Prep Rally

Prep wrestling: Manatee claims county crown

2012-01-26T19:13:00.001-08:00

Manatee went 4-0 during Thursday's county wrestling championships at Lakewood Ranch, giving the Hurricanes their 15th title in 16 years.

Palmetto, Lakewood Ranch and Southeast went 2-2, and Braden River was 0-4.

Bayshore did not participate.

Listed below are the county champions for each weight class.

106 pounds - Mike Anolfo, Lakewood Ranch

113 - Evan Dipsiner, Lakewood Ranch

120 - Anthony Viscomi, Palmetto

126 - Dakota Dawsey, Manatee

132 - Blake Riley-Hawkins, Lakewood Ranch

138 - Jesse Fulk, Manatee

145 - Wesley McMullen, Manatee

152 - Brett Barber, Manatee

160 - Tyler Williford, Palmetto

170 - Kevin Healy, Palmetto

182 - Kevin Garza, Lakewood Ranch

195 - Stacy Williams, Palmetto

220 - Kane Takacs, Southeast

285 - Jake Stickler, Manatee

Most Outstanding Wrestler - Jesse Fulk, 138, Manatee

Prep soccer: Boys district finals pairings

2012-01-25T23:29:00.000-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Manatee's Valentin Garcia, right, and the Hurricanes are one of five area boys soccer teams playing for district championships Friday night.

Listed below are the matchups.. Both finalists advance to the regional tournament, which gets underway Tuesday, with the champion hosting and the runner-up hitting the road.

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 11

Manatee at Braden River, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10

Dunedin at Palmetto, 7 p.m.

CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8 AT OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY

Saint Stephen's vs. Out-of-Door Academy, 7 p.m.

Prep football: Manatee's state championship banquet set for Monday

2012-01-25T23:21:00.001-08:00

(photo by Tiffany-Tompkins Condie)

Manatee will celebrate its Class 7A state championship with a banquet Monday at the high school.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Cost for fans is a $15 donation at the door.

Manatee defeated Jacksonville First Coast 40-0 on Dec. 16 to win its fifth state championship and first since 1992.

Prep basketball: Girls district pairings

2012-01-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

(photo by grant jeffries)

John Harder and his Southeast Seminoles are the No. 1 seed heading into next week's Class 5A-District 12 tournament.

Listed below are the pairings for the area teams with each team's seed in parentheses. The top two finishers in each district head to the regional tournament, which begins Thursday, Feb. 9.

CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 11

MONDAY

QUARTERFINALS

(6) Manatee at (3) Venice, 7 p.m.

(5) Braden River at (4) Charlotte, 7 p.m.

(1) Port Charlotte, bye.

(2) Sarasota, bye.

WEDNESDAY

SEMIFINALS

Braden River/Charlotte at (1) Port Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Manatee/Venice at (2) Sarasota, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

CHAMPIONSHIP

7 p.m. at highest remaining seed

CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 12

MONDAY

QUARTERFINALS

(5) St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins at (4) Lakewood Ranch, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY

SEMIFINALS

Dixie Hollins/Lakewood Ranch at (1) Palmetto, 7 p.m.

(3) Seminole Osceola at (2) Largo, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

CHAMPIONSHIP

7 p.m.

CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12

TUESDAY

QUARTERFINALS

(5) Bayshore at (4) St. Petersburg Gibbs, 7 p.m.

(6) Dunedin at (3) Gulfport Boca Ciega, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

SEMIFINALS

Gibbs/Bayshore at (1) Southeast, 7 p.m.

Dunedin/Gulfport Boca Ciega at (2) St. Petersburg Lakewood, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

CHAMPIONSHIP

7 p.m. at Pinellas County school unless both finalists are from Manatee County.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10 AT BRADENTON CHRISTIAN

TUESDAY

SEMIFINALS

(2) Cardinal Mooney vs. (3) Out-of-Door Academy, 5 p.m.

(1) Bradenton Christian vs. (4) Saint Stephen's, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

CHAMPIONSHIP

7 p.m.

Prep soccer: Regional girls semifinal pairings

2012-01-24T18:51:00.000-08:00

(fhsaa.org)

Saint Stephen's, Lakewood Ranch and Cardinal Mooney are still in it.

Manatee and Palmetto are out following Tuesday's quarterfinals.

Listed below are Friday's area regional semifinal pairings for Friday.

All games begin at 7 p.m.

CLASS 4A-REGION 3

Cape Coral Ida Baker at Lakewood Ranch

CLASS 2A-REGION 3

West Palm Beach King's Academy at Cardinal Mooney

CLASS 1A-REGION 2

Saint Stephen's at Tampa Prep

Prep girls soccer: Regional pairings

2012-01-21T07:38:00.000-08:00

Saint Stephen's girls soccer team will open regional play at home after the Falcons clinched the Class 1A-District 8 title Friday night in St. Petersburg.
Listed below are the area matchups for regional play, which gets underway 7 p.m. Tuesday unless otherwise noted.
Tuesday's winners advance to Friday's regional semifinal round.
Lakewood Ranch and Manatee play for the Class 4A-District 11 title tonight.

CLASS 4A-REGION 3
Naples Barron Collier at Lakewood Ranch/Manatee winner
Lakewood Ranch/Manatee runner-up at Cape Coral Ida Baker
CLASS 3A-REGION 3
Palmetto at Tampa Robinson
CLASS 2A-REGION 3
Fort Pierce Lincoln Park Academy at Cardinal Mooney
CLASS 1A-REGION 2
Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin at Saint Stephen's, 3:30 p.m.

Prep baseball: Six area teams to compete in Sarasota Baseball Classic

2012-01-20T13:58:00.001-08:00

(photo by John Lembo)

Dwayne Strong's Manatee Hurricanes are one of six area teams who will play in this year's Sarasota Baseball Classic, scheduled from March 12 through March 15.

The Elite Division is an eight-team field featuring Manatee and Lakewood Ranch. It will be broken up into Pool A and Pool B, with the top teams from each pool meeting March 15 for the title.

The Premier Division features Braden River, Cardinal Mooney, The Pendleton School at IMG and Palmetto. It is a 16-team bracket with first-round games scheduled to begin March 12.

Listed below are the area pairings, with sites and times of each game to be determined.

ELITE DIVISION

MONDAY, MARCH 12

Manatee vs. Flanagan; Lakewood Ranch vs. Montverde Academy

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Manatee vs. Miami Sunset; Lakewood Ranch vs. Naples Barron Collier

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Venice vs. Manatee; Sarasota vs. Lakewood Ranch

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Championship and consolation games.

PREMIER DIVISION LOCAL FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS

Cardinal Mooney vs. Martin County

Palmetto vs. Tampa Berkeley Prep

Braden River vs. Benjamin

IMG Academy vs. Island Coast

Prep rally: Manatee's Heaven commits to North Carolina

2012-01-19T10:42:00.000-08:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Manatee defensive back Clinton Heaven has committed to North Carolina, according to Manatee assistant coach Chris Conboy.

One of the area's most hotly-recruited players, Heaven also had offers from West Virginia and Vanderbilt, among others.

A four-year starter who appeared in two state championship games with the Hurricanes, Heaven had 80 tackles, one sack and five passes defended this year for Manatee, which on the Class 7A state championship.

Heaven is the third Manatee senior to commit to a Division I school, joining running back Leon Allen (Western Kentucky) and linebacker Darius White (Iowa State).

Prep soccer: Boys district soccer pairings

2012-01-19T07:30:00.001-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Jorge Zavala and the Saint Stephen's Falcons enter the Class 1A-Disrict 8 tournament with the No. 1 seed as they go after a second straight trip to the state final four.

Listed below are the matchups for next week's boys district soccer tournaments. The champion and runner-up from each district advances to the regional tournament, which gets underway Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Seeds are in parentheses.

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 11

QUARTERFINALS - MONDAY

(7) Charlotte at (2) Lakewood Ranch, 7 p.m.

(6) Port Charlotte at (3) Manatee, 7 p.m.

(5) Venice at (4) Sarasota, 7 p.m.

(1) Braden River, bye.

SEMIFINALS - WEDNESDAY

Sarasota/ Venice at Braden River, 7 p.m.

Charlotte/Lakewood Ranch vs. Port Charlotte/Manatee, 7 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP - FRIDAY

At highest remaining seed, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10

QUARTERFINALS - TUESDAY

(7) St. Petersburg Gibbs at (2) Palmetto, 7 p.m.

(6) Bayshore at (3) Southeast, 7 p.m.

(8) Gulfport Boca Ciega at (1) Seminole Osceola, 7 p.m.

(5) St. Petersburg Lakewood at (4) Dunedin, 7 p.m.

SEMIFINALS - WEDNESDAY

Palmetto/Gibbs vs. Southeast/Bayshore, 7 p.m.

Osceola/Boca Ciega vs. Lakewood/Dunedin, 7 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP - FRIDAY

At Manatee County school unless both teams are from Pinellas County, 7 p.m.

CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 11

QUARTERFINALS - MONDAY

(6) Booker at (3) Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m.

(4) Fort Myers Gateway Charter at (5) Fort Myers Bishop Verot, 7 p.m.

(7) Dunbar at (2) LaBelle, 7 p.m.

(1) Clewiston, bye.

SEMIFINALS - WEDNESDAY

Mooney/Booker vs. Dunbar/LaBelle, 7 p.m.

Gateway Charter/Bishop Verot at Clewiston, 7 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP - FRIDAY

7 p.m. at LaBelle

CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8 AT OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY (unless otherwise noted)

FIRST ROUND - MONDAY

(8) Bradenton Christian vs. (9) St. Petersburg Canterbury, 5 p.m.

(4) St. Petersburg Northside Christian vs.(5) St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut, 5 p.m. at Northside Christian

QUARTERFINALS - TUESDAY

Bradenton Christian/Canterbury vs. (1) Saint Stephen's, 3 p.m.

(3) Out-of-Door Academy vs. (6) Sarasota Christian, 5 p.m.

(2) Shorecrest Prep vs. (7) Keswick Christian, 5 p.m. at Shorecrest

SEMIFINALS - WEDNESDAY

Saint Stephen's/BCS/Canterbury vs. Northside Christian/ Admiral Farragut, 5 p.m.

Shorecrest Prep/Keswick Christian vs. ODA/Sarasota Christian, 7 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP - FRIDAY

7 p.m. at Out-of-Door Academy

Prep football: Manatee's Darius White commits to Iowa State

2012-01-17T18:09:00.000-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Manatee linebacker Darius White committed to Iowa State on Tuesday.

A starter since midway through his freshman year, White had 81 tackles this season for the Class 7A state champion Hurricanes.

White also had offers from FIU, FAU, Western Kentucky, University of Central Florida and Indiana.

For more on this story, check out Wednesday's edition of The Bradenton Herald.

Prep cross country: Lakewood Ranch's Ortiz named Gatorade girls runner of the year

2012-01-12T11:41:00.001-08:00

(photo provided by Olivia Ortiz)
Another day, another accolade for Lakewood Ranch cross country star Olivia Ortiz.
The Mustangs junior has been named the Gatorade Florida Girls Runner of the Year and is now a finalist for Gatorade's National Runner of the Year honor.
Ortiz won the Class 3A state girls title with a time of 17:39 and clinched a berth in the Foot Locker national meet in San Diego, where Ortiz placed 19th.
Ortiz was also named the girls runner of the year by the Florida Dairy Farmers.
But the Gatorade award recognizes other factors as well, and Ortiz was a winner thanks in part to her grades - she sports a 3.63 grade-point average - and her work the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Ortiz has also donated her time at local blood drives and has helped raise money for pediatric brain cancer research.

Prep soccer: Girls district pairings

2012-01-11T14:08:00.001-08:00

(fhsaa.org)

The area's girls soccer try and take a step toward USF, site of this year's state final, beginning with the district tournaments, which get underway Saturday.

The top two finishers in each district advance to the regional tournament, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Listed below are the matchups with seeds in parentheses.

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 11

QUARTERFINALS - TUESDAY

(5) Sarasota at (4) Manatee, 7 p.m.

(7) Port Charlotte at (2) Lakewood Ranch, 7 p.m.

(6) Charlotte at (3) Braden River, 7 p.m.

(1) Venice, bye.

SEMIFINALS - THURSDAY

Manatee/Sarasota at (1) Venice, 7 p.m.

Port Charlotte/Lakewood Ranch vs. Charlotte/Braden River, 7 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP - SATURDAY

At highest remaining seed, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10

QUARTERFINALS - SATURDAY

(5) Southeast at (4) Dunedin, 1 p.m.

(7) Gulfport Boca Ciega at (2) Palmetto, 1 p.m.

(6) Bayshore at (3) St. Petersburg Lakewood, 1 p.m.

(8) St. Petersburg Gibbs at (1) Seminole Osceola, 1 p.m.

SEMIFINALS - THURSDAY

Seminole Osceola/Gibbs vs. Dunedin/Southeast, 7 p.m.

Palmetto/Boca Ciega vs. Bayshore/Lakewood, 7 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP - FRIDAY

At highest remaining seed, 7 p.m.

CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8 AT ST. PETERSBURG KESWICK CHRISTIAN

QUARTERFINALS - TUESDAY

(6) Keswick Christian vs. (3) Out-of-Door Academy, 7 p.m.

(5) St. Petersburg Northside Christian vs. (4) Sarasota Christian, 5 p.m.

(7) Bradenton Christian vs. (2) Saint Stephen's, 7 p.m. at Bradenton Christian.

(1) St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep, bye.

SEMIFINALS - THURSDAY AT KESWICK CHRISTIAN

Shorecrest Prep vs. Northside Christian/Sarasota Christian, 7 p.m.

