We’re only two weeks into the 2023 Florida high school football season, but a few programs across the state have already made a notable impression. Here’s a look at four of those teams.
Cocoa Tigers
Yes, the Cocoa Tigers did go 11-3 a year ago to win the Class 2S state title, but you’d be lying if you said you weren’t impressed by their start to the year so far. The undefeated Tigers own two of the state’s most impressive victories so far: a 22-20 road win at Jones and a 31-21 home victory over Venice.
With a road trip to St. Thomas Aquinas this Friday night, can the Tigers keep their stellar start going?
Norland Vikings
Entering the 2023 season, it was clear that the Norland Vikings were a talented team in Class 2M. Led by an experienced defense and a talented junior quarterback, Ennio Yapoor, the Vikings have done nothing but reinforce the notion that they’re a state title contender, going on the road to beat Lakeland 48-34 and routing Carol City 52-0 last Friday night.
Norland is favored to win each of its September matchups, so the Vikings potentially could be undefeated entering October, with huge showdowns waiting against Booker T. Washington and Miami Central.
Treasure Coast Titans
If Cocoa doesn’t own the state’s two most notable wins of the Florida high school football season so far, then that distinction likely goes to the Treasure Coast Titans. A program that won only four games a year ago, the Titans already have avenged season-opening losses in 2022, defeating Osceola and Jesuit by final scores of 22-8 and 66-28, respectively.
Next up for the Titans is a matchup with Seminole, an opponent Treasure Coast also fell to a year ago. Can the Titans avenge that loss as well this week?
Miami Palmetto Panthers
Miami Palmetto had a down 2022, finishing the year at 6-6 overall, but the Panthers are off to a 2-0 start to 2023. They’ve recorded a 13-12 win over Homestead and a 26-12 victory over Lakewood; both of those programs reached the state semifinals in their respective classifications a year ago.
With matchups against the likes of Killian, Miami Columbus, and Clearwater Academy International looming in the coming weeks, can Miami Palmetto keep its hot start going?
