Both of Manatee's games against opponents outside Florida this fall made RivalsHigh's rankings of the top 25 interstate games.
The Canes' Sept. 16 game against visiting Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, placed ninth. And Manatee's season-opener at Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.) made the list at No. 11.
"I think for 2011 and beyond, teams will have to schedule a minimum of one out-of-state game to be considered a national contender," Brian Hercules, owner of Hercules Sports Management LLC, told Dallas Jackson, RivalsHigh's senior analyst.
The Hurricanes played their first game against an out-of-state opponent last season against Woodland Hills, Pa. That game, coupled with a convincing win over Tampa Plant on a Kickoff Classic broadcast live on ESPN, kept Manatee ranked near the top of a number of national polls throughout the season.
Placing first on RivalsHigh's list, which was unveiled today, is the Sept. 23 game between De La Salle (Calif.) and host Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
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