Saint Stephen's/Bradenton Christian vs. Out-of-Door Academy/Keswick Christian, 5 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP - FRIDAY AT KESWICK CHRISTIAN

7 p.m.

Prep football: Lots of locals make all-state teams

2012-01-07T08:28:00.001-08:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins Condie) Manatee landed 11 players on the Class 7A all-state team following its run to the state championship, but the Hurricanes were not the only local team represented.
Here is a list of the area players who earned their way on to the Associated Press' all-state teams, which were put together with input from coaches and media throughout the state.

CLASS 7A
FIRST TEAM
Cord Sandberg, QB, Manatee; Derrick Calloway, DL, Manatee.
SECOND TEAM
Nick Tankersley, K, Manatee; Blake Keller, DL, Manatee.
THIRD TEAM
Thor Miller, OL, Manatee; Darius White, LB, Manatee; Clinton Heaven, DB, Manatee.
HONORABLE MENTION
Anthony Lauro, UT, Manatee; Leon Allen, RB, Manatee; Marquis Dawsey, DL, Manatee; Hershel Caywood, LB, Manatee.

CLASS 6A
SECOND TEAM
Shane Blair, OL, Lakewood Ranch.

CLASS 5A
FIRST TEAM
Fitz Richards, OL, Palmetto; Brian Poole, DB, Southeast.
SECOND TEAM
Zane Kitchell, P, Palmetto.
THIRD TEAM
Trent Miller, QB, Palmetto; Josh Hicks, RB, Palmetto; Tyrone Johnson, DL, Palmetto; Daqual Randall, LB, Palmetto.
HONORABLE MENTION
Cory Crawford, WR, Palmetto; Dallas Jackson, DB, Palmetto; T.J. Mann, DB, Palmetto.

CLASS 3A
SECOND TEAM
Anthony Caiazzo, RB, Cardinal Mooney; Alex Ojeda, K, Cardinal Mooney.

CLASS 2A
FIRST TEAM
Josh Clark, OL, Bradenton Christian.
HONORABLE MENTION
Tyler Burgett, LB, Out-of-Door Academy.

Prep football: Bradenton Christian's Josh Clark makes 2A all-state team

2012-01-06T10:54:00.000-08:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Bradenton Christian offensive lineman Josh Clark made the Associated Press' Class 2A all-state first team, which was unveiled Thursday.

The all-state teams were put together with help from various media organizations throughout Florida.

Prep football: Cord Sandberg places 3rd in Mr. Football voting

2012-01-05T14:49:00.001-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Manatee quarterback Cord Sandberg finished third in the Florida Dairy Farmers 2011 Mr. Football voting.

Miami Norland running back Randy "Duke" Johnson, who rushed for 357 yards against Palmetto in a Class 5A state semifinal, won the award with 184 points.

The award was voted on by various media members and coaches around the state.

Sandberg finished with 109 points. Kelvin Taylor, a running back at Glades Day, finished second (120 points0.

Sandberg was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 7A Player of the Year, and totaled more than 2,900 yards of offense in leading the Hurricanes to its first state title since 1992.

Sandberg accounted for 258 yards of offense, ran for a touchdown and threw a touchdown during Manatee's 40-0 win over Jacksonville First Coast in the state final.

Johnson is senior, and Taylor and Sandberg are juniors.

Prep baseball: Four Manatee Hurricanes to sign with SCF

2012-01-05T07:35:00.000-08:00

(photo by John Lembo)

Four members of Manatee's baseball team will sign with State College of Florida later this month, said Hurricanes coach Dwayne Strong.

Pitcher/first baseman Correlle Prime (above, wearing a white t-shirt), shortstop Chase Sandberg, third baseman Trevor Beeman and Trevor's twin brother, Tyler, an outfielder, will take part in a group signing 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at Manatee.

Prime went 9-1 with a 3.14 ERA last year while batting .396 with five home runs and 30 RBIs. Sandberg hit five home runs, as well, while batting .375 and scoring a team-best 36 runs.

Trevor Beeman batted .379 with 24 RBIs while Tyler hit .388 with 25 runs scored.

The quartet helped Manatee reach their the Class 5A state final four, marking the Hurricanes' first state semifinal appearance since 1963.

Manatee plays in the Jody Friedman Pre-Season Classic beginning Feb. 8 and opens the regular season Feb. 14 at G.T. Bray against Tampa Berkeley Prep.

Prep sports: Lakewood Ranch leads Class 6A Sunshine Cup standings

2012-01-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

(photo provided by Olivia Ortiz)Thanks to a banner fall full of state championships, Lakewood Ranch leads Class 6A in the Florida High School Athletic Association's Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup All-Sports Awards standings.
The Mustangs have 360.5 points and lead second-place Gainesville (343) heading into the winter postseason.
Points are awarded based on how each team fared in each season's sports. Points are awarded to the top 16 finishers, with the state champion earning 100 points. Bonus points are awarded to district and regional champions, and points are deducted for examples of unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Mustangs were led this fall by the boys golf team, cross country runner Olivia Ortiz (above) and swimmers Will Kazokas and Danielle Valley, all of whom won state championships.
The volleyball team won a district title and reached the regional finals and the football team made the Region 3 playoffs.
The only area school mentioned was Manatee, which is fourth in the Class 7A boys standings with 110 points thanks to the football team, which won district and regional titles en route to winning the program's fifth state championship.

Prep sports: Pick your top Manatee County prep sports moment in 2011

2011-12-28T10:44:00.000-08:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

As 2011 comes to a close, it's time to look back at that the year that was in Manatee County high school sports.

And what a year. From Manatee's football team climbing back on top to Lakewood Ranch's fabulous fall to Saint Stephen's boys soccer team making a return trip to the final four, there were plenty of thrills to go around during this calendar year.

So tell us your favorite. Glance at the poll on the right-hand side of the page and vote on the top high school sports moment in Manatee County for 2011.

Prep baseball: Lastings Milledge signs with Tokyo Swallows

2011-12-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

(photo from ESPN)Lastings Milledge has found a new baseball team - albeit, one in a different league, country and continent.
The Palmetto native and Lakewood Ranch alum has signed with the Tokyo Swallows of Japan's Central League, according to the team's website.
It's another chapter in Milledge's strange and tumultuous life in professional baseball, which began when the New York Mets made him the 12th overall pick of the 2003 draft.
He was called up to the Mets in 2006 and again in '07, appearing in 115 games with the team before he was traded to Washington prior to the '08 season.
The move initially paid off for Milledge, who hit 14 home runs, swiped 24 bases and batted .261 for Washington in '08. But he was traded yet again to Pittsburgh in early '09, and he hit .281 in 171 games with the Pirates during in '09-'10.
Milledge latched on with Chicago White Sox in 2011 and made the team out of spring training. But the White Sox, in need of bullpen help, released Milledge after just two games in order to add another reliever to the 25-man roster.
The Swallows have been in existence since 1950 and went 70-59-15 last year.

Prep basketball: Southeast, Lakewood Ranch win on first day of Clemons Classic

2011-12-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

Southeast and Lakewood Ranch's girls basketball teams scored victories during the first day of the 8th Annual Wille Clemons Holiday Basketball Classic on Monday at Southeast.
Returning to Seminole Alley for the first time in over a decade, Southeast (10-3) throttled St. Petersburg Northeast 55-26 in the opening round of the Seminole Division.
The Noles return to the newer Narbut Gymnasium 1 p.m. Tuesday to meet St. Petersburg Gibbs in a semifinal.
The Mustangs (8-5) outlasted Mitchell 28-25 in the opening round of the Gators Division and face Gulfport Boca Ciega 4 p.m. Tuesday in a semifinal.
Championship games are scheduled for Wednesday, with the Seminole Division final tipping off at 4 p.m. and the Gators Division final going at 5:30.

Prep baseball: Bradenton's J.R. Murphy ranked Yankees' 9th-best prospect

2011-12-21T20:50:00.000-08:00

(photo from riveraveblues.com)

Bradenton native and IMG graduate J.R. Murphy has been named the New York Yankees' ninth-best prospect in the latest issue of Baseball America.

"A solid athlete and average runner, Murphy has improved defensively," the magazine writes about Murphy, a catcher who was chosen by the Yankees during the second round of the 2009 draft. "He has gained average arm strength through better mechanics and a long-toss program and quicker release."

Murphy, 20, began last season with the Yankees low Single-A affiliate in Charleston and was a South Atlantic League before a mid-season promotion to the team's high Single-A club in Tampa.

Murphy batted .259 with a home run and 14 RBIs with the Tampa Yankees before a foul ball broke his left foot, according to Baseball America.

In 86 games in Charlestown and Tampa, Murphy batted .287 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs, and he threw out 24 percent of attempted basestealers. He also saw time at third base, too.

Baseball America expects Murphy to return to Tampa next season.

Prep football: Manatee's 7A state final to be re-aired tonight on Sun Sports

2011-12-20T12:09:00.001-08:00

In case you missed it - or if you just want to re-live it - Manatee's Class 7A state football final win over Jacksonville First Coast will be replayed 6:30 p.m. tonight on Sun Sports.

The Canes beat the Buccaneers 40-0 to claim their first state title since 1992 and fifth overall.

The game will be shown again 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Prep basketball: Willie Clemons Classic pairings

2011-12-20T07:37:00.000-08:00

Here are the first-round brackets for the Willie Clemons Girls Holiday Basketball Classic, which runs from Dec. 26-28 at Southeast.

GATORS DIVISION (NEW GYM)

Lakeland Kathleen vs. Gulfport Boca Ciega, noon

Lakewood Ranch vs. Mitchell, 2:30 p.m.

Riverview vs. Coral Gables, 4 p.m.

Seminole vs. Parkway Academy, 5:30 p.m.

SEMINOLE DIVISION (FIRST-ROUND GAMES WILL BE IN OLD GYM)

Southeast vs. St. Petersburg Northeast, 1 p.m.

Cape Coral Mariner vs. St. Petersburg Gibbs, 2:30 p.m.

Punta Gorda Charlotte vs. Tampa Sickles, 4 p.m.

Tampa Catholic vs. Venice, 5:30 p.m.

Prep football; Joe Pinkos' rating declares Manatee tops in Florida; Palmetto sixth

2011-12-19T15:54:00.003-08:00

Joe Kinnan considers his Manatee Hurricanes the best football team in Florida.

And he's not alone.

The Hurricanes were ranked first overall in the final Joe Pinkos' Power Rating, which are determined by a team's strength of schedule as well as its margin of victory.

Manatee, which went 13-2 and defeated Jacksonville First Coast 40-0 in the Class 7A state final, finished first with a rating of 210.6, beating 5A champ Miami Norland (206.8) and Class 6A champ Seffner Armwood (206).

Palmetto was sixth with a rating of 202.4 after going 12-2 and reaching the Class 5A state semifinal. The Tigers lost to Manatee by three points and Norland by eight.

The Hurricanes finished the year third in the Flavarsity.com top 25 behind top-ranked Armwood and runner-up Norland.

Palmetto placed 18th in that poll.

Prep football: Manatee finishes in the top 12 in three national polls

2011-12-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

(photo by Tiffany-Tompkins Condie)

Manatee's domination of Jacksonville First Coast in the state title game didn't just earn the Hurricanes a state championship, it helped them shoot up in the final national prep football polls, which were released Monday.

Rivals.com ranked Manatee 11th in its final RivalsHigh100 poll, the highest Manatee was ranked all year. Seffner Armwood (No.3), which went 15-0 and won the Class 6A state title, is the only Florida team Rivals listed ahead of Manatee.

MaxPreps also slotted Manatee at No. 11 in its final Xcellent 25 Football rankings, calling the Hurricanes "the best two-loss team in the country."

And the Canes ended the year 12th in the ESPNRise PowerAde Fab 50, up three spots from No. 15.

New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep, which handed Manatee one of its two losses this season, was named mythical national champion by ESPN and MaxPreps.

Rivals' top spot went to Louisville Trinity in Kentucky, with Bosco finishing second.

Manatee went 13-2 and undefeated against the state of Florida en route to winning the Class 7A state title. It was the Hurricanes' fifth state title and first since 1992.

Prep football: Odds and ends from Manatee's state final win

2011-12-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

- Manatee's 40-0 win over Jacksonville First Coast during Friday's Class 7A state final marked the program's fifth state title, tied for fourth-most all-time with Monticello Jefferson County. Jacksonville Bolles (11) is first.

- The Hurricanes held First Coast to minus-71 yards of rushing, a new state finals record. The previous mark of minus-10 was set by Naples in a Class 3A state final against St. Augustine.

- Manatee was a combined 12 for 18 on third- and fourth-down conversions, while First Coast converted just one of seven third downs. The Canes also scored on all five trips inside the red zone.

- Including this year, Manatee has made 25 playoff appearances, tying Southeast for most in the area, and has won an area-best 53 playoff games. The Canes are 53-20 all-time in the playoffs, and haven't lost a playoff game at home since 2005.

- Head coach Joe Kinnan has guided Manatee to all five of its state titles, and has now won championships in three different decades - the 1980s ('83, '85, '89), the 90s ('92) and the 2010s ('11). This year marked the first time Manatee recorded a shutout in a state final.

- Manatee has won state titles in Miami (Tamiami Stadium, 1983), Bradenton (Hawkins Stadium, '85), Daytona Beach (Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, '89), Gainesville (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, '92) and Orlando (Florida Citrus Bowl, 2011).

- Manatee went 13-0 this season against Florida schools, and has 20 straight regular-season wins against Florida schools. Its last four losses have come to state champions: Tampa Plant in the 2009 Class 5A state final, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in last year's Class 5A state semifinals, and Maryland's Our Lady of Good Counsel and New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep this year. Manatee hasn't lost to a county team since 2006 (Southeast).

