll as an offense and starting to win games.”
Titusville’s offensive struggles
The Terriers defense kept them in the game, but they struggled to string together enough offense with two touchdowns, seven empty possessions and one turnover.
“We made some plays. We didn’t obviously make nearly enough of them. The defensive front that Eau Gallie had on the field was pretty good. We had our struggle with them,” Titusville head coach Matt Diesel said. “I thought we did some things well and did some things not so well. Hats off to Eau Gallie. They certainly beat us (tonight) and wish them the best moving forward.”
Titusville pulled to within three in the second quarter on an 18-yard touchdown pass by senior Remy Vigne to senior Tank Harvey. Titusville scored again in the fourth quarter on an 83-yard touchdown reception by Deion Bland, who changed directions and outran the defense.
Share your highlights with us for a chance to get in Plays of the Month
The Terriers attempted a two-point conversion to make it a one possession game with 4:51 remaining in regulation, but the pass fell incomplete. They finished the night with less than 100 rushing yards for the third time this season and Vigne was sacked three times.
“We struggled with the box. I’m very proud of the effort my guys put in. We had a good week of practice, but there’s certainly were times we’re giving it our all and we’re just getting the blocks done,” Diesel said. “Our quarterback is not having enough time to look downfield and make his reads and all the stuff we’re supposed to do. If you don’t have the timing, that makes it tough. We certainly can clean some things up.”
On defense, Harvey picked off Allen in the red zone and the Terriers sacked him five times. Senior Matthew Graham finished with two sacks. Terriers senior Dewight Jenkins and juniors Brayden Priest and Jack Trawle finished with one sack.
“Our defense I thought overall played well,” Diesel said. “I know that we gave up the run late. I thought the defense kept us in it. They were on the field a lot.”
Titusville dropped to 6-3 and it’ll head into its final regular season game against crosstown rival Astronaut on Oct. 23. It’ll seek its fifth consecutive win against the War Eagles.
“In Titusville, there won’t be much motivation needed. This is for the city championship, the Hudson Trophy. Our guys have won four in a row,” Diesel said. “We’ve got the trophy and that’s something we’re real proud to have. We’re going to prepare like it’s any other week. We’re going to show up Friday and play.”
Eau Gallie rounding into form
The Commodores defense shut down Harvey and junior Tamarion Walker for most of the night. The biggest run of the night for Eau Gallie was a 15-yard run by Walker midway through the third quarter.
Eau Gallie senior Amari Oquendo intercepted Vigne once. Senior Kayden Jaquez, senior Zay Floyd and Silberzahn posted one sack.
“If you look at what they did offensively, they had two big plays that we were out of position on and then we had penalties. Just have to clean that up,” Sands said. “Defensively, we’re so well-coached and have great players but those guys have to really dial in on what we’re trying to do. If we play undisciplined like that later in the season, we’re going to lose games that we shouldn’t and we can’t have that.”
Eau Gallie improved to 5-3 and it’ll host Palm Bay on Oct. 23 in its final district game of the season. Allen lauded the team’s performance after the tough defeat to Merritt Island last week.
“I feel like we just came together as a team and we just talked to each other,” Allen said. “This is another district game. This is a very important game for us in our rankings and we just came out and dominated.”
Oct. 16 scores
FHSAA
Astronaut 42, Rockledge 41 (3OT)
In a triple-overtime thriller, Astronaut prevailed for the one-point win after Rockledge fumbled the hold on the PAT in triple overtime.
The War Eagles scored the game-tying touchdown on an 8-yard run by senior Jaquan Hagans on 4th-and-goal. Senior Connor Lamothe, who missed a game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation, kicked the PAT through the uprights for the victory.
Astronaut won its third straight game and improved to 5-3. It’ll host Titusville on Oct. 23. Rockledge dropped to 1-7 and it’ll head to Merritt Island on Oct. 23.
Merritt Island 56, Palm Bay 12
Merritt Island moves to 8-0 after a dominant road win over Palm Bay. Mustangs senior Drew Sarver hauled in two touchdowns from senior Kevin Verpaele.
Merritt Island hosts Rockledge on Oct. 23 in its final district game of the season. Palm Bay moved to 2-6 and heads to Eau Gallie on Oct. 23.
