2016: 7-4,  Runner-Up in 5A District 14

Head Coach: Jeff McLean, 83-34 in 10 seasons

Key Returners: LT Wyatt Ashley, LB Andrew Beardall (46 TKL), QB/K/P Mason Denaburg (played WR last year), LB Dylan Friedmann (43 TKL), LB Sayvion Peterson (42 TKL), RB/WR Deben Peterson (199 rushing yards, TD; 283 receiving yards, 3 TD)

The Scoop: A large senior class that graduated last year leaves plenty of holes to fill for the consistently solid Merritt Island football program. The Mustangs return only seven starters, but have several players waiting to step up who saw playing time last season.

Who will play quarterback for Merritt Island is the team’s biggest question as they prepare for the season. Last year’s signal caller, Jimmy Batch now plays for Harvard. Mason Denaburg is the likely candidate to take over the starting duties after playing QB in the Spring game, but Denaburg is also a star on the baseball diamond. He’s regarded as the 13th best prospect in the country according to Perfect Game, so he’s played in several national showcases this summer, including with the US 18U National Team. The Mustangs are awaiting Denaburg’s decision on if he will play football this year or not.

The defense will be solid at linebacker with the return of all three starters to bolster the Mustangs 4-3 front. 

Quotable: “Merritt Island kids always seem to rise to the occasion no matter what it is.” - Jeff McLean

2017 Schedule

8/24 vs. Avon

9/1 vs. Heritage

9/8 vs. Astronaut

9/15 @ Viera

9/22 vs. Melbourne

9/29 vs. Palm Bay

10/13 @ Titusville

10/20 vs. Rockledge

10/27 @ Space Coast

11/4 @ Sebring

Three straight seasons ending with a loss to Bishop Moore in the playoffs has Merritt Island working extra hard this summer. 

“I feel like a lot of us because of that reason are doing everything we do with a chip on our shoulder,” said senior linebacker Dylan Friedmann.

“It’s a drive for this year,” said senior linebacker Andrew Beardall. “We lost our district championship, so it’s just something that will be able to push us this year, so that if we see Bishop Moore again we can just put all our hard work into it and hopefully come into a victory this year.”

It’ll be a new look Mustang squad this year though, they return just three starters on offense and four on defense. But despite a large senior class last year leaving many holes, head coach Jeff McLean isn’t worried.

“As long as I’ve been here it’s like someone from Merritt Island always steps up,” said head coach Jeff McLean. “When it’s their senior year, it’s like okay, it’s my turn, I’m the senior, I’m going to step up and people come out of nowhere.”

The biggest positional question mark for Merritt Island is quarterback. The presumed starter, senior Mason Denaburg also plays baseball and is the number 13 ranked senior in the country. He’s currently playing in various all-star tournaments so it’s unknown if he’ll play football this year.

“We tell the kids we’re going to have a team one way or the other,” McLean said. “We just have to be prepared if you want to talk about a plan b if he doesn’t play, we just have to moved ahead.”

“It really sucks,” said senior athlete Deben Peterson. “But I know Mason and at the end of the day he’s going to do what’s best for him and best for the team. If he can play football he’s going to play football, if he has to go focus on baseball we’re going to have to try and move on without him. But Mason is going to do what’s best for him and the team.”