Southeast didn't get the upset it wanted Friday night, falling 31-24 to Manatee despite leading by 17 at the half.
But the Seminoles should earn some national respect.
Southeast entered the night unranked in any major national polls - USA Today, ESPN RISE, Maxpreps, etc. - but stood toe-to-toe and went blow-for-blow with a Hurricanes team ranked fourth by USA Today, second by ESPN RISE and fifth by Maxpreps.
That should earn the Noles some modicum of national praise. Southeast is a Class 2A team competing in Class 3A, and Friday, the Seminoles gave Manatee more of a fight than two of the Hurricanes' previously-touted opponents - Tampa Plant and Woodland Hills, Pa.
Manatee is 5A.
The Hurricanes know all about the power of one big week - they were unranked heading into last year's state semifinal against Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, the top-ranked team in the country at the time.
Manatee won and found itself in Rivals' top 30 the following week, and there is no doubt they rode momentum into this year's preseason polls.
Southeast didn't win Friday. But the Seminoles showed they could hang with one of the best in the nation.
For that, they deserve some love.
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