Cocoa Beach High School’s football team held its ground against a relentless Foundation Academy squad in a back-and-forth game that ended 28-21 in favor of the Minutemen on September 4, 2026. The game, played in front of a packed crowd at Cocoa Beach High School, featured multiple lead changes and clutch plays down the stretch.
The Minutemen’s defense stepped up in the fourth quarter, limiting Foundation Academy to just 3 points after halftime. Senior linebacker Charlie Grissom recorded 2 tackles for loss, while defensive end Gabriel Brinson forced a critical fumble that led to a short field goal. "We knew they’d bring pressure, but we stuck to our game plan," said Cocoa Beach coach Mark Thompson.
Offensively, Cocoa Beach leaned on running back TJ Bamford, who rushed for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 carries. His 17-yard run in the third quarter gave the Minutemen a 21-14 lead, a margin they maintained despite a late surge by Foundation Academy. "TJ’s tough to bring down," said Thompson. "He’s been working on his cuts all week."
Foundation Academy, playing their first home game of the season, showed resilience throughout. Senior wide receiver Micah Brinkley caught 5 passes for 89 yards, and quarterback Jayden Craft threw for 150 yards. But a costly interception by Cocoa Beach’s Ryan Rogers in the final minute sealed the win. "We’re proud of how we fought," said Foundation Academy coach Marcus Lee. "We just need to fix some execution issues."
The game drew over 1,200 fans to Cocoa Beach High School, with the student section providing loud support throughout. The Minutemen improve to 2-1 on the season, while Foundation Academy drops to 1-2. The next game for Cocoa Beach is a home matchup against Satellite High on September 11.