- Halfback/wide receiver Anthony Lauro has not received any scholarship offers yet, but said South Carolina and its head coach, Steve Spurrier, have showed him a lot interest.

- Kinnan on First Coast: "They're a lot better football than what the score indicated. We're not 40 points better - we were (Friday)."

- Manatee's rematch with Bosco next season will be Week 3 up in New Jersey. The Ironmen, who have won six straight state titles, beat the Canes 22-16 this season in Bradenton, but were trailing 10-9 midway through the fourth quarter.

"Don Bosco is the best team we've played. We made some mistakes that night," Kinnan said. "You've got to give them credit, they deserved that win. I'd like to play Bosco again right now, though."

Prep football: 5 storylines for tonight's Manatee-First Coast 7A final

2011-12-15T22:37:00.000-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Here are five things to watch for during tonight's Class 7A state final between Manatee and Jacksonville First Coast.

1. How DeAndre Johnson will handle the pressure: First Coast's freshman quarterback sure hasn't played like a freshman, throwing for 2,706 yards and 24 touchdowns in leading the Buccaneers to their first title game. Chances are, however, he hasn't seen a defensive line like Manatee's, which is lead by Marquis Dawsey (above) and Blake Keller, who have teamed for 24 sacks. It'll be interesting to see how he reacts after those first few hits.

2. The trenches: First Coast coach Marty Lee said whomever wins the battle in the trenches wins this football game, and he's right. The battle between Manatee's defensive line and a First Coast offensive line anchored by Sheldon Gordon (315 pounds) and Nathan Waters (325) will decide whether Johnson has time to hook up with his deep pool of receivers, or whether he spends the night throwing on the run.

3. Manatee's offense: Manatee was a points machine during the regular season, scoring at least 21 in nine of 10 games. But after racking up 89 in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Canes were limited to 13 points against Fort Pierce Central and 19 against Palm Beach Dwyer. And 13 of those were scored by the defense. Is that a credit to those two defenses, or a sign that Manatee's O is in a bit of a slump? We'll find out tonight.

4. Special teams: Manatee kicker Nick Tankersley has missed three field goals over the last two games after missing none during the previous 11. When the senior is on, he's on (see his program record 53-yarder against Sarasota this season), and that means more points for Manatee's stellar defense to work with. Tankersley and the rest of Manatee's kickers spent Tuesday at Dad's Stadium at Tampa Plant, which has a similar artificial surface to the Citrus Bowl. Tonight's game should be close, which means things could come down to Tankersley and his foot.

5. The experience factor: Manatee got off to a slow start during the 2009 Class 5A state final because the Hurricanes were a little awe-struck by the enormity of the Florida Citrus Bowl. Their opponents that night, the Plant Panthers, had been there the year before and were used to the surroundings. Things are reversed this season - Manatee has been there, First Coast has not. That could play a role, especially in the early part of the game, before the jitters have wore off.

Prep football: Manatee QB Cord Sandberg voted 7A Player of the Year

2011-12-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Manatee quarterback Cord Sandberg has been named the Class 7A Football Player of the Year by the Florida Dairy Farmers. The voting was done by high school coaches and media across the state.

Sandberg earned 89 points to finish ahead of Jackonsville First Coast's Chris Black (71) and Plant City's Bennie Coney (47).

Sandberg and Black will meet Friday at the Florida Citrus Bowl when Manatee meets First Coast for the 7A state title.

By winning the 7A award, Sandberg is now in the running for Mr. Football.

First Coast's Marty Lee was voted the 7A coach of the year, and Miami Norland's Duke Johnson, who ran for 357 yards against Palmetto in a state semifinal, was voted the player of the year in 5A.

Prep football: Lakewood Ranch named academic team champions

2011-12-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Lakewood Ranch's football team boasted the highest grade-point average in Class 6A this season, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association, which announced its academic team champions Thursday.

The Mustangs had a cumulative GPA of 3.197, which was good enough to beat second-place Naples Palmetto Ridge (3.178).

They will receive a plaque from the FHSAA.

Lakewood Ranch and Palmetto Ridge are tied for eighth with 14 points in Class 6A's overall academic team standings heading into the winter.

On the field, the Mustangs went 5-6 and made the Class 6A-Region 3 playoffs, where they almost upset national power Seffner Armwood before falling 35-31.

Armwood plays for the 6A state crown Saturday.

Prep football: Rivals reporting Palmetto's Randall has switched to WKU

2011-12-14T14:38:00.001-08:00

It appears Western Kentucky University has plucked another one of Manatee County's star football players.

Rivals.com is reporting that Daqual Randall, Palmetto's middle linebacker, has committed to the Hilltoppers, choosing them over Lousiville, which earned a committment for Randall over the summer.

According to Rivals, Randall made an official visit to WKU on Sept. 9, for the Hilltoppers' game against Navy. He spent most of his time with head coach Willie Taggart and assistant Raymond Woodie, formerly the head coach at Bayshore and Palmetto.

"When I went up there, all the players and the team seemed cool," Randall told Rivals.

If Randall signs with WKU in February, he'll be joining a team that also includes locals such as Jonathan Dowling and Boe Brand. Leon Allen, a senior running back at Manatee, committed to the Hilltoppers last month.

Randall told Rivals his mind is made up.

"I'm set," he said, "and I'm locked in now."

Prep football: MaxPreps ranks Manatee (and its schedule) tops in Florida

2011-12-14T13:58:00.001-08:00

Manatee is playing for the Class 7A state championship Friday. But according to MaxPreps' latest rankings, the Hurricanes are the best team in Florida.

MaxPreps has Manatee ranked No.1 overall, one spot ahead of Seffner Armwood, which plays for the Class 6A state title Saturday.

Jacksonville First Coast, which meets Manatee on Friday in the Florida Citrus Bowl, is ranked ninth.

The Canes are also ranked first in MaxPreps' 7A rankings, while the First Coast Buccaneers are second.

Stephen Spiewak, MaxPreps' national football editor, considers Manatee the favorite Friday.

"The most intriguing thing about this game for me is that First Coast has a freshman quarterback," Spiewak said of the Bucs' DeAndre Johnson. "He's looked really good this year, and we have a Freshman of the Year honor, and if First Coast beats Manatee, we'd have a hard time not giving it to him. But that's tough, for a ninth-grader to go against a defense like Manatee and get the job done."

MaxPreps also ranks Manatee 18th in its Xcellent Top 25 writers' poll and 15th in its Freeman computer rankings. Manatee's schedule is a state-best 44.3.

Weston Cypress Bay, a Class 8A team the Canes shut out during the regular season, played the state's third-toughest schedule (41.4), according to MaxPreps.

Prep football: Manatee Memorial Hospital Suncoast Challenge drew four state finalists

2011-12-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

(photo by Grant Jefferies)

The Manatee Memorial Hospital Suncoast Challenege should have been called The Tournament of Finalists.

The four-team, two-game event, which was played Sept. 16 at Hawkins Stadium, featured Manatee and Tampa Plant, and New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic.

All took their seasons to the limit.

Bosco, which defeated Manatee 22-16 that night, won its sixth straight Non-Public Group IV state title this year by beating none other than Bergen Catholic in the state final.

The Hurricanes, of course, play for the 7A state championship Friday against Jacksonville First Coast.

And Plant, a 12-7 winner over Bergen that night in Bradenton, meets Miramar on Saturday for the Class 8A state championship.

Bosco finished the year ranked second in the country by Rivals and first by ESPNRise, while Bergen's three losses came to Bosco (twice) and Plant.

The four teams are slated meet to again next year up north.

Prep soccer: New format and site for semifinals and finals

2011-12-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

The state soccer final four will have a new look and a new home stadium this season.

The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Monday that the University of South Florida will host the state soccer championships - albeit with a wrinkle.

Rather than the semifinals and finals both being played at one site, as they have in the past, the semifinal game will be played at the school listed on the top line of the bracket.

Only the state final will be played at USF.

This is first time USF has hosted the state soccer finals, which were played at the University of Tampa's Pepin Stadium since 2008.

Prep football: Schedules and results for Manatee and First Coast

2011-12-11T10:09:00.001-08:00

(photo from wikipedia)

Here is how Manatee and First Coast made it to the Florida Citrus Bowl, site of Friday's Class 7A state final.

MANATEE HURRICANES

9/2 Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.) L, 17-24 (2 OT)

9/9 Riverview W, 48-6

9/16 Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) L, 16-22

9/30 Southeast W, 48-6

10/7 Braden River W, 63-0

10/14 Weston Cypress Bay W, 21-0

10/21 Venice W, 52-19

10/28 Palmetto W, 29-26

11/4 Sarasota W, 52-14

11/11 Lakewood Ranch W, 38-7

CLASS 7A-REGION 3 playoffs

11/18 Largo Pinellas Park W, 55-2

11/25 Venice W, 34-21

12/2 Fort Pierce Central W, 13-10

7A Semifinal

12/9 Palm Beach Gardens Dywer W, 19-14

JACKSONVILLE FIRST COAST BUCCANEERS

9/2 Jacksonville Parker W, 48-0

9/16 Jacksonville Jackson W, 32-0

9/23 Jacksonville Ribault W, 38-0

9/30 Callahan West Nassau W, 56-9

10/7 Orange Park Fleming Island W, 27-20

10/14 Yulee W, 36-16

10/27 Jacksonville Raines W, 36-7

11/4 Jacksonville White W, 35-34

11/10 Jacksonville Mandarin W, 21-3

CLASS 7A-REGION 1 playoffs

11/18 Ocala Forest W, 40-20

11/25 Orange Park Fleming Island W, 31-24 (OT)

12/2 East Ridge Clermont W, 28-21

Semifinal

12/9 Lakeland W, 24-14

Prep football: Getting to know Jacksonville First Coast

2011-12-11T09:35:00.001-08:00

(duvalcountyschools)

Here's a primer on Jacksonville First Coast, which meets Manatee on Friday at the Florida Citrus Bowl for the Class 7A state championship.

JACKSONVILLE FIRST COAST

Head coach: Marty Lee

Mascot: Buccaneers

Record: 13-0

Road to Orlando: Region 2 champion. Regional playoffs: Defeated Ocala Forest (40-20), Orange Park Fleming Island (31-24 OT) and Clermont East Ridge (28-21); State semifinal: Defeated Lakeland (24-14)

Keep an eye on: QB DeAndre Johnson (2,703 passing yards, 24 TDs, 54.8 completion percentage); RB Derrell King (606 rushing yards); WR Chris Black (55 catches, 881 yards)

Of note: First coast finished the year ranked first in 7A in the Associated Press prep poll and entered Friday's state semifinal ranked 90th nationally by Rivals. This is the Buccaneers' first trip to a state final, and they have made the playoffs every year since 2005, all under Lee. First Coast was supposed to play at Byrnes, S.C. on Aug. 27 in a game that was going to be televised on ESPN. But the game was scrapped because Duval County, facing budgest constraints, was facing a possible elimination of prep sports, according to jacksonville.com

Prep football: Manatee County's PAL Bowl roster

2011-12-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

Manatee's trek to the Class 7A state final has moved the date of the Brad Price Memorial PAL Bowl. The game, pitting the senior all-star football players from Sarasota and Manatee counties, will be played 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 at Booker.

The game was originally scheduled for this Friday, the day the Hurricanes head to the Florida Citrus Bowl to face Jacksonville First Coast for the state championship.

The Manatee County team will be coach by Palmetto's Dave Marino, who led the Tigers to the Class 5A state final four.

Here is the roster for Manatee County.

BAYSHORE - Tyderian Jenkins, DB/WR; Clayton Hanson, LB; Josh Maugherman, DB; Alex Mobley, DB; Dominic Everett, RB.

BRADENTON CHRISTIAN - Kenny Virgil, DL; Josh Clark, OL.

BRADEN RIVER - Josh Weirich, LB/DB; Deon Taylor, RB/DL; Nathan Kirkman, LB; Mike Pulawski, OL; Ryan Fisher, WR; Troy Gatling, WR.

LAKEWOOD RANCH - Brandon King, WR/DB; Jeren Kowalewski , QB; MacKenzie Hathaway, RB; Alec Jones, OL; Shane Blair, OL; Greg Funk, TE.

MANATEE - Ryan Taylor, WR; Jalen Holmes, DB; Leon Allen, RB; Roshaun Goff, DB; Clinton Heaven, DB; Antonio Agurs, RB; DeAngelo Dawes, DL; Darius White, LB; Hershel Caywood, LB; Shawn Wilkes, OL; Garrett Waiters, OL; Nick Tankersley, K.

PALMETTO - Da'Qual Randall, LB; De'Quan Reddick, DB; Trent Miller, QB; Robert Jackson, DB; Dallas Jackson, DB; Tyrone Johnson, DL; Trai Sanders, OL/DL; James Johnson, LB; Fitz Richards, OL/DL; Kevin O'Brien, OL; Jamal Kearney, DL.

SAINT STEPHEN'S - Adam Vining, WR.

SOUTHEAST - Brian Poole, DB; Michael Bowden, DL; James Bennett, OL; Trey Laws, WR; Kevin Williams, injured; Billy Roberts, injured; Earvin Bradshaw, injured.

Prep cross country: Lakewood Ranch's Ortiz named runner of the year

2011-12-10T09:50:00.002-08:00

(photo provided)

Lakewood Ranch's Olivia Ortiz has been named the 2011 Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year by the Florida Dairy Farmers.

The award is voted on by a panel of cross country coaches around the state.

Ortiz won the Class 3A state championship with a time of 17:39 last month and tallied 80 points in the voting to beat out Class 2A winner Shelby Davidson of Cocoa Beach, who had 50 points.

