Sports Lowdown

15/08/2024

The Kickoff Classic games happen tomorrow in Brevard County. There will be a handful of games on Brevard Sports Network (highlighted).

I am recovering from surgery, but plan to start writing recaps in week 2. Stay tuned.

BSN PREP FOOTBALL NATWICK INSURANCE KICKOFF CLASSIC SCHEDULE: ALL TIMES 7PM
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED:

GAMES ON BSN NOTED IN PARENTHESES HERE AND IN YELLOW ON THE GRAPHIC:

Rockledge @ Heritage (BSN)
Palm Bay @ Viera (BSN)
Mainland @ Eau Gallie (BSN)
Lake Brantley @ MCC (BSN)

Cocoa at Satellite
Sebastian River at Titusville
Father Lopez at Cocoa Beach
Merritt Island @ NSB Cudas
Melbourne @ Ft. Pierce Centr.
Astronaut @ Seabreeze
Holy Trinity @ SW Florida

SSAA Friday regular season games
St. Edward's at Bayside
Bell at Space Coast

8-MAN
MIC Cougars @ Lake Mary Prep
Calvary Chapel @ Lakeside Christian

BSN THANKS Natwick Insurance, Inc. for their support of youth and prep sports in

26/06/2024

BSN BREAKING: VIERA HAWKS HEAD SOCCER COACH NICK ROBINSON STEPS DOWN AFTER NINE SEASONS: ROBINSON NAMED FLORIDA TECH HEAD COACH ON MAY 30: SPONSORED BY Florida Breeze AIR & HEAT

On May 30 Nick Robinson was named the new head soccer coach at his alma mater, Florida Tech.

The Panthers, who reached the NCAA D2 Final Four last season, announced that Robinson and former head coach of 19 years Robin Chan are switching positions. Chan will now become the Associate Head Coach with Robinson taking over the head job.

The move to be a new head coach for a college program has forced Robinson to step down as the head coach of the Viera Hawks boys soccer program.

Robinson, who informed his team and the administration on Tuesday told BSN this decision wasn’t an easy one.

“I promise you this decision was not made lightly as it’s been such an amazing part of my life. I’m thoroughly grateful and proud to have shared this journey with everyone who has been apart of the boys soccer program and what we have all been able to achieve together, “he said in a message to BSN.

“I want to thank everyone who has been involved in the program over the last 9 years for making it such an unforgettable and special journey.”

Robinson certainly gave 100 plus percent during his nine year stint at Viera. He leaves as one of the most successful high school soccer coaches to ever step on a pitch in any county in the state.

He took over the program for the 2016-17 season and since then has won nearly 78 percent of his games.

The Hawks were 132-27-11 under Robinson. Viera has won four straight FHSAA Regional Championships appearing in four straight FHSAA Final Fours.

They have reached the FHSAA 6A state championship match in each of the past three seasons, winning the 2023 title as they finished the season as the only undefeated team in Florida (21-0-1) and a No.6 national ranking.

Robinson has been pulling double duty as an assistant college coach and high school head coach for all nine seasons at Viera.

Robinson, who is a three time BSN Boys Soccer Coach of the Year, joined the Panthers' staff as an assistant coach in 2021 and his contributions led to a promotion to Associate Head Coach in December 2022.

Prior to that Robinson spent five years at Eastern Florida as an assistant coach and was part of a staff that helped guide the Titans to a 2019 NJCAA national championship final and a 2018 NJCAA final four appearance.

The Eastern Florida State College men's soccer coaches were recognized as the Junior College Division I South Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches Association during the 2019 national runner-Up campaign.

Robinson, who is a native of Victoria, Australia, had a stellar career playing for Florida Tech during his three seasons on the roster.

He was named to the NSCAA All-South Region team in his senior season in 2011 and garnered SSC All-Conference team honors for two of his three seasons as a Panther.

He has worked under some of the top soccer minds around in Florida Tech’s Chan and EFSC’s Oliver Twelvetrees and will be a huge success at the college level as a head coach.

As for the Hawks, whom Robinson poured his heart into, “I wish nothing but the best to the current group of players and I’ll be out to the nest as much as I can to show my support from the stands; looking forward to seeing the Hawks make another deep run next season! , “ Robinson concluded.