Cocoa 49, Space Coast 7
Cocoa scored 28 points in the opening quarter and never looked back in a blowout win at Space Coast.
Tigers sophomore Kadin Claflin-Coy threw a 30-yard touchdown to senior Jamal Smith and a 60-yard touchdown to junior Anthony Whaley in addition to rushing for a 1-yard score.
Junior Javeon Scott rushed for two touchdowns and Whaley returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Cocoa’s second special teams touchdown was on a blocked punt.
Space Coast sophomore Austin Andersen connected with senior Kadyn Thomas for a 35-yard touchdown for the lone Vipers score.
Cocoa moved to 3-4 and will host Raines on Oct. 23. Space Coast fell to 6-3 and it’ll host Holy Trinity in its final game of the regular season.
Melbourne 35, East River 3
Melbourne won its fourth game in a row behind its best defensive performance of the season.
Bulldogs senior Kamarre Jennings stripped the ball from the East River quarterback while he was wrapped up for a sack and took it 20 yards for a touchdown.
Sophomore Tyrese Jefferson, senior Kymarion Johnson and junior Will Reinhold scored rushing touchdowns in the red zone. On special teams, senior Howard Dewitt returned a punt 50 yards to the house.
The Bulldogs improved to 6-2 and they’ll host Lyman on Oct. 23 in their final district game of the season.
Holy Trinity 50, Centennial 0
The Tigers recorded their second consecutive 50-0 win and their fourth shutout of the season against Centennial.
Holy Trinity junior Aaron Raines opened the scoring returning a blocked punt for a 40-yard touchdown. Sophomore Jackson Mobley threw a 14-yard touchdown to junior Hayden Argo, a 13-yard touchdown to senior Chandler Hendley and he rushed for an 8-yard score.
On the ground, sophomore Jacorey Mills rushed for a 45-yard touchdown and freshman Michael Jackson scored on a 43-yard run. On defense, freshman Jadiel Corbin recovered a fumble in the red zone.
The Tigers moved to 6-2 and they’ll head to Space Coast on Oct. 23 in their final game of the regular season.
Viera at Lake Howell, Suspended
In Winter Park, Viera trailed Lake Howell 45-35 with 4:13 remaining in the third quarter when play was halted due to lightning. Lake Howell announced the game will be rescheduled for the first week of November.
The Hawks host East River on Oct. 23.
Melbourne Central Catholic at Pahokee, PPD
Melbourne Central Catholic’s road contest at Pahokee was postponed due to inclement weather. The game is rescheduled for Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
The Hustlers host Specially Fit Academy on Oct. 23.
SSAA
Bayside 52, Okeechobee 35
The Bears set a new season high with 52 points in a 17-point win over Okeechobee. Bayside picked up its second win in its last seven games to go to 4-5 this season. It heads to Cocoa Beach on Oct. 23 in the regular season finale.
Cocoa Beach 1, Legacy Charter 0 (forfeit)
Legacy Charter forfeited the game due to transportation issues. Cocoa Beach snapped a three-game losing streak to go to 6-3 before the Oct. 23 game versus Bayside.
SSAA, 8-man
Merritt Island Christian 44, Four Corners 12
The Cougars picked up their ninth win in Davenport against Four Corners. Merritt Island Christian will look to complete their second perfect regular season in three years on Oct. 23 versus City of Life Christian Academy.
Saint Francis Catholic Academy 57, Calvary Chapel 6
It was a rough night for Calvary Chapel, who lost its second game in a row after allowing the first 50 points of the game. The Eagles’ lone touchdown was a 6-yard touchdown run by freshman Chayse Lickert.
Calvary Chapel fell to 6-2 and it’ll host Real Life Christian Academy on Oct. 22.
Oct. 15 score
Heritage 37, Port St. Lucie 6
Heritage completed a 4-1 district campaign with a 31-point road win at Port St. Lucie. The Panthers finished district play with an average margin of victory of 36.5 points.
Heritage enters its bye week with a 5-4 record.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Week 9 Roundup: Eau Gallie rebounds with crucial win vs. Titusville
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.