Ortiz also won county, district and regional championships this fall, and helped the Mustangs to a third-place finish at state.

Ortiz is in San Diego today competing in the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships.

Prep football: MaxPreps picks Manatee-Dwyer No. 2 game in country

2011-12-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

Tonight's Class 7A state semifinal between Manatee and Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer is considered the second-best game in the nation by MaxPreps.

MaxPreps' writers are also picking Manatee, but by a slim margin:

Mitch Stephens: Manatee 21, Dwyer 14

Steve Montoya: Manatee 17, Dwyer 14

Stephen Spiewak: Manatee 17, Dwyer 14

Kevin Askeland: Dwyer 24, Manatee 21

Jamie DeMoney: Dwyer 21, Manatee 18

Prep football: All four 7A teams ranked in state's top 10

2011-12-08T12:49:00.001-08:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)Whomever wins the Class 7A state title could lay claim to being the best team in Florida.

The four remaining teams - Jacksonville First Coast, Lakeland, Manatee and Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer - are ranked in to the top 10 of Fla.varsity.com's top 25, the state's only single-class ranking.

First Coast (12-0), which hosts Lakeland (13-0) in a state semifinal, is ranked fifth overall, while the Dreadnaughts are 10th.

The Hurricanes (11-2) are ranked eighth, and host ninth-ranked Dwyer (12-1) in 7A's other semifinal.

The winners meet 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 at the Florida Citrus Bowl for the 7A state championship.

Prep football: Bright House to televise Manatee's state semifinal

2011-12-06T17:26:00.001-08:00

If you're heading to Hawkins Stadium on Friday, there is a chance you will be on television.

Bright House Sports Network is broadcasting Manatee's Class 7A state semifinal with Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer live at 7:30 p.m.

The winner meets either Lakeland or Jacksonville First Coast in the state championship game Friday, Dec. 16 at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Prep football: Three official visits scheduled for Manatee's Clinton Heaven

2011-12-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

(photo by Grant Jefferies) Manatee defensive back Clinton Heaven is starting to narrow down his list of college sources.
He has scheduled official visits to Vanderbilt and West Virginia, and plans on taking another to North Carolina.
"The other two are still iffy," he said Monday. "I just know I'm taking those three."
Rivals ranks Heaven the nation's 25th-best safety for the class of 2012.
He and the Hurricanes host Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer in a Class 7A state semifinal Friday.

Prep basketball: Smoothie King Classic first-round matchups

2011-12-05T15:59:00.001-08:00

(c2cschools.com)

The first-round pairings have been set for the Smoothie King Classic at Bradenton Christian. The boys and girls basketball tournament runs from Dec. 27-29 at BCS.

BOYS

Cardinal Mooney vs. Largo Pinellas Park, 10 a.m.

Tampa Prep vs. Bayshore, 1 p.m.

Lakewood Ranch vs. Out-of-Door Academy, 4 p.m.

Bradenton Christian vs. Stuart Community School, 7 p.m.

GIRLS

Cardinal Mooney vs. Braden River, 11 a.m.

Englewood Lemon Bay vs. Bayshore, 2:30 p.m.

Manatee vs. Tampa Alonso, 5:30 p.m.

Bradenton Christian vs. Arcadia DeSoto, 8:30 a.m.

Prep football: Manatee's out-of-state foes wrap perfect seasons

2011-12-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

(photo by highschoolsports.nj.com)

While Manatee is two wins away from a state championship, both of their nationally-ranked foes recently put a bow on a pair of championship seasons.

New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep, above, defeated Bergen Catholic to claim the state's Non-Public Group IV championship for the sixth straight season. The Ironmen finished the year 11-0 and are currently ranked second in the nation by Rivals and first by ESPNRise.

Bosco defeated Manatee 22-16 during September's Manatee Memorial Hospital Suncoaast Challenge at Hawkins Stadium. Bergen Catholic was there, too, and lost to Tampa Plant in the second game.

The Canes' Week 1 opponent, Maryland's Our Lady of Good Counsel, clinched its third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title and first undefeated season with 42-0 win over Gonzaga.

Good Counsel is ranked fifth nationally by Rivals and ESPN, and opened the season with a 24-17 double-overtime win over the Canes in Maryland.

Prep football: Website picks Canes to win, Tigers to lose Friday

2011-12-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Floridahsfootball.com is predicting a Manatee County split for Friday's Region 3 championship games.

The site is picking Manatee to beat Fort Pierce Central by 10 points in the Class 7A-Region 3 final, but thinks Immokalee will beat Palmetto by three in the Class 5A-Region 3 title game.

The site correctly predicted the Hurricanes and Tigers would get here - both teams were picked to win their regional semifinals.

If Manatee does beat Fort Pierce Central, floridahsfootball.com is not expecting a rematch with Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas - the site is picking the Raiders to lose by 13 to Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer in the Region 4 final.

Prep sports: Carlos Boothby named Saint Stephen's athletic director

2011-12-01T12:37:00.001-08:00

Saint Stephen's announced Thursday it has named Carlos Boothby as its new athletic director.

Boothby has been with the school 14 years and became the assistant athletic director in 1999. Boothby was named the interim athletic director earlier this season after Saint Stephen's parted ways with Charles Williamson.

Boothby also served as Saint Stephen's varsity girls basketball coach before stepping down this season to focus on the AD position. He was replaced by Scott Dell.

Prep sports: FHSAA releases population report

2011-11-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

The Florida High School Athletic Association released the population reports for its member schools Tuesday. The population report are the students enrolled in grades 9-12 as reported by the schools.

Listed below are the population numbers for the area schools, with the 2001 population numbers in parantheses.

BAYSHORE - 1,511 (1,716)

BRADEN RIVER - 1,973 (N/A)

BRADENON CHRISTIAN - 159 (125)

CARDINAL MOONEY - 475 (434)

LAKEWOOD RANCH - 1,896 (1,856)

MANATEE -2,261 (1,960)

OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY - 231 (113)

PALMETTO - 1,762 (1,423)

SAINT STEPHEN'S - 244 (191)

SOUTHEAST - 1,342 (1,486)

Prep football: Getting to know Immokalee and Fort Pierce Central

2011-11-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

(photo by tcpalm.com)

Josh Shaffer, above, and the Fort Pierce Central Cobras head to Bradenton on Friday to play Manatee for the Class 7A-Region 3 title, while Immokalee hosts Palmetto for the 5A-Region 3 championship.

Here is glance at the locals' opponents:

FORT PIERCE CENTRAL

Mascot: Cobras

Coach: Josh Shaffer

Record: 9-1

Road to the regional final: Won the District 12 title; defeated Port Charlotte (56-7) in a regional quarterfinal and Stuart Martin County (31-7) in a regional semifinal.

Key players: QB Marcus Sigmon (1,435 passing yards, 19 TDs, 64.4 comp. percentage); RB Marcus Levy (1,337 rushing yards, 17 TDs); DB Joe Figueroa (68 tackles, 6 INT).

Notable: Shaffer was the team's offensive coordinator before being named the interim coach when Chris Hutchings stepped down in April. A first-time head coach, Shaffer lost the interim tag following the spring season...This is the Cobras' first appearance in a regional final since 1994...Their lone loss this season came to Vero Beach, which made the Class 8A playoffs this year.

IMMOKALEE

Mascot: Indians

Coach: Jerrod Ackley

Record: 11-1

Road to the regional final: Won the District 12 title; defeated Lehigh Acres (19-16) in a regional quarterfinal and Cape Coral (54-7) in a regional semifinal.

Key players: QB Tshumbi Johnson (2,383 passing yards, 24 TDs, 863 rushing yards, 17 TDs); RB D'Ernest Johnson (791 rushing yards, 15 TDs).

Notable: Immokalee is the birthplace of former NFL running back Edgerrin James...The Indians won the Class 2A state title in 2004...Immokalee's only loss this season came to Lake Wales, which fell to Wauchula Hardee in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Prep football: Why Manatee is staying home and Palmetto is hitting the road

2011-11-28T11:43:00.001-08:00

(photo by Grant Jefferies)

Trent Miller and the Palmetto Tigers have some traveling to do Friday.

The Manatee Hurricanes do not.

Both local teams are playing for regional championships Friday, but they'll be doing so roughly 130 miles apart. The Tigers head to Immokalee for the Class 5A-Region 3 title game while the Hurricanes host Fort Pierce Central for the Class 7A-Region 3 crown.

Why?

It's how the Florida High School Athletic Association set it up, that's why.

This year, the FHSAA ruled the team listed on the top line of each regional final bracket will host the championship game.

There are two exceptions. The first one is if the team on top is a district runner-up and the team on the bottom line is a district champion, the champion hosts. And the other wrinkle is if both finalists are district champs, and the team on the bottom was on the road for the regional semifinal and the team on top was not, the bottom team gets to hosts.

Such is the case for Palmetto. The Tigers hosted Auburndale in the first round and Wauchula Hardee in the second round, while Immokalee, a district champion, had to travel to Cape Coral for a regional semifinal.

Had Cape Coral won last week, the Tigers would be home.

As for the Canes, they knew they'd be at Hawkins Stadium on Friday regardless of who won the other semifinal. Fort Pierce Central is a district champ, but was home during the first two rounds. Fort Pierce's opponent last week, Stuart Martin County, was a district runner-up, and would have had to come to Manatee, which won its district, had Martin County won.

Prep cross country: Lakewood Ranch's Ortiz qualifies for national meet

2011-11-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Olivia Ortiz's fall keeps getting better and better.

One week after winning the Class 3A girls state cross country championship, the Lakewood Ranch junior finished fifth during Saturday's Foot Locker Cross Country Championships South Regional in North Carolina.

Ortiz finished with a time of 17 minutes, 13 seconds to clinch a berth in the Foot Locker Cross County Championships National Finals. That meet will take place Saturday, Dec. 10 at Balboa Park's Morley Field in San Diego.

National bids were awarded to the top 10 finishers in the South, Northeast, Midwest and West regions.

Prep football: Manatee continues to climb national polls

2011-11-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

Great news, folks: I'm back. After a week of honeymooning in the Caribbean with my lovely new bride, I have returned just in time for the second week of the high school football playoffs.
But enough about me...
Surging Manatee is still opening eyes at the national level, jumping to No. 27 in the RivalsHigh 100 following Friday's 55-2 win over Largo Pinellas Park in a Class 7A-Region 3 opener.
The Canes were 39th heading into the playoffs.
The Hurricanes (9-2) have won eight straight and are undefeated against Florida schools. Their two losses have come to Maryland's Our Lady of Good Counsel (No. 8) and New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep (No.3), both of whom are ranked by Rivals and are a combined 21-0.
Manatee also made a modest leap on ESPN'S Powerade Fab 50, jumping two spots to No. 23.
The Canes host rival Venice in a Region 3 semifinal 7:30 p.m. Friday.
While Manatee is the lone area team receiving national love, another local squad made an impact on the polls. Lakewood Ranch nearly scored an upset during last week's Class 6A-Region 3 opener before falling 35-31 to Seffner Armwood.
The Hawks entered the game ranked second in the nation by Rivals, but plummeted to 10th following their meeting with the Mustangs.
ESPN kept them at No. 2, however, in its latest poll.
Lakewood Ranch finished the season at 5-6.

Off for a week

2011-11-12T02:44:00.001-08:00

I will return to the paper - and my blog - a week from Monday.
Until then, check in with bradenton.com and the print editions of The Bradenton Herald for the latest news on local prep sports.

Prep football: Palmetto's game moved to Thursday

2011-11-08T15:58:00.001-08:00

Palmetto's game at Ocala Trinity Catholic has been switched to Thursday because school will be closed Friday in observation of Veterans' Day.

The game will be played 7:30 at Celtic Stadium.

Both teams are coming off district-clinching wins - Palmetto (8-1) beat Southeast to win the 5A-10 title and Trinity Catholic (5-3) beat Fort White to take 3A-3.

It was the fourth straight district title for the Shamrocks, who won the Class 1A state title last season.

Prep football: Manatee County area playoff matchups

2011-11-08T07:49:00.001-08:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Cardinal Mooney fell short during Monday's Class 3A-District 6 tiebreaker Monday in Lakeland, so now the area playoff picture has been settled.

Three teams are moving on: Lakewood Ranch, Manatee and Palmetto. The playoffs begin Nov. 18.

Listed below are the matchups.

CLASS 7A-REGION 3

Largo Pinellas Park (7-2) at Manatee (7-2)

Winner faces: Either Countryside or Venice

CLASS 6A-REGION 3

Lakewood Ranch (5-4) at Seffner Armwood (10-0)

Winner faces: Either Tampa Hillsborough or Largo

CLASS 5A-REGION 3

Auburndale (2-7) at Palmetto (8-1)

Winner faces: Either Lake Wales or Wauchula Hardee

Prep football: Manatee County area playoff scenarios

2011-11-01T04:55:00.001-07:00

Joe Kinnan has reason to smile - his Manatee Hurricanes are the lone area team to lock up a playoff spot heading into Friday, which marks the final week of district play.

Here's what we know: Bayshore, Bradenton Christian, Out-of-Door Academy and Saint Stephen's are out; Manatee is in.

Everyone else?

Let's check it out.

BRADEN RIVER: Despite a slew of injuries and lopsided losses, the Pirates (2-6, 1-1) are still in play to make a fourth straight playoff appearance. They host Venice on Friday, with the winner claiming the runner-up spot from Class 7A-District 10.