How dominating have the Hawks been under Robinson over the past four seasons? Since 2021 Viera is 96-10-7 (.850) and have outscored their opponents 368-68 and the Hawks have won 34 of their past 35 matches against Brevard County teams.

Robinson has coached countless All-State and county players and a Gatorade Player of the Year.

With players such as Nyles Lockridge, John Anasa, Connor Floyd, Max May, Gio Carneiro , Alvey Kaufman and too many others to mention, Robinson built a culture of winning on and off the field at Viera and he certainly left his mark making the Hawks soccer program one of the best ever to take the pitch in Brevard County.

According to Viera High Athletic Director Cheryl Draves, the School will conduct a search for Robinson’s replacement.

26/06/2024

Eastern Florida State College had a school-record 95 students named to the FCSAA All-Academic Team

26/06/2024

20/06/2024

Florida Tech Athletics alum Bayleigh Keator doing great things. Florida Tech Women's Lacrosse

BSN GIRLS LACROSSE COACH OF THE YEAR, VIERA HAWKS BAYLEIGH KEATOR:

Taking over any high school team as a first year head coach that is dominated by senior leadership and has lofty expectations for success can sometimes be a recipe for a bad season.

But that wasn’t the case for the Viera Hawks girls lacrosse team and their first year head coach Bayleigh Keator.

Viera finished the season 14-3 and undefeated vs. Brevard County and they twice nearly pulled off the biggest win in the county’s history falling to Vero Beach by just three goals in the district championship and then just one goal in the regional semifinals.

They were as close as they’ve ever been to toppling the seven time state champions and led in both games later in the contest. Both games represented a clear growth in the program that coach Keator and her staff worked hard with the team to accomplish.

Coach Keator will be the first to tell you she didn’t do it alone. She had two great assistants in Mariela Brown and Todd Beuer.

“It was a great first year and I want to thank everyone for all of the support, especially my two great assistants. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without all of the support,” said Keator to BSN.

“This group of girls was very special to me. They trusted and respected me from the jump and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. We worked hard together, shared a whole lot of laughs, and made a name for ourselves. We’re coming with vengeance next year!”

The Hawks will graduate nine seniors but return some of the top girls players in the county.

Viera scored 241 goals and were a plus 134 in goal differential.

Coach Keator’s team ended the season with their 30-game winning streak intact over Brevard County, a winning streak that extends back to February 24, 2020.

Coach Keator is building on the winning tradition set by previous coaches Chad Vice and Alison Staerk but she’s most certainly carving out her way of playing Viera Hawks girls lacrosse and it definitely looks like that winning a lot of games is the future for the top girls program in Brevard County.

This award is sponsored by LiftOff Lacrosse

12/06/2024

From EFSC Titans Sports

Nine Eastern Florida State College programs competed in NJCAA Division I national tournaments with 12 teams qualifying for the postseason

11/05/2024

Congratulations to EFSC Softball on a great season.

The Eastern Florida State College softball team lost to No. 1 seed Northwest Florida State College Saturday in the South Atlantic District Championship Game in Clearwater

11/05/2024

Congratulations!
(Article courtesy of EFSC Titans Sports )

The Eastern Florida State College softball team has advanced to the NJCAA South Atlantic District B Championship Game for the first time in program history with a 12-11 win over Florida Southwestern

09/05/2024

Congratulations to the EFSC Titans Softball team.
Courtesy of: EFSCTitans.com

The Eastern Florida State College softball team defeated Santa Fe College 5-2 to advance at the FCSAA Region 8 Tournament on Thursday

29/04/2024

BSN COLLEGE BASKETBALL: EASTERN FLORIDA STATE NAMES THOMAS GRAY AS NEW MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH: SPENT LAST SEASON AS DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING FOR VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY:

By: Michael Parsons, Manager of Athletic Communications EFSC

Eastern Florida State College has named Thomas Gray to be the 12th head men's basketball coach in program history.

Gray comes to Eastern Florida State College after being the Director of Recruiting for Vanderbilt University last season.

"My family and I are beyond grateful to start this journey at Eastern Florida! From the first conversation I had with athletic director Jeff Carr, I knew this was a special place led by an administration that strives to put their student-athletes in the best position to be successful not only on the court but more importantly in life," Gray said. "I am thankful for the opportunity school president Dr. James Richey and coach Carr has placed before us."

The Memphis, Tennessee native has also been an assistant coach at McNeese State College from 2021 to 2023 and was at the University of Mississippi as the coordinator of men's basketball operations from 2018 until 2021.

In 2014 Gray took over as the head coach at Southwest Mississippi Community College and compiled a 61-39 record in four seasons. He led the Bears to the NJCAA Region 23 semifinals in each of his final two seasons and led them to three seasons of at least 17 wins.

His team was also named the NJCAA Men's Basketball Academic Team of the Year for the second consecutive year with a team GPA of 3.59, the second-highest cumulative GPA in the history of NJCAA Men's Basketball. The Bears became the first MACJC men's basketball team to ever win the award in 2015-16, boasting a 3.42 GPA. In just his second season as Southwest head coach, Gray led the Bears to a MACJC state championship for the first time in 53 years.

"We are ecstatic about the hiring of Thomas Gray as our new men's basketball coach," Eastern Florida State College Associate Vice President of Athletics Jeff Carr said. "Thomas has been very successful as a head coach and was on the Vanderbilt staff this year with Jerry Stackhouse and also was at Ole Miss with Kermit Davis and has been at other NCAA Division I schools. He knows the game, has great connections in the basketball world and is a man of integrity. We are excited to add Thomas joining the EFSC Titan staff."

Gray replaces Jeremy Shulman who was at Eastern Florida State College for 14 seasons and 346 wins which is the most in program history.

"My friend Jeremy Shulman has made Eastern Florida one of the premier NJCAA basketball programs and our staff will look to continue that standard of excellence," Gray said. "We look forward to being great teammates of all of the phenomenal coaches on campus and are extremely excited about what the future holds for Eastern Florida State College athletics."

Gray began working in the college basketball world as a graduate assistant at Mississippi College, where he earned his master's degree in 2011. Gray also attended Mississippi College as an undergraduate, collecting a bachelor's degree in 2009.

Gray is married to Ashley and they have a daughter Charlotte.

This post brought to you by Martinez Construction Services. We thank them for their support of youth and prep sports in .

26/04/2024

Florida Tech Athletics unveils new logo.

Click below for all the details.

25/04/2024

Watch the draft with Alan Z. and Jackson Robb on Brevard Sports Network

BSN NFL DRAFT WATCH PARTY TONIGHT AT 7:50 PM: COME JOIN ALAN & JACKSON AND COMMENT AND GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS YEARS NFL DRAFT:

15/04/2024

Proud Sponsor of Brevard Sports Network

10/04/2024

Tim Wakefield did an inning of a charity game on Brevard Sports Network a couple of years ago with Alan Z.
Check it out.

08/04/2024

Wayne Younger steps down at Rockledge
(Courtesy of Brevard Sports Network)

ROCKLEDGE RAIDERS
HEAD COACH WAYNE YOUNGER STEPS DOWN AS ROCKLEDGE HEAD COACH: DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TYRONE GISCOMBE NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH:

Wayne Younger, the longest tenured head football coach, in Brevard County has stepped down. Close sources tell BSN Younger is leaving Rockledge for a job at the college level.

Younger was hired in January of 2015 and steps aside after nine seasons with a record of 64-35.

After going 8-10 in his first two seasons, the former Cocoa quarterback began to build a program that kept standout youth football players home and coach Younger also had players from other parts of the county wanting to come play for him.

The Raiders would reach the playoffs in each of the next seven seasons while posting a record of 56-25 during this time.

Younger and his Raiders also ended an 11 year losing streak to their cross town rivals, the Cocoa Tigers.

In 2017 Rockledge would get the first of three straight wins over their rivals in the annual Barbecue Bowl with a thrilling 20-17 overtime win. The Raiders followed up with 42-10 and 24-17 victories in 2018 and 2019.

What Younger is undoubtedly most proud of during his time at Rockledge is the number of student athletes the program has sent to play at the next level and beyond.

The list of players that attended or are attending and succeeding on and off the field playing college football is tremendous.

Names such as Ladarius Tennison, Jalen Mitchell, Trejen Fox-Birdwell, AJ Hall, Rian Black, Elias Allen, Jaheim Mayes, Phineas Allen, Zachary Lovett, Kenard Snyder, Devon Krajewski, OC Brothers, Jalen Heyward and DJ McCormack.

There are others that played for Younger and are now playing in the NFL in Jashaun Corbin and Antoine Green and players likely heading to the league like Bryce Lovett and Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders.

We mean no disrespect to anyone left off the list we named but there are so many examples of Younger and his staff working hard to help student athletes realize a dream of attending college and playing football.

Younger played quarterback and graduated from Cocoa before playing college football at FIU.

Defensive Coordinator Tyrone Giscombe has been named as the interim head coach. Spring football is scheduled to start this month

Giscombe has guided one of the top defenses in Brevard County over the past several seasons.

We will update the story when more is known.

07/04/2024

Courtesy of floridatechsports.com

The Florida Tech baseball team split its Saturday doubleheader with the Eckerd Tritons, taking game one by a score of 6-5, and dropping game two, 7-1.

06/04/2024

Congratulations to the seniors and good luck in the future.
(Courtesy of FT Atheletics)

Florida Tech men's lacrosse honored its 21 seniors on Saturday afternoon after earning a comeback victory over Embry-Riddle.

04/04/2024

BSN RECRUITING UPDATE: SATELLITE SOCCER STANDOUT EMME HENKEL SET TO SIGN NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT TO ATTEND FLORIDA TECH:

Congratulations are in order for Satellite High senior Emme Henkel who committed recently to continue her education and soccer career at Florida Tech and Friday she will make it all official as she signs her national Letter of Intent during a ceremony at Satellite High scheduled for 2:30 pm.

Emme excels at one of those positions in sports where the bright lights don’t always shine, defense.

Henkel has been a standout and her hard work and play on the pitch was recently rewarded as Emme was named to the First Team of the 2024 All-Space Coast girls soccer team by Florida Today for defense.

The Lady Scorps were 18-5-1 this season, the most wins in program history since the 2008-09 season. Henkel helped anchor a defense that allowed just 25 goals in 24 games.

Emme committed to FIT a few weeks ago after a visit to the school and meeting new coach Katy Freels and working out with the team. Henkel loved the team culture, facilities,campus and Coach Freels’ vision for the program.

Emme, who hails originally from Illinois and moved to Florida when she was 12, loves the campus and she loves the fact that it’s close to home. Henkel plans to initially pursue a business degree following her Associates degree she’ll earn from Eastern Florida State College with the dual enrollment program with Satellite.

Emme is also interested in pursuing a minor in aviation and earning a pilot’s license. FIT is considered one of the very best in aviation education for future pilots who aspire to achieve distinction and excellence as professional aviators.

Emme said in a message to BSN, “I would like to thank the Satellite High School soccer program along with Beachside Impact and Space Coast United for the opportunities to play the great game of soccer where I enjoyed playing for great coaches and with wonderful teammates along the way”

She plays club soccer for Mike Lord’s 05/06 Space Coast ECNL.

Soccer wasn’t the only sport Emme played in and excelled in while at Satellite. Henkel was a kicker for the Scorpions football team during her freshman and sophomore years.

Henkel will be joining the Florida Tech women’s soccer program at a terrific time. The Lady Panthers are coming off a historic season in which they reached the NCAA D2 Final Four for just the second time in program history and the first since 2010.

In the final four FIT fell to eventual National Champ, Point Loma. The Panthers finished the season 17-3-3.

Congratulations Emme and BSN will make sure to get over to Rick Stottler Field to check out some of the games next season

This post is sponsored by Erik Natwick and Natwick Insurance, Inc.

01/04/2024

Congratulations, coach Schulman!

27/03/2024

BSN COLLEGE BASKETBALL: JEREMY SHULMAN LEAVING EASTERN FLORIDA STATE TO BECOME NEW HEAD COACH AT D1 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MARTIN

After 14 seasons at Eastern Florida State College, head men's basketball coach Jeremy Shulman has accepted the head basketball coach position at the University of Tennessee-Martin.

Shulman leaves as the winningest coach in Eastern Florida State College history, finishing his career with the Titans 346-107.

He averaged 24.7 wins per season over his 14 seasons and that includes an 18-win shortened season during Covid. He has led his program to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament five times and finished second in 2016-17 and third in 2017-18.

Shulman is returning to his home state. He hails from Nashville, Tennessee and UT Martin is about three west of the Music City.

University of Tennessee at Martin athletic director Kurt McGuffin said of his hiring of Shulman,” "I could not have envisioned a better candidate to build off our program's recent success than Coach Shulman,"

"He is passionate, energetic and has ties to Tennessee. He has been responsible for one of the most well-run and winningest junior college programs in the country and is a rising star in the coaching profession. We welcome Coach Shulman and his family to Skyhawk Nation."

Shulman took over a program at EFSC that had won seven games and had not been to the postseason in 11 straight seasons.

And in his first season with the Titans, he won 18 games and qualified for the FCSAA state tournament by winning the Southern Conference Tournament championship.

He would win the first of his 11 conference champions in 2012-13, winning four different conference titles including the Citrus Conference title this season. Shulman won the Southern Conference five times, the Mid-Florida Conference title three times, the Central Conference twice and now the Citrus Conference.

Last season Shulman was inducted into the FCSAA Men's Basketball Hall of Fame.

"I want to thank Chancellor Dr. Yancy Freeman and athletic director Kurt McGuffin for this opportunity," Shulman said.

"I am humbled and grateful to be head coach of the UT Martin Skyhawks. Having a chance to return to my home state and inherit a Division I program that is coming off an Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship is a dream come true."

We congratulate Coach Shulman on his new job.

Eastern Florida State College will begin a national search to find his replacement

16/01/2024

Welcome, coach Freels

Freels takes over the women's soccer program after serving as a volunteer on the staff since 2020.

04/12/2023

04/12/2023

Congratulations to both Florida Tech Soccer squads, who are in the midst of a historic season.

The historic seasons for both the Florida Tech Men's and Women's soccer programs continue as both teams have punched their ticket to the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four in Matthews, N.C. at the Sportsplex at Matthews.

06/11/2023

BSN : 10 BREVARD COUNTY TEAMS REACH THE STARTING LINE ON THE ROAD TO TALLAHASSEE IN FHSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: PRESENTED BY American Air & Plumbing & Natwick Insurance, Inc.

SCHEDULE AT BOTTOM OF POST:

10 teams one more than last season, have reached the road to Tallahassee, and eight of them will begin their quest this Friday night in the Florida high School, Athletic Association football playoffs.

Half of the 10 teams will host as Heritage, Eau Gallie, Cocoa Titusville and MCC all get to stay home.

Eight teams return from last seasons playoffs run. Those teams are defending 2S state champ Cocoa, as well as Eau Gallie, Rockledge, Satellite , Merritt Island, Holy Trinity, Palm Bay, and Titusville.

Melbourne Central Catholic and Heritage are the two new teams this season .

In class 4S region three, the 9-1 Heritage Panthers dropped from a four seed to a five seed in the final rankings, and will host fourth seeded and 8-2 Vero Beach, who jumped from a sixth seed to the fourth spot .

The two teams played in the spring game, and while Vero Beach got the better of the Panthers Heritage played the fighting Indians tough, and did so without many of the players that were on the 2023 roster this season .

In class 3S Region 3, the 9-1 Eau Gallie Commodores are the number two seed and they will host Merritt Island Friday night in a rematch of a game played earlier this season in which the Commodores won by just one point, 12-11.

The Rockledge Raiders, who dropped their final two games of the regular season to fall to 5-5 also fell to the number five seed and will now have to travel to face 9-1 and No.4 seed, Jensen Beach.

However, looking at the Falcons schedule, the Raiders will undoubtedly be the toughest test of the year for Jensen Beach and this is a game the Raiders can surely win.

5-5 Satellite have reached the playoffs for the third straight year. The Scorpions are a number eight seed and their prize for reaching the postseason for a third straight year is a matchup with top seeded, 9-1 Mainland in Daytona on Friday night.

Last season as a number eight seed, the Scorpiond nearly upset top seeded Rockledge but fell just one point short.

In class 2S region three, the defending state champion Cocoa Tigers will host Eustis in round one.

Cocoa finished as the overall No.1 ranked team in the state in the FHSAA rankings.

Arguably, the most intriguing matchup in week one of the playoffs will take place at Titusville high school as the third seeded 9-1 Terriers will host the six seed and 7-3 Palm Bay Pirates.

This is a district playoff rematch from earlier this season, won by Titusville 16-22 and a rematch from round one of the playoffs last year in which Palm Bay won 44 to 27.

In that playoff game last year at Palm Bay, the Pirates led 24-0 at halftime. However, Titusville outscored Palm Bay 27-20 in the second half and many believe it was that final 24-minutes of football in 2022 that catapulted the Terriers into a 2023 season that saw them win nine of 10 games with their only loss coming to No.1 state ranked Cocoa.

Titusville will not take Palm Bay lightly as the Pirates nearly came back on the Terriers in their meeting earlier this season.

FACA and UCF Hall of famer, Dan Burke returns to the playoffs for the 22nd time in his 24 seasons as head coach of the Palm Bay Pirates.

In class 1S, the Melbourne Central Catholic hustlers return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 (not counting pandemic season) and they will do so as the top seed in region two.

The Hustlers, who have won six straight games, finished 8-2 this season and will host Halifax Academy on November 17, a team they beat 56-0 two weeks ago.

Holy Trinity returns to the playoffs for a six straight season and as a No.2 seed and the Tigers will travel to face district champ and No.3 seed Trinity Catholic also on November 17.

Don’t let Trinity Catholic’s 3-7 record fool you. They’ve played one of the toughest schedules in 1S and have face teams such as Buchholz, Florida State High and Jacksonville Raines.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10

2S REGION 3
NO. 8 EUSTIS 7-3 @ NO.1 COCOA 9-1, 7PM
NO.6 PALM BAY 7-3 @ NO.3 TITUSVILLE 9-1, 7PM

3S REGION 3
NO.7 MERRITT ISLANDS 6-4 @ NO.2 EAU GALLIE 9-1, 7PM

NO.8 SATELLITE 5-5 @ NO.1 MAINLAND 9-1, 7PM

4S REGION 3
NO.4 VERO BEACH @ NO.5 HERITAGE 9-1, 7PM

1S REGION 2
NOVEMBER 17

NO.4 HALIFAX ACADEMY @ MCC 7PM

NO.2 HOLY TRINITY @ NO.3 TRINITY CATHOLIC 7:30 PM

02/11/2023

Great story by Alan Zlotorzynski on former Florida Tech Athletics quarterback Mike DiLiello on Brevard Sports Network

BSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FORMER FLORIDA TECH QUARTERBACK MIKE DILIELLO DOING BIG THINGS AT AUSTIN PEAY:

By: Alan Zlotorzynski

If you’re a football fan in Brevard County, then you’re always going to regret the date May 11, 2020. It’s the day then Florida Tech President Dwayne McCay pulled the plug on the Football program and used the pandemic as an excuse to do so.

The Panthers were in existence in Brevard county from 2013 until the end of the 2019 season. The team competed in the Gulf South Conference, which many considered to be the SEC of D2 football.

The program had one head coach, in Steve Englehart and it was close to the community and extremely media friendly .

In seven seasons, the program went 44- 35 and reached the playoffs twice. They were 26-23 all time vs conference opponents but they never finished with the record below 500 .

While Florida Tech honored scholarships for four years after taking away the program, players with remaining on field eligibility obviously transferred to other schools and one of those Panthers standout players was quarterback, Mike DiLiello.

DiLiello redshirted his freshman season in 2018 but in 2019 at Florida Tech he was twice named the conferences freshman of the week, and he set several Florida Tech rushing records as a quarterback.

When the program shut down, DiLiello transferred to Middle Tennessee State where he would spend the next two seasons. He mostly played as a backup but played well in relief and in 2021 had four carries for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Bahamas Bowl victory against Toledo

In May of 2022, he graduated from MTSU with a degree in Commercial Construction Management and as he put it, “with a minor in Florida Tech.”

After earning his degree, DiLiello has played the past two seasons as a graduate student at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

In 2022, DiLiello ranked fourth in APSU history in completions (200), second in completion percentage (61.0), and third in pass efficiency (138.1)

He ran for 446 yards and eight touchdowns, the eighth and fourth-best season marks, respectively, by an APSU quarterback.

DiLiello recorded 2,893 yards of total offense, 263.0 yards of total offense per game, and was responsible for 29 touchdowns – all are the second-best single-season marks in APAU program history

As a graduate student in 2023, DiLiello has been unstoppable. He’s led his team to 6-2 record and has set several program records this season.

This past Saturday, DiLiello fired a program-record tying six touchdown passes – to six different wide receivers and was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week by Stats Perform, Monday.

DiLiello's six touchdown passes equaled the program record and his half dozen scoring tosses are also tied for the top single-game total in the FCS this year. DiLiello, who led the Govs to their sixth straight win, threw for 353 yards, it was his fourth 300-yard game of the season and extended his program record of 300-yard passing games to seven.

Now with 4,373 passing yards in his Austin Peay career, DiLiello ranks fourth in program history and is just 81 yards behind JaVaughn Craig for third in APSU history.

DiLiello's 21 passing touchdowns this season also equals his mark from the 2022 season and rank as the third-best season in program history.

With 42 touchdown throws in his Austin Peay career, DiLiello is also just six behind the program record of 48 passing touchdowns.

DiLiello who originally hails from, Pembroke Pines, Florida, is the first Governor to be named the FCS National Offensive Player of the Week since 2021.

Congratulations Mike and good luck the rest of the season.

18/09/2023

SUPER 7 RANKINGS from Brevard Sports Network

16/09/2023

Friday Night Lights Scoreboad
Courtesy of Brevard Sports Network

BSN FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SCOREBOARD | RECAPS: VIERA EARNS FIRST WIN SINCE 2021: EAU GALLIE AND MERRITT ISLAND STAY UNDEFEATED WITH CONVINCING WINS, TITUSVILLE ALSO AMONG UNBEATEN WITH HARD FOUGHT WIN OVER PALM BAY:

By: Donny Rieber Jr.

It was a week of lopsided games in Brevard County, including the slate of games on Brevard Sports Network, highlighted by Viera’s first win in 693 days.

VIERA 53, MCC 7

The Hawks snapped a 15-game losing streak with a big win over the MCC Hustlers. Quarterback Chase Cromartie had a five-touchdown night, leading the Hawks to a much-needed win.

MCC’s Day Day Farmer was hurt early in this one and missed the entire second half. Viera (1-2) started with a short field on their first possession as MCC went for it on fourth down. Cromartie made them pay for that decision quickly, as he found Bruce Tucker, who caught a batted ball for the score, completing a 36-yard drive.

MCC (2-2) answered less than a minute later when Joseph Allen found Ramel Hernandez on a 76-yard completion, tying the game 7-7.

That was when Viera stepped on the gas. They were not going to be denied on this night. Cromartie found Eric Nelson with 16 seconds left in the first quarter, which was 14-7. Two field goals from Blake Pulliam made it 20-7. The Hawks would get one more before the halftime break when Cromartie dove inside the pylon for the score and made it 26-7.

Viera would keep things going with a rushing touchdown to make it 33-7 and they were not done. Tucker and Cromartie would hook up again for a 40-yard touchdown over the outstretched hand of the defender. It was a thing of beauty.

Tucker was named the offensive player of the game.

Defensively, Robert Aehle had two interceptions for the Hawks
Ryan Boobar and Eric Nelson added rushing touchdowns, giving Viera their first win since October 22, 2021.

Cromartie has now passed for 12 toucans neatly 1,000 yards in just three games. The Hawks will visit their old Cocah Kevin Mays next week when the travel North to Baker County to face the Wildcats.

MCC will look to snap a two game skid next week as they host St. Joseph’s Academy from St. Augustine

EAU GALLIE 35 SATELLITE 7

The Commodores moved to 4-0 with a big district win over the Scorpions. Junior quarterback Jamari Crooms had touchdown passes to Mekhi Biggs (25 yards) and Terrell Robinson Jr. from 55 yards out.

Crooms also had a 30-yard run. Speaking of runs, Tay Welch ripped off a 70-yard scamper in the first quarter.

Logan Waite scored the only touchdown for the Scorps, early in the fourth quarter. Eau Gallie came into the game ranked seventh in 3S.

Eau Gallie will now put their undefeated record on he line next week as they travel to face top 10 state ranked Cocoa. Satellite will travel to Astronaut.

ORANGE PARK 28 MELBOURNE 13

The final game on BSN saw Orange Park roll to a win over the Melbourne Bulldogs.

After giving up a big play on defense giving Orange Park the first touchdown of the game, the Bulldogs scored the next 10 points, including a Jaylen Dayley 10-yard run. The Bulldogs defense forced six turnovers in the contest.

Another field goal in the second quarter made it 13-7, but Orange Park would reel off 21 straight points and dropped the Bulldogs to 0-4.

The Bulldogs will travel to face unbeaten Tohopekaliga.

ROCKLEDGE 21 BAYSIDE 0 (GAME SHORTENED DUE TO INJURY)

The Raiders moved to 2-2 in a game that was called early in the third quarter after an injury to a Bayside player.

It happened on a running play to the outside, and after the Bayside running back popped up one of the Bears players remained down on the turf and the game was eventually called.

BSN does not speculate on injuries, but we are sending our best wishes, thoughts and prayers to the player and the entire Bayside Bears team and community at this time.

All three Rockledge touchdowns came on the ground with runs by Jaylen Heyward (20 yards), Jaelyn Bradley (9 yards), and Jamarcus Giscombe (20 yards). The Bears dropped to 0-4.

Rockledge will travel to face winless Osceola next week but don’t let the 0-4 record fool you. The Kowboys have played and lost to defending state champ Lakeland, as well as top 20 state ranked teams Jones, Seminole and Treasure Coast.

TITUSVILLE 16 PALM BAY 10

The Terriers (4-0) remained undefeated as they snapped an eight game losing streak to Palm Bay dating back to 2014 with a hard fought six point win.

The Terriers had to hold off the hard-charging Pirates to earn the victory as Palm Bay scored 10 unanswered points to make this a one-score game before running out of time.

Nate Lopez and Jamarion Stephens each had rushing touchdowns in the first quarter and Dean Roberts drilled a 50-yard field goal to put his team up 16-0 just shy of the halfway mark of the third quarter.

Pirates kicker Luis Martinez got his team on the board with a field goal late in the third and Palm Bay would get a scoop and score from Deuel Fider who took it 80 yards to the house with 4:59 left in the contest.

The win was huge for Titusville who remains unbeaten and now has a win over the Pirates and an advantage in the district race. Last season a Palm Bay win during the season gave the Pirates the home field in a game between the two in round one won by Palm Bay.

The loss dropped Palm Bay to 2-2 and the Pirates will travel to 2-1 Fort Pierce Central Next Week while Titusville hosts 2-1 Flemming Island .

MERRITT ISL. 33 HOLY TRINITY 0

In a battle of unbeaten teams, Merritt Island (4-0) left no doubt as they blanked the Tigers (3-1), 33-0 in this one.

This game marked the return of former Mustangs head coach Hurlie Brown to the O’Dome. The two teams played at Holy Trinity last season.

The Mustangs showed off their ground game this week as Kaseem Ross scored the only touchdown of the first quarter on a one-yard run and Chris Kelly added a second-quarter touchdown, finding pay dirt from 11 yards out.

Chase Karpowich added two second-quarter field goals, including one as the clock expired in the first half. Ross and Kelly would each get their second touchdown of the night, both scoring in the third quarter.

The Mustangs have now won four in a row over Holy Trinity and have outscored them 58-10 in the past two seasons.

Merritt Island travels to Face Heritage next Week in their stiffest test of the season but enter the game having only allowed 20 points all season and are a plus 143 in point differential.

Holy Trinity travels to Father Lopez for a district battle.

CELEBRATION 19 SPACE COAST 6

Space Coast dropped to 0-4 with a loss against Celebration, who picked up their first win of the season.

Celebration went up 12-0 in the first quarter and added to it in the third with a fumble return for a touchdown.

Space Coast avoided the shutout with a rushing touchdown 30 seconds before the game ended.

The Vipers will host Cardinal Mooney next week.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH 8 ASTRONAUT 2

In a low-scoring affair, former Cocoa Head coach John Wilkinson returned to Brevard County and left the same way he always did when he coached here, as a winner. His New Smyrna Beach Cudas scored the only touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter and added the two-point conversion to take the lead for good over Astronaut who scored their only points of the night on a safety in the third quarter.

With the loss, the War Eagles dropped to 0-4 and will host Satellite next week.

Thursday's results
Oviedo 42, Heritage 35
Merritt Island Christian 26, Calvary Chapel 20

WEEK 5 SCHEDULE:
Eau Gallie at Cocoa
Viera at Baker County
Merritt Island at Heritage
Satellite at Astronaut
Halifax Acad at Cocoa Beach
Holy Trinity at Father Lopez
Melbourne at Tohopekaliga
St. Joseph at MCC
Palm Bay at Ft. Pierce Central
Rockledge at Osceola
Cardinal Mooney at Space Coast
Fleming Island at Titusville

8-MAN
Geneva School at Merritt Island Christian
Calvary Chapel at St. John Lutheran