Prep football: Manatee closes season ranked tops in 7A



photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie
Trevon Walters and Manatee head into the playoffs ranked tops in the state in Class 7A

As expected, Manatee closed the regular season ranked No.1 in Class 7A in the latest AP Poll, which was released Monday.
The Hurricanes, who defeated Lakewood Ranch on Friday to go 10-0 for the second time in three years, have been ranked No.1 since defeating Jacksonville First Coast in last year's 7A state championship game.
Manatee earned all 14 first-place votes in the latest poll. The Hurricanes open the Region 3 playoffs Friday at home against St. Petersburg Northeast.
Southeast was off last week and heads into the playoffs ranked ninth in the state in Class 5A. The Seminoles (8-2) host Winter Haven in the first round. 
Ranked first in 5A for much of the season, Palmetto was bumped out of the top 10 after back-to-back losses to Manatee and Southeast. The 8-2 Tigers did receive three votes, but that wasn't enough to get them back in the top 10.
Palmetto closed the regular season with a 27-7 win over Ocala Trinity Catholic. The Tigers head to Auburndale on Friday.