CARDINAL MOONEY: The Cougars missed out on a chance to lock up a playoff spot two weeks ago with a loss in Frostproof, but can make up for it Friday in Fort Meade. A Mooney win plus a Frostproof loss against Lakeland Christian gives the Cougars (3-5, 1-1) a Class 3A-District 6 championship. If Mooney and Frostproof both win, the Cougars join Fort Meade (6-2, 2-0) and Frostproof (4-4, 1-1) in a three-way tiebreaker with two playoff berths on the line. A three-way tiebreaker for the runner-up spot will happen between Mooney, Frostproof and Lakeland Christian (3-5, 0-2) if Mooney and Frostproof both lose; but a Mooney loss coupled with a Frostproof win knocks the Cougars out of the playoff race.

LAKEWOOD RANCH: Last week's loss at Largo cost the Mustangs (4-4, 1-1) a chance to win a Class 6A-District 7 title, but their playoff hopes are very much alive. They head to Seminole Osceola (3-5, 2-2) this week, and with a win, return to the postseason for the second time in three years.

PALMETTO AND SOUTHEAST: The longtime county foes play their rivalry's biggest game Friday at John Kiker Memorial Stadium, where postseason berths and district titles hang on the line. The Tigers (7-1, 3-0 Class 5A-District 10) are a game up on Southeast (7-2, 2-1) and Wauchula Hardee (7-1, 2-1), and can lock up the district with a win. The Seminoles' loss last week in Wauchula turned this game into a must-win, though Southeast can still win the district by beating Palmetto and having Arcadia DeSoto (2-6, 0-3) upset Hardee. A Southeast win coupled with a Hardee win means Southeast, Palmetto and Hardee will meet for a three-way tiebreaker, with the district title and runner-up spot on the line. If the Seminoles lose, they are eliminated. The Tigers, meanwhile, can do no worse than reach a three-way tiebreaker, and regardless of how they do, clinch a playoff berth outright if Hardee loses.

Prep basketball: Bradenton Christian names new interim coach

2011-10-29T17:04:00.001-07:00

Scott Townsend, a 1995 alum of Bradenton Christian, has been named the school's interim boys basketball coach.

He replaces David Magley, who stepped down earlier this month after 11 seasons.

Townsend has been with the program for 10 years.

Allan Gerber, BCS' athletic director, said a search for a full-time coach will begin at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. Until then, Townsend and his staff "have our full support," Gerber said.

Prep volleyball: Manatee County area regional pairings

2011-10-29T15:07:00.001-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Tori Biach and the Saint Stephen's Falcons fell short in their quest to win a second straight district volleyball title, but their season isn't over.

The Falcons are one of four area teams who advanced to regional play, which begins this week.

Listed below are the pairings.

TUESDAY

CLASS 5A-REGION 3 - Southeast at Tampa Robinson, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A-REGION 3 - Saint Stephen's at Clearwater Central Catholic, 7 p.m.; Largo Indian Rocks Christian at Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

CLASS 6A-REGION 3 - Tampa King at Lakewood Ranch, 7 p.m.

Winners advances to the regional semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Prep volleyball: Life left for four Manatee County area teams

2011-10-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)In her first year at Southeast, coach Nancy Cothron has led the Seminoles into the Class 5A-District 12 final. The Noles beat Bayshore 3-1 in Tuesday's semifinal and will head to top-seeded St. Petersburg Lakewood for Thursday's title match.
Listed below are Tuesday's results and Thursday's contests. The runner-up and champion from each district head to the regional playoffs, which begin next Tuesday and Wednesday.

TUESDAY'S RESULTS
CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 11
Punta Gorda Charlotte 3, Manatee 1
Venice 3, Braden River 1
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 12
Lakewood Ranch 3, Largo 0
Seminole Osceola 3, Palmetto 0
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12
Southeast 3, Bayshore 1
CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10
Saint Stephen's 3, Out-of-Door Academy 1
Cardinal Mooney 3, Bradenton Christian 0

THURSDAY'S FINALS
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 12
Lakewood Ranch at Seminole Osceola, 7 p.m.
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12
Southeast at St. Petersburg Lakewood, 7 p.m.
CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10
Saint Stephen's at Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m.

Prep football: The playoff fates of the Manatee County area teams

2011-10-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Trent Miller and the Palmetto Tigers are staring opportunity right in the face.

Thanks to their thrilling 16-13 win over Wauchula Hardee on Friday, the Tigers are 7-0 and 3-0 in Class 5A-District 10, and on the cusp of a playoff berth and possibly a district championship.

Listed below is how the districts look following Friday's games.

CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 10: Manatee took care of business with a convincing 33-point win over Venice, but it was Braden River that really made the Canes' night. The Pirates' win over Sarasota, coupled with Manatee's win over the Indians, gave Manatee its second straight district title. It also keeps the Pirates in the playoff chase: Despite a 2-6 record and an onslaught of injuries, they host Venice on Nov. 4 for the district's final postseason berth.

CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 7: Lakewood Ranch recovered from a 14-point hole and rallied to beat St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins, giving the Mustangs a 3-0 district mark. That means Friday's game in Largo (3-0) will decide the district title. While the Mustangs would love to win the district for the first time under coach Shawn Trent, a playoff berth can be had as long as they win one of their last two district games.

CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 10: Palmetto is playing Manatee on Friday, but the Tigers should really be rooting for Southeast, which will be in Wauchula playing a huge district game with Hardee. A Seminoles' win clinches playoff berths for Southeast and Palmetto and turns their district finale Nov. 4 at John Kiker Memorial Stadium into the district championship game. A Hardee win means the Noles will have to beat Palmetto to forge a three-way tie, especially since Hardee meets struggling Arcadia DeSoto in its district finale Nov. 4.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 6: Despite a disappointing loss in Frostproof, Cardinal Mooney still controls its destiny. The Cougars (1-1 in district) are off this week, but head to Fort Meade (2-0) on Nov. 4 and can still win the district if they beat the Miners and Lakeland Christian (0-2) knocks off Frostproof (1-1). A Mooney win combined with a Frostproof win puts three teams at 2-1 and forces a three-way tiebreaker with Mooney, Fort Meade and Frostproof playing for the district title and second playoff berth. If the Cougars lose, they need Lakeland Christian to beat Frostproof to set up a three-way tie for the district's last playoff spot.

CLASS 2A URBAN-DISTRICT 6: Out-of-Door Academy isn't out of the race, but the Thunder need some help. They are 3-2 and in third place in the eight-team district, a game behind St. John Neumann (4-1). But Neumann defeated ODA earlier this seas season, meaning the Thunder need to win two and Neumann needs to lose two for the Thunder to get in. Evangelical Christian (6-0) has already locked up one playoff spot.

CLASS 2A URBAN-DISTRICT 5: Already saddled with four district losses, Bradenton Christian is playing for pride as the season winds down.

Prep basketball: David Magley stepping down at Bradenton Christian

2011-10-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

David Magley announced Saturday he will step down as Bradenton Christian's boys basketball coach.

Magley has started his own business and was concerned he could not devote as much time to the program as he would have liked.

"I thought the boys deserved better," Magley said, "than I could give them."

Magley went 255-100 at BCS and lead the Panthers to four state final fours and eight straight trips to the elite eight.

For more on this story, head to bradenton.com Sunday or check out the print edition of The Brdenton Herald.

Prep football: MaxPreps picking Manatee over Venice

2011-10-20T20:02:00.001-07:00

MaxPreps considers Manatee an overwhelming favorite to beat Venice on Friday in a game that will probably decide the Class 7A-District 10 title.

The site ranks the meeting as the nation's fifth-best game of the week, and all five of its writers believe the Hurricanes will win.

Here are the predictions:

Mitch Stephens: Manatee 35-21

Steve Montoya: Manatee 14-7

Stephen Spiewak: Manatee 35-21

Kevin Askeland: Manatee 28-14

Jamie DeMoney: Manatee 28-14

I will be Tweeting live from Hawkins Stadium on Friday, so follow me @JohnLembo1878 to see how the much-anticipated meeting between the Hurricanes and Indians shapes up.

Prep football: Looking back at the last seven Manatee-Venice games

2011-10-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

(photo by pagemoorephoto)

Quenton Bundrage and the Manatee Hurricanes went to Venice last season and rolled past the Indians en route to clinching their first district championship since 2006.

Bundrage is now at Iowa State, but Manatee and Venice are back it and will meet Friday night in Bradenton in a game that could decide the Class 7A-District 10 title.

Since Joe Kinnan returned to Manatee's sideline in 2005, the Canes and Indians have finished in the top two of their district every year but '05 and '08.

Listed below is a glance at the last seven matchups between the teams in a rivalry that grows stronger every year.

2005

Score: Manatee 28, Venice 14.

When and where: Sept. 30 at Hawkins Stadium

What happened: Bobby Spann returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown as the Canes recovered from a 14-0 deficit. It was Kinnan's first game against Venice since the Class 5A-Region 3 final in 2000, which marked Kinnan's final game before his five-year break from coaching.

The aftermath: Manatee went on to win the 5A-District 10 title en route to its first regional title in 11 years. The Indians also made the playoffs but lost to Largo in the second round.

2006

Score: Manatee 20, Venice 7.

When and where: Sept. 29 at Powell-Davis Stadium

What happened: Shawn Williams rushed for 144 yards and all-state linebacker Austin Jensen showed some offensive prowess by rushing for two touchdowns as the Canes cruised.

The aftermath: Manatee repeated as Region 3 champion and lost to Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in double overtime during a Class 5A state semifinal. The Indians did not make the playoffs.

2007

Score: Venice 21, Manatee 7.

When and where: Oct. 26 at Hawkins Stadium

What happened: The Indians won in stunning fashion, limiting the Hurricanes to 171 total yards and no offensive touchdowns, with Manatee's lone points came on Johnny Enrisma's fumble recovery with less than four minutes left in the game. Manatee entered 8-0 before suffering its first district loss since 2004.

The aftermath: Venice clinched the Class 5A-District 10 title with the win, but Manatee defeated Lakewood Ranch the following week to make the playoffs. Both were done in by Cape Coral, however, which defeated the Indians in the Region 3 quarterfinals and Manatee in the semifinals.

2008

Score: Venice 31, Manatee 16

When and where: Oct. 31 at Powell-Davis Stadium

What happened: The Hurricanes led 10-3 at the half but ran just one offensive play during the third quarter, and Venice quarterback Trey Burton ran for 168 yards and threw for 205 in leading the Indians to a second straight district title.

The aftermath: Despite a 7-3 finish, Manatee failed to make the playoffs for the first time in four years. The Indians, who went undefeated during the regular season, beat Cape Coral in the Region 3 quarterfinals but lost to Charlotte in the semis.

2009

Score: Venice 43, Manatee 29

When and where: Oct. 30 at Hawkins Stadium

What happened: Manatee scored 16 points less than eight minutes into the second half to take a 29-28 lead, but the Indians, powered by Burton, roared back to win their third district title. The senior threw for 253 yards and rushed for 155 and three touchdowns, which earned high praise afterward from Kinnan, who called Burton "the best we've ever gone against."

The aftermath: Thanks to Riverview's win over North Port, Manatee clinched a playoff berth that night despite the loss, but a Venice-Manatee rematch never materialized: The Canes beat St. Petersburg Gibbs in the Region 3 quarterfinals while the Indians were upset by St. Petersburg. Manatee then got on a roll, winning the Region 3 title and knocking off St. Thomas Aquinas, ranked No.1 in the nation at the time, in a Class 5A state semifinal to reach a state championship game for the first time since 1993. The Canes lost to Tampa Plant, 21-14, in the final.

2010

Score: Manatee 24, Venice 7

When and where: Oct. 29 at Powell-Davis Stadium

What happened: Ankle injuries limited Manatee running back Mike Blakely to six carries, so Quenton Bundrage (seven catches, 145 yards), Cord Sandberg (two passing touchdowns, 68 rushing yards) and the defense (five sacks) helped carry the Canes to their first district title since '06.

The aftermath: Manatee wrapped its first undefeated regular season since 1990, and Venice made the playoffs as a runner-up, leading to...

2010, Part II

Score: Manatee 41, Venice 28

When and where: Nov. 27 at Hawkins Stadium, Class 5A-Region 3 semifinal

What happened: Manatee opened a 20-0 lead after a quarter, and despite a valiant effort, the Indians never caught up, falling to the Canes for the second time in less than a month. A healthy Blakely ran for 189 yards and two touchdowns, and Sandberg threw for 207 yards in the win.

The aftermath: The loss sent Venice home for the season, while Manatee defeated Palm Bay Bayside in the Region 3 title game for the second straight year. The Canes season came a to a halt the following week in Fort Lauderdale, where Aquinas cruised to a 31-7 win in a state semifinal.

Prep volleyball: District tournament brackets for Manatee County area

2011-10-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Allie Clements (No. 6) and Rebecca Butler will help lead Manatee's volleyball team into the Class 7A-District 11 tournament, which gets underway next week.

All the area teams begin postseason play next week, and a number of them are home.

Listed below are the playoff matchups for each district. The district champion and runner-up advance to the regional tournaments, which begin Tuesday Nov. 1 (Classes 1A, 3A, 5A, 7A) and Wednesday, Nov. 2 (2A, 4A, 6A, 8A).

All district games are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Each team's seed is listed in parentheses.

CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 11

Monday, Oct. 24 - (5) Port Charlotte at (4) Braden River; (6) Sarasota at (3) Charlotte.

Tuesday, Oct. 25 - (1) Venice* at Port Charlotte/Braden River; Sarasota/Charlotte at (2) Manatee.

Thursday, Oct. 27 - Championship, 7 p.m., TBA

*- Venice cannot host any postseason matches as per the Florida High School Athletic Association.

CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 12

Monday, Oct. 24 - (5) St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins at (4) Largo

Tuesay, Oct. 25 - Dixie Hollins/Largo at (1) Lakewood Ranch; (3) Palmetto at (2) Seminole Osceola.

Thursday, Oct. 27 - Championship, 7 p.m., TBA

CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12

Monday, Oct. 24 - (5) Gulfport Boca Ciega at (4) Dunedin; (6) St. Petersburg Gibbs at (3) Southeast.

Tuesday, Oct. 25 - Boca Ciega/Dunedin at (1) St. Petersburg Lakewood; Gibbs/Southeast at (2) Bayshore.

Thursday, Oct. 27 - Championship, 7 p.m., TBA

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10 AT CARDINAL MOONEY

Tuesday, Oct. 25 - (1) Saint Stephen's vs. (4) Out-of-Door Academy, 5:30 p.m.; (3) Bradenton Christian vs. (2) Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 27 - Championship, 7 p.m.

Prep football poll: Pick Manatee County's most promising game this week

2011-10-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Friday is shaping up to be a memorable night of football in Manatee County.

Cord Sandberg, above, and nationally-ranked Manatee host Venice in a game that could decided the Class 7A-District 10 championship, while Class 5A-District 10 foes and longtime rivals Palmetto and Wauchula Hardee clash at Harllee Stadium in a battle between undefeated teams.

In the other 5A-10 game, Southeast, currently in a three-way tie with Palmetto and Hardee atop the district, heads to Bayshore against a Bruins team looking to play spoiler.

Over in East Manatee county, Braden River hosts Sarasota in another key 7A-10 game: Both teams are 0-1 in the district and the loser is out of the playoff race.

And Lakewood Ranch, currently 2-0 in Class 6A-District 7, will look to continue its surge against visiting district rival St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins.

So which game are you most looking forward to?

Head to the right and cast your vote.

Prep football: Manatee Hurricanes on the rise nationally

2011-10-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

Winning three straight games by a combined 126 points tends to open some eyes.

Just ask Manatee. The Hurricanes, riding a winning streak where they have outscored Southeast, Braden River and Weston Cypress Bay 132-6, took another leap in the RivalsHigh100 rankings.

Manatee jumped 11 spots to No. 39 following its 21-0 win over Cypress Bay on Friday. The Lightning began the week ranked eighth in the state in Class 8A in the Associated Press poll.

The Canes opened the year at No. 36 but plummeted following their sloppy win over Delray Beach American Heritage in the Kickoff Classic, and close losses to nationally-ranked Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) and Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.).

But the Hurricanes are 4-0 against Florida teams, outscoring them 180-12, and have vaulted back on the national radar.

Manatee hosts Venice on Friday in a game that could decide the Class 7A-District 10 champion.

Prep football: Week 7 Manatee County area matchups

2011-10-13T10:04:00.001-07:00

(photo by Grant Jefferies)

Joe Kinnan hopes his Manatee Hurricanes keep rolling through Florida opponents Friday night when they face Weston Cypress Bay at Hawkins Stadium.

Games are at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Here are this week's matchups. As always, head to bradenton.com and Friday's print edition of The Bradenton Herald for detailed capsules into each game.

Bayshore (2-4) at Braden River (1-5)

The skinny: Neither the Bruins nor Pirates appear likely to make the playoffs this season, so a good consolation prize could be a win over a county rival. Both teams are pretty banged up and are coming off one-sided district defeats (Bruins lost 42-7 to Palmetto; Pirates lost 63-0 to Manatee), but a win for either side would cure some ills.

Weston Cypress Bay (3-2) at Manatee (3-2)

The skinny: The Lightning aren't your typical Homecoming opponent: They made the Class 6A state semifinals last season and their two losses this year have come to nationally-ranked Miramar and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. The Canes want to win, obviously, and further the momentum they have created with statement-making wins over Southeast and Braden River. But coach Joe Kinnan said the main objective is to come out of Friday night healthy, especially since Manatee hosts Venice next week in what could wind up being the Class 7A-District 10 championship game.

Southeast (5-1) at Riverview (1-4)

The skinny: The Seminoles rebounded from their loss to Manatee by winning their district opener last week against Arcadia DeSoto. And while this is a non-district affair, a win would be beneficial for a Southeast team that closes out the regular season with three consecutive Class 5A-District 10 opponents: Bayshore, Wauchula Hardee and Palmetto.

Bradenton Christian (2-3, 2-2 Class 2A Urban-District 5) at Tampa Carrollwood (3-3, 1-3), 4 p.m.

The skinny: Being one of five teams with two district losses, the Panthers are in the thick of the playoff chase despite a slow start. That said, they need some help, and most importantly, need to win out if they want to make a run at their first-ever postseason berth.

Cardinal Mooney (3-3) at St. Petersburg Catholic (1-5)

The skinny: Running back Anthony Caiazzo broke a school record by rushing for 366 yards last week, though the Cougars may not need such an effort Friday: The Crusaders have yielded 191 points this season.

Dade Christian School (4-1) at Out-of-Door Academy (3-2), 6 p.m.

The skinny: It's Homecoming for the Thunder, as well as a rare week when they don't have to play a district opponent. But seeing as how three of its last four games come against Class 2A Urban-District 6 foes, ODA needs to stay sharp in this one.

BYE WEEK: Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Saint Stephen's.

Prep football: The Manatee County Mid-Season Lemmy Awards

2011-10-12T18:13:00.001-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)The 2011 prep football season is almost over? Really? Seems like this morning that I was scrambling to get all my work done for our prep football tab and booking my flight to Maryland for Manatee's season-opener against Our Lady of Good Counsel.
But he were are, on the doorstep of Week 7, with the playoffs (beginning Nov. 18) clearly in sight.
So here are the Mid-Season Lemmy Awards, voted on by me. Keep in mind these are just for fun and have no bearing on our All-Area Team, which is put together with input from the entire staff at The Bradenton Herald, as well as all the coaches in the area.
So here goes!

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Brian Poole, Southeast: Other guys have the numbers, but no one has meant more to his team than the Florida-bound Poole. He mans the defensive backfield, returns punts (sometimes for touchdowns), runs the ball, catches the ball and is now going to throw the ball some, too. Poole may be the best player in Manatee County - but there isn't any doubt he is the most valuable.
HONORABLE MENTION: Anthony Lauro, Manatee; Trent Miller, Palmetto; McKenzie Hathaway, Lakewood Ranch; Ryan Fischer, Braden River.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Dave Marino, Palmetto: You know what I like about Marino, aside from the fact that he's lead the Tigers to a 6-0 record and a 10-game regular-season winning streak? He wants his Tigers to earn respect. You want to join the same echelon as the Manatees and Southeasts of the world? OK - go out there and win. His Tigers are a confident but not a cocky bunch, and they have destroyed everything in their way. But Marino is a realist, and well aware that Palmetto's hot start won't mean much should it stumble against 5A-10 foes Wauchula Hardee and Southeast. That said, Marino is 12-5 at Palmetto, which looks smarter by the day for hiring a coach so many others passed up on.
HONORABLE MENTION: Joe Kinnan, Manatee; Paul Maechtle, Southeast.

GAME OF THE YEAR: Don Bosco Prep 22, Manatee 16, Sept. 16: Want to know why the Hurricanes are 3-2 but ranked nationally by Rivals and ESPN? It's because they gave the New Jersey-based Ironmen a Garden State-sized scare, when they lead Bosco, the nation's No. 1 team, by one (10-9) with less than seven minutes to go in the game. Of course, things didn't end up going Manatee's way, but the Hurricanes are 2-0 since, outscoring opponents 111-6 in those two wins.
HONORABLE MENTION: Bayshore 26, Lakewood Ranch 20, Sept. 16 (Bruins end 14-game losing streak against county foes).

LEMMY SAYS: I'm envisioning Lakewood Ranch, Manatee, Palmetto and Southeast making the playoffs, with the Hurricanes winning Class 7A-District 10 and the Tigers edging past the Seminoles to take the 5A-10 title.
Keep logging on to Prep Rally to see how right - or wrong - I will be.

Prep volleyball: 3A-10 bracket set

2011-10-11T22:36:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Thanks to Tuesday's dramatic 3-2 win over host Bradenton Christian, Tori Biach and the rest of Saint Stephen's volleyball team will take the No. 1 seed into the Class 3A-District 10 tournament, which begins in less than two weeks at Cardinal Mooney.

Rather than facing either second-seeded Mooney or third-seeded BCS, both of which have defeated them this season, the Falcons will play Out-of-Door Academy in the semifinals Tuesday, Oct. 25.

A win over the Thunder, who did not win a district game this season, sends Saint Stephen's into the district final as well as the Region 3 playoffs.

"I don't go in underestamating any team," said Falcons coach Shameka Walker. "According to (ODA's) seed, it does give us a smoother entry. Still, we're going to take that game very seriously...It does smooth out just a little bit, but still, we're going to take ODA very seriously."

The Cougars defeated the Falcons on Monday to finish 4-2 in district play and clinch the second seed. BCS, which was 3-3 in district play but did beat the Falcons during the semifinals of this year's county tournament, is the No. 3 seed.

Mooney and BCS will meet in the tournament's other semifinal.

The championship match will be played 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27. The top two finishers qualify for the Region 3 tournament, which gets underway Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Prep football: State rankings update

2011-10-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

(photo by tiffany tompkins-condie)

Southeast and its stellar sophomore running back, Courtney Allen, are one of three area teams ranked in the state.

Here is a look at how each team is sitting:

MANATEE: The Hurricanes climbed two spots to No. 6 in the AP's Class 7A state poll following their 63-0 win over Braden River on Friday during each team's District 10 opener. Manatee, which is also ranked nationally by Rivals (50th) and ESPNRise (34th), remained at No. 16 in the flavarsity.com Top 25. The Canes host Weston Cypress Bay this week. The Lightning (3-2) are a Class 8A team that reached last year's Class 6A state final four.

PALMETTO: At 6-0, the Tigers are the area's lone undefeated team, and they remained at No. 6 in Class 5A on the AP poll. Palmetto, unranked by flavarsity.com, is off this week, but begins a huge three-game stretch Oct. 21 against visiting Wauchula Hardee.

SOUTHEAST: Despite their 42-point loss to rival Manatee, the Seminoles are in good shape at 5-1 overall and 1-0 in Class 5A-District 10 following Friday's win over Arcadia DeSoto. Southeast, however, dropped a spot to No. 9 in the AP's Class 5A poll. The Noles have dropped off the flavarsity.com's top 25, but are on the bubble after receiving one vote. Southeast meets Riverview on Friday in a non-district game between the longtime rivals.

Prep football: Canes crack Rivals' top 50

2011-10-10T08:55:00.001-07:00

Manatee is doing some serious damage against Florida opponents. And Rivals has taken notice.

The Hurricanes are ranked 50th in the nation in the latest RivalsHigh 100, which was unveiled today, up 28 spots from last week.

It's the highest Rivals has ranked Manatee since it listed the Canes at No. 36 in its preseason poll.

Manatee is 3-2, but has outscored its Riverview, Southeast and Braden River 159-12. The Canes' two losses have come to New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep, which reclaimed the top spot this week, and Maryland's Our Lady of Good Counsel, ranked seventh by Rivals.

Both teams are undefeated.

Manatee hosts Weston Cyrpess Bay on Friday.

Prep volleyball: Big matches on tap this week

2011-10-09T17:25:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

We may be in the thick of football season, but a handful of are volleyball teams are playing key matches in Manatee County this week, including Kayla Armer and Manatee, which hosts Venice on Thursday.

Here is a glance at some of the matches.

MONDAY - Cardinal Mooney at Saint Stephen's: The Falcons are 15-6 and 4-0 in Class 3A-District 10 and will clinch the top seed in the district tournament with a win over the Cougars. Cardinal Mooney, which hosts the district tournament beginning Tuesday, Oc. 25, is in the running with BCS for the No. 2 seed.

TUESDAY - Saint Stephen's at Bradenton Christian: Time will tell if BCS, which enters the week 3-2 in district play, will still be in contention for the top spot when the Panthers host their rivals Tuesday. But even if the postseason bracket is already set, this match should mean something - the Falcons handed BCS its first loss of the season late last month, but the Panthers knocked off Saint Stephen's in the semifinals of the Manatee County tournament on Oct 1. And these two teams will probably meet again in the district final, so Tuesday's winner will gain a key mental edge.

THURSDAY - Venice at Manatee: The math is simple: whomever wins tonight takes the No. 1 seed into the Class 7A-District 10 tournament, as both teams will enter 4-0 in district play. The great Manatee teams of the past could never get by Venice, be it in the regular season, district final or regional playoffs. A win Tuesday would convince this year's Hurricanes that they can.

Prep football: Week 6 matchups

2011-10-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Shane Blair and Lakewood Ranch's massive offensive line may be 2-3, but the Mustangs are 1-0 in Class 6A-District 7, a mark the Mustangs look to improve Friday when they host district foe Tarpon Springs. In fact, all area teams in action Friday play district games, which is a first this season for Braden River, Cardinal Mooney, Manatee and Southeast.

Listed below are this week's games. As always, head to bradenton.com and The Bradenton Herald on Friday for detailed capsules on each game.

Bayshore (2-3, 0-1 5A-1o) at Palmetto (5-0, 1-0)

The skinny: You have to go back to a Week 2 win over Sarasota to find the last time the Tigers have given up a touchdown. Then again, their offense and special teams is humming along, too. Of course, this has trap game written all over it, as Palmetto is off next week before returning for a huge three-game stretch against Wauchula Hardee, Manatee and Southeast. Consequently, coach Dave Marino has been telling his kids all week to focus solely on the Bruins, who are averaging over 128 yards of rushing per week and always play the Tigers tough.

Braden River (1-4, 0-0 7A-10) at Manatee (2-2, 0-0)

The skinny: The Hurricanes made a heck of a statement last week when they beat rival Southeast by 42 points, the widest margin in the series' 30 games. Most importantly, they found a way to use RB Leon Allen: right through the tackles. Manatee has allowed 58 points this season, a number that could be lower had it not been for some special teams snafus against Don Bosco Prep. Braden River won its first game last week, but the Pirates' struggling offense needs to wake up in a hurry for them to be able to compete with Manatee.

Arcadia DeSoto (2-3, 0-1 5A-10) at Southeast (4-1, 0-0)

The skinny: Last week's lopsided loss to Manatee hurt, but the Seminoles can assuage some of that pain by getting the district schedule off to a solid start with a win this week over the Bulldogs. Lost in the final score was the work of RB Courtney Allen, who ran for 180 yards and leads the area in rushing (641). DeSoto, which has given up 101 points, was no match for Palmetto in its district opener two weeks ago.

Tarpon Springs (4-1, 1-0 6A-7) at Lakewood Ranch (2-3, 1-0)

The skinny: The Mustangs moved the ball during the first half last week against Palmetto before the Tigers' defense clamped down and secured its second shutout in a row. They should be able to get to the end zone against Tarpon Springs, which is given up 21 points a week. Then again, Lakewood Ranch better put some up numbers - Tarpon Springs has scored 174 points this season.

Lakeland Christian (3-2, 0-0 3A-6) at Cardinal Mooney (2-3, 0-0)

The skinny: Stopping Lakeland Christian means stopping its running back, T.J. Simmons, who has already racked up 806 yards of rushing. He has seven fumbles, though none since Week 2, so Simmons is prone to put the ball on the turf. This is the lone district home game for the Cougars, who have to travel to Fort Meade and Frostproof later this season.

Saint Stephen's (0-4, 0-3 Class 2A Urban-District 6) at Moore Haven (3-2, 1-2)

The skinny: The Falcons have a hard time against the run this season, which could be a detriment this week: Moore Haven's Markeis Hallback ran for 111 yards and three touchdowns last week against Southwest Florida Christian. Despite the poor record, the Falcons have a do-everything player in senior Adam Vining. Not only is he among the area leaders in receiving (20), but he has rushed for two touchdowns, booted six-extra points, and returned kickoffs.

BYE WEEK: Bradenton Christian, Out-of-Door Academy.

Prep football: Canes and Tigers climb, Noles fall in AP Poll

2011-10-03T15:31:00.001-07:00

Dave Marino's Palmetto Tigers and the Manatee Hurricanes have moved up in the latest Associated Press state football poll.

Southeast has moved down.

The Tigers, the area's only undefeated team t 5-0, is ranked sixth in Class 5A after debuting last week at No. 8. Palmetto beat Lakewood Ranch 27-0 on Friday and has recorded two straight shutouts heading into this week's District 10 game against Bayshore.

Manatee's 48-6 win over Southeast last week has vaulted the Hurricanes into a tie at No. 6 in Class 7A with Palm Beach Dwyer and Boyd Anderson. The Hurricanes (2-2) were ninth last week. They host Braden River on Friday in each team's District 10 opener.

Friday's loss was the first of the season for the Seminoles (4-1), but it was enough to send them from No. 3 to No. 8 in Class 5A. Southeast opens District 10 play Friday against visiting Arcadia DeSoto.

Prep Football: Week 6 Poll

2011-10-03T08:25:00.001-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Derrick Calloway and the Manatee Hurricanes had plenty of reason to smile following Friday's 48-6 win over rival Southeast.

But was the win enough to win your vote?

Southeast has been the people's choice the last two weeks: the Seminoles earned the most votes during last week's poll, and 53 percent of you picked them to beat Manatee.

So is Manatee the new No. 1? Maybe. But don't forget about Palmetto, which is 5-0 and hasn't had so much as a close game.

The Tigers, who blanked Lakewood Ranch 27-0 on Friday, have allowed three points in the last three weeks.

So look to the right and cast your vote.

Prep football: Canes rise in ESPN, Rivals rankings

2011-10-03T08:13:00.001-07:00

In the wake of Friday's 48-6 win over rival and previously undefeated Southeast, Manatee has jumped some spots in ESPNRISE's Powerade Fab 50 and the RivalsHigh 100.
The Canes moved from No. 37 to No. 35 on ESPN's list and hopped 11 spots to No. 78 on the Rivals rankings.
It helps that both of Manatee's losses have come to Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) and Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.). Bosco is ranked No. 1 by ESPN and No. 5 by Rivals, while Good Counsel is No. 8 on ESPN's poll and ranked 14th by Rivals.
Manatee lost to both by a combined 13 points.
The 2-2 Hurricanes open Class 7A-District 10 play Friday when they host Braden River.

Prep volleyball: BCS wins county tournament

2011-10-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Bradenton Christian won the Manatee County volleyball Saturday afternoon, defeating host Manatee 2-1 (25-22, 22-25, 15-10) in the finals.

It is the seventh county championship in 13 years for the Panthers, who improved to 14-3 overall and landed two players - Chynna Ratner and Abi Van Ostenbridge - on the all-tournament team.

Hurricanes setter Kayla Armer was named the tournament's most valuable player after totaling 70 assists. Manatee is now 13-3 on the season.

Here are the final standings:

1. Bradenton Christian

2. Manatee

3. Saint Stephen's

4. Braden River

5. Lakewood Ranch

6. Southeast

7. Palmetto

8. Bayshore

For more on the tournament, including the entire all-tournament team, head to bradenton.com later tonight or check out Sunday's print edition of The Bradenton Herald.

Prep football: Southeast-Manatee, the last five.

2011-09-30T09:13:00.001-07:00

(baynews9.com)

Southeast-Manatee, Part 30, kicks off in about seven hours.

Here is a look at the last five games of the epic series, which Manatee leads 15-14.

2010

When: Sept. 17

Where: John Kiker Memorial Stadium

The score: Manatee 31, Southeast 24

The story: The Hurricanes overcame a 24-7 deficit at the half thanks in part to RB Mike Blakely, who rushed for 150 yards and four touchdowns. Southeast's Brian Poole rushed for 136 yards before he began cramping, and Manatee DB Rhoshaun Goff's interception sealed the win with less than seven seconds remaining. Prior to the pick, a 48-yard reception by Southeast's Calvin Williams that put the ball on Manatee's 25 with a minute remaining was negated when a Noles' lineman was flagged with a personal foul penalty.

They said it: "We were embarassed, but the coaches reassured us that we're a good football team." - Manatee QB Cord Sandberg.

2009

When: Sept. 18

Where: Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium

The score: Manatee 30, Southeast 26

The story: Playing in his fourth and final Southeast-Manatee game, Canes QB Brion Carnes scored on a 4-yard run with less than four minutes left to clinch the win. The play was set up by another senior, linebacker Taylor Shipley, who recovered a Southeast fumble on the Noles' 29 with 5:29 left in the game. Carnes ran for two touchdowns, including one that cut Southeast's lead to 26-24 a minute before the fumble, and threw for two. His counterpart, Dyron Speight, threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns to help give Southeast a 20-14 lead at the half.

They said it: "Two good teams...Running up and down the field, having a good time on a Friday night. That's what high school football is all about." - Southeast coach Paul Maecthle.

2008

When: Sept. 19

Where: John Kiker Memorial Stadium

The score: Manatee 16, Southeast 14

The story: Chase Sandberg, a freshman at the time, kicked a 28-yard field goal with just over four minutes remaining to stretch the Hurricanes' lead to 16-7 and its series winning streak to two. It was a vindicating moment for Sandberg, who had missed a point-extra attempt earlier. Manatee was without star running back Ben Axon, who was suspended for a violation of team rules, but got 75 receiving yards from Eric Williams. Southeast's Waymon Bowden scored both of his team's touchdowns.

They said it: "Every year, and I came out here and watched this game and was like, 'Man, I wish I was out there,'" - Sandberg, who served as Manatee's ball boy when he was younger.

2007

When: Sept. 14

Where: Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium

The score: Manatee 28, Southeast 16

The story: The Hurricanes beat Southeast for the first time since 2003 and the second time since 1998, and it wasn't easy, as the Noles lead 16-0 after the first quarter and 16-7 at the half. But Manatee took advantage of an early second-half fumble and made the score 16-14 on Ben Axon's 2-yard run. Then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Manatee receiver Eric Williams turned a 5-yard hitch into a 56-yard touchdown, giving Manatee, which committed five turnovers, all the points it needed.

They said it: "I can't be more proud of the effort they gave in the second half." - Manatee coach Joe Kinnan, who had not defeated the Seminoles since 1998.

2006

When: Aug. 25

Where: John Kiker Memorial Stadium

The score: Southeast 28, Manatee 21

The story: The Seminoles jumped out to a quick 21-6 lead before the game was halted by rain and lightning with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter. The delay lasted over an hour, and when the teams returned, Manatee made it interesting before a Southeast sack sealed the victory for the home team.

They said it: "We were going to try and play it. That's the object. We needed to play." - Manatee coach Joe Kinnan.

Prep football: Week 5 matchups

2011-09-28T23:29:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Hard to believe, but the 2011 prep football season has already reached the midway point.

Listed below are the matchups, which includes Hershel Caywood, above, and the Manatee Hurricanes meeting Southeast.

As always, head to bradenton.com and the print edition of The Bradenton Herald on Friday for capsules and previews.

Southeast (4-0) at Manatee (1-2)

The skinny: Well, here we go again...the Noles and Canes mixing it up for the 3oth time. Manatee leads the series (15-14) but Southeast, which has won 10 straight regular-season games, is playing great football. The Canes played a couple of nationally-ranked opponents tough, losing by a combined 13 points. It should be epic. Again.

Lakewood Ranch (2-2) at Palmetto (4-0)

The skinny: Both teams are riding high after notching shutouts during last week's district openers, though the Tigers, who haven't allowed a touchdown in two weeks, are absolutely surging. The battle up front between the Mustangs' massive offensive line and Palmetto's quick and relentless front seven will help decide this one.

Fort Myers Cypress Lake (1-2) at Bayshore (2-2)

The skinny: Last week's loss to Wauchula Hardee put a dent in the Bruins' playoff hopes. But a win this week against the Panthers will give Bayshore some much-needed momentum heading into next Friday's must-win district game against Palmetto.

Braden River (0-4) at Port Charlotte (0-4)

The skinny: We know this much: the Pirates will win Friday. But will it be the ones from Manatee County or from Charlotte County? It is in Braden River's best interest to right the ship Friday - the local Pirates open Class 7A-District 10 play next week at Manatee.

St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep (1-3) at Saint Stephen's (0-3)

The skinny: The Falcons return home to Turner Fields for a 4 p.m. Homecoming meeting with the Chargers. A change of scenery can't hurt Saint Stephen's, which has allowed at least 34 points to all of their opponents this season.

Bradenton Christian (1-3, 1-2 Class 2A Urban-District 5) at St. Petersburg Canterbury (4-0, 3-0)

The skinny: The Panthers margin for error in the postseason hunt is so slim it's barely visible. Beating the Crusaders, however, who are averaging more than 40 points per week, will be tough.

Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (4-0, 2-0 Class 2A Urban-District 6) at Out-of-Door Academy (3-1, 2-1)

The skinny: Forget this being a possible district championship game: thanks to last week's loss to Neumann, the Thunder need to win just to stay in the postseason chase.

Cardinal Mooney (2-2) at Clearwater Central Catholic (3-1)

The skinny: The Cougars and Marauders continue their rivalry, though Mooney may be catching CCC at the wrong time: the Crusaders have outscored foes 82-13 during their current three-game winning streak.

Prep football: Three local teams on AP state poll

2011-09-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

(photo by Paul Videla)

Trent Miller and the surging Palmetto Tigers are a top-10 team.

The Tigers are ranked eighth in Class 5A in the latest Associated Press top 1o Florida high school poll, which was released tonight. It's Palmetto's first ranking this season.

The Tigers are 4-0 and ripped through Arcadia DeSoto, 52-0, during Friday's Class 5A-District 10 opener. They host Lakewood Ranch on Friday.

Twenty percent of the Class 5A list resides in Manatee County: Southeast held steady at No. 3, behind top-ranked Glades Central and runner-up Miami Norland, following Friday's 47-7 rout of Sarasota.

The Seminoles (4-0) head to Manatee on Friday.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they actually moved up a spot to No.9 in Class 7A despite not playing last week. They take a 1-2 record into Friday's rivalry game with the Noles.

Venice, one of Manatee's District 10 foes, entered the 7A poll at No. 10. The Indians are 3-0 following last week's comeback over Charlotte.

Prep football poll: Who wins Southeast-Manatee, Part 30?

2011-09-25T17:35:00.003-07:00

(photos by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Brian Poole or Cord Sandberg?

Paul Maecthle or Joe Kinnan?

Courtney Allen or Leon Allen?

Southeast and Manatee collide Friday for the 30th time at Hawkins Stadium, with the Hurricanes, winners of the last four meetings, leading the series 15-14.

But the 4-0 Noles are rolling while Manatee, which was off Friday, is 1-2 - though both losses have come to nationally-ranked opponents by a combined 13 points.

Who do you think wins this year's game? Look to the right on vote.

Most of you already like Southeast: 44 percent voted the Noles the area's best team in last week's poll.

So cast your vote today and head to Prep Rally and bradenton.com for features, previews and capsules heading into Friday's showdown.

And then check back with us Saturday morning to see how right - or wrong - you were.

Prep football: Southeast-Manatee will Bright House Game of the Week

2011-09-22T13:03:00.001-07:00

Next Friday's game between Southeast and host Manatee will be broadcast live on the Bright House Sports Network.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. It's the 30th meeting between the Hurricanes and Seminoles, and Manatee has won the last four meetings.

Southeast takes a 3-0 record into Friday's game against Sarasota, while Manatee is 1-2 and is off Friday.

Both of the Canes' losses have come to nationally-ranked teams - Our Lady of Good Counsel out of Maryland in Week 1, and Don Bosco Prep out of New Jersey last week.

Prep football: Week 4 matchups

2011-09-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

Bayshore running back Calvin Williams and the rest of the Bruins are one of three area public schools beginning district play this week. The Bruins host Wauchula Hardee, while Palmetto (Arcadia DeSoto) and Lakewood Ranch (Gulfport Boca Ciega) open the most important part of the schedule on the road.

Listed below are Friday's matchups. For more insight into each game, check out Friday's capsules on bradenton.com or in the print edition of The Bradenton Herald.

Wauchula Hardee (3-0, 0-0 Class 5A-District 10) at Bayshore (2-1, 0-0)

The skinny: Their losing streak against county schools may be a thing of the past, but the Bruins haven't reached the playoffs since 2005. Beating the white-hot Wildcats on Friday will be a step in the right direction, though that won't be easy: Hardee has allowed 20 points combined in three games this season.

Braden River (0-3) at Riverview (0-3)

The skinny: Someone will be off the schneid come Saturday morning, and if that someone is the Pirates, they will need to muster some offense - Braden River has scored 27 points this season and nine in the last two weeks. New Riverview coach Todd Johnson hasn't had it easy thus far - his first three regular-season opponents were Palmetto, Manatee and Venice.

Lakewood Ranch (1-2, 0-0 Class 6A-District 7) at Gulfport Boca Ciega (1-1, 0-0)

The skinny: This is a six-team district with no clear-cut favorite, so Friday would be a good time for the Mustangs to snap their modest two-game skid. They have found a viable back in McKenzie Hathaway, who is averaging 4.5 yards on 70 carries. The Pirates routed St. Petersburg Northeast last week, when they got a huge performance from lineback Elijah McClendon, who had two sacks and returned a fumble and an interception for a touchdown.

Palmetto (3-0, 0-0 Class 5A-District 10) at Arcadia DeSoto (1-2, 0-0)

The skinny: Beating a slate of bigger Sarasota County schools is nice, but what the Tigers really want is a district championship, which they haven't won since 2008. Their quest begins Friday against a Bulldogs team whose two losses have come by a combined three points.

Sarasota (1-2) at Southeast (3-0)

The skinny: Though not a district game, this is a key one for the Seminoles: they head to Manatee next week and open district play the following Friday against Arcadia DeSoto. So a strong showing against the Sailors would keep the momentum flowing for Southeast, which is currently riding a nine-game regular-season winning streak. The Sailors notched a win last week by rolling over North Port.

Largo Indian Rocks Christian (3-0, 2-0 Class 2A Urban-District 5) at Bradenton Christian (1-2, 1-1)

The skinny: We're still in September, but the Panthers can't afford to lose any more district games if they want to keep their postseason hopes intact. The surging Golden Eagles took to the air last week, when quarterback Casey Woods threw for four touchdowns against St. Petersburg Keswick.

Out-of-Door Academy (3-0, 2-0 Class 2A Urban-District 6) at Naples St. John Neumann (1-2, 1-1)

The skinny: The Thunder are rolling, and a win Friday night in Naples wouldn't just keep them ahead of the district pack, but it would put a serious crimp in the Celtics' playoff hopes. ODA needs to keep the momentum flowing - the Thunder don't play another non-district opponent until they meet Cardinal Mooney during the final week of the regular season. In other words, they have no margin for error.

Englewood Lemon Bay (2-1) at Cardinal Mooney (2-1)

The skinny: The Cougars are in a similar position as Southeast: they face a rival next week (Clearwater Central Catholic) and open district play the following week (at home against Lakeland Christian), so they need to keep their fiery start stoked. The Manta Rays and Cougars share a common opponent - both teams have already played and beat LaBelle - which is rare for non-district foes who aren't exactly neighbors.

BYE WEEK: Manatee, Saint Stephen's.

Prep volleyball: Saint Stephen's knocks off BCS

2011-09-20T17:48:00.001-07:00

Backed by a raucous crowd that included some football players with GO FALCONS! painted on their chests, Saint Stephen's volleyball team defeated Bradenton Christian 3-1 tonight at Hoagland Arena in a key Class 3A-District 10 game.
The Falcons are now 8-3 overall and 3-0 in the district. They are now lead the four-team league that also includes Cardinal Mooney and Out-of-Door Academy.
It was the first loss of the year for the Panthers, who are now 7-1 overall and 2-1 in district.
The teams meet again 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Oct. 11 at Bradenton Christian.
For more on this game, head to bradenton.com later tonight or check out Wednesday's printed edition of The Bradenton Herald.

Prep football: Southeast vaults past Manatee in Florida state poll

2011-09-20T12:23:00.001-07:00

Southeast's 3-0 start has not gone unnoticed by the folks running the FlaVarsity Top 25 all-classification poll.

The Seminoles jumped two spots to No. 16 following Friday's win over Booker. They play Sarasota on Friday before heading to Hawkins Stadium next week to meet Manatee.

As for the Hurricanes, they fell three spots to No. 18 after losing 22-16 to Don Bosco Prep out of New Jersey. Manatee (1-2) is the only two-loss team in the top 25 thanks in part to its tough schedule: aside from Friday's close loss to the Ironmen, winners of 37 straight, the Hurricanes opened the regular season with a double-overtime loss to nationally-ranked Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, Md.

"Not many teams have lost to two nationally-ranked powers by a combined 13 points," the poll reads.

Manatee is off Friday.

Prep football: Week 4 poll

2011-09-19T10:21:00.001-07:00

Over 55 percent of you last week picked Manatee as the area's top football team. Will the Hurricanes repeat as the people's choice, or will Paul Maechtle's 3-0 Seminoles, Dave Marino's 3-0 Tigers or Brett Timmons' 3-0 Thunder kick Joe Kinnan and Co. from the top spot?

Or maybe it's 2-1 Bayshore, which defeated Lakewood Ranch on Friday to snap a 14-game skid against county teams.

Once again, it's up to you. Look the right and vote.

Poll is open until Friday morning.

Prep football: Bosco no longer Rivals' top team

2011-09-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

Don Bosco Prep may have left Hawkins Stadium on Friday and returned to New Jersey with its winning streak still intact. But the Ironmen are no longer sitting atop the RivalsHigh100.

Bosco, which defeated Manatee 22-16 during the first game of Friday's Manatee Memorial Hospital Suncoast Challenge for its 37th-straight win, is now fifth in Rivals' latest rankings, which were unveiled this morning.

Allen High in Allen, Tx., is the new No.1.

"A game of tough sledding against Manatee last Friday proved enough evidence to move the team down," wrote Dallas Jackson, Rivals' senior analyst for high school sports, on Monday's rankings, "especially in a year when so many top schools have more impressive road wins."

Manatee led the Ironmen 10-9 with less than seven minutes remaining in the game.

The Hurricanes dropped three spots on Rivals' list and are now at No. 83 heading into the bye week.

When it came to Bosco, however, not everyone had a change of heart. The Ironmen are still No. 1 on ESPNRise's Powerade Fab 50 football rankings as well as MaxPreps' Xcellent 25.

Manatee is still ranked by ESPN, having dropped 20 spots to No. 39. And it appears the voters have taken Manatee's schedule into account: the Hurricanes are the only team on the list with two losses.

Prep football: Things don't get that much easier for Hurricanes

2011-09-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

While the Hurricanes may not see the likes of Our Lady of Good Counsel or Don Bosco Prep during the rest of their regular season, their remaining schedule isn't exactly a cakewalk.

Manatee is off Friday, but returns Sept. 30 to host rival Southeast, which takes a 3-0 record into next week's non-district game against Sarasota.

After a Class 7A-District 10 opener with Braden River on Oct. 7, the Canes host Class 8A Weston Cypress Bay (Oct. 14), which played into last year's Class 6A state semifinals, and rival Venice (Oct. 21) in a game that will probably determine the District 10 title.

The one caveat is Manatee doesn't travel too far from the friendly confines of Hawkins Stadium: the Canes' next four games are home. And when they do hit the road, the Hurricanes' longest ride will be a Nov. 4 trip to Sarasota High.

Manatee 7, Don Bosco 6 at halftime

2011-09-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

Manatee leads Don Bosco Prep, the nation's No. 1 team, 7-6 at halftime, and gets the ball to open the second half.
The Ironmen scored first on Jabril Peppers' 31-yard touchdown run with :23.4 left in the first quarter. The play was set up when Bosco used a fake punt, getting the ball to the Canes' 31.
The Canes took the lead with 10:05 left in the second when Anthony Lauro scored on an 8-yard reverse, which was aided by Shawn Wilkes' crushing block.
Lauro has having another big night - six catches for 59 yards, and four carries for 13.
Manatee's defense has been big, too, turning the Ironmen away on a 4th-and-10 from the Canes' 42-yard line.
Will the Canes hold and snap Bosco's 36-game winning streak?
Follow me on Twitter @JohnLembo1878 and find out.

Prep football: Getting know to Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic

2011-09-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Bergen Catholic's Nunzio Campanile, left, and Don Bosco Prep's Greg Toal lead their teams into Hawkins Stadium tonight for the Manatee Memorial Hospital Suncoast Challenge.

Both teams are based out of New Jersey. Campanile's Crusaders face Tampa Plant at 8:30 p.m. after Toal's Ironmen meet Manatee at 6 p.m.

Here is a look at the Garden State powers, who have combined to win 29 state championships.

DON BOSCO PREP IRONMEN

Hometown: Ramsey, N.J., located less than 30 miles from Manhattan.

Enrollment: 900

Coach: Greg Toal, 133-10 in 13 seasons at Bosco; 259-32-2 overall.

This year's record: 1-0

Last year: The Ironmen went 12-0 and romped to their fifth straight Non-Public Group IV state title, which they clinched by beating Bergen Catholic 37-27 in the title game. The 10-point spread was Bosco's smallest margin of victory last season, as the Ironmen limited eight opponents to seven points or less. Bosco is ranked No. 1 in the nation by ESPN, USA Today, MaxPreps and Rivals, and was named the 2009 prep national champion.

Keep your eye on: Leonte Carroo, sr., WR; Darius Hamilton, sr., DL; Yuri Wright, sr., CB; Elijah Shumante, sr., SS; Michael Strizak, sr., LB; Jabril Peppers, so., DB.

Of note: The Ironmen have won 36 straight games, including Saturday's 35-7 rout of Mission Viejo, Calif....Hamilton's father, Keith, was a defensive lineman with the New York Giants and a member of their 2000 NFC championship team...Toal's son Brian was named the Big East's Rookie of the Year in 2004 while at Boston College...Greg Toal served as an assistant at Bergen Catholic in 1976-77 and made his head-coaching debut in 1982 with Saddle Brook High.

BERGEN CATHOLIC CRUSADERS

Hometown: Oradell, N.J., 15 miles from Manhattan.

Enrollment: 750

Coach: Nunzio Campanile, 11-2 in two seasons at Bergen Catholic.

This year's record: 1-0

Last year: The Crusaders came one win shy of their first state tile since 2004, falling to Bosco in the Non-Public Group IV championship game. In fact, both of Bergen's losses came to the rival Ironmen, though the state final (37-27) was a lot closer than the teams' regular-season meeting (38-18). Those 18 points were the fewest Bergen scored all season.

Keep your eye on: Chucky Wingate, sr., WR; John Tsimis, jr., WR; Hunter Kisselick, sr., DL; Michael Gerst, sr., RB.

Of note: Campanile served as Bosco Prep's offensive coordinator for 10 years and also worked as the school's wrestling coach and athletic director before taking over the Crusaders. He led Bosco's wrestling team to a state title in 2010...The Crusaders' ruled New Jersey football in the 1990s, winning 99 games and seven state championships...Bergen Catholic entered this season with an all-time record of 365-130-12...The Crusaders have won at least two state titles in every decade since the 1960s.

Prep football: Week 3 matchups

2011-09-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Courtney Allen and the Southeast Seminoles look to stay undefeated Friday when they head to Sarasota to face Booker.

Here is a look at this week's games. For more on each matchup, check out Friday's capsules on bradenton.com and The Bradenton Herald.

Don Bosco Prep (1-0) at Manatee (1-1)

The skinny: You may have heard a little something about this one, which begins at 6 p.m. and kicks off the Manatee Memorial Hospital Suncoast Challenge. Jersey-based Bosco Prep sits on top of nearly every national poll, especially in the wake of Saturday's statement-making 35-7 win over powerful Mission Viejo, Calif. The Hurricanes showed no ill effects of their Week 1 loss in Maryland by pummeling Riverview last week and could get back on the national radar with a strong showing against the Ironmen.

Game 2 pits Tampa Plant against Bergen Catholic, another Jersey powerhouse, at 8:30 p.m.

Lakewood Ranch (1-1) at Bayshore (1-1)

The skinny: Both teams should come out on the field to Springsteen's "Born to Run," because you won't see much passing Friday at Balvanz Stadium. Lakewood Ranch has the size, though the Bruins showed some speed in last week's 34-point pasting of Port Charlotte. Will it be enough for Bayshore to beat a county team for the first time since 2007, or will the Mustangs be able to bounce back from Friday's loss to Southeast?

Palmetto (2-0) at Braden River (0-2)

The skinny: The Pirates' offense sputtered last week after quarterback Steven Ross hurt his ankle late in the first half and never returned, and things don't get much easier this week against a Palmetto defense bursting with speed, size and experience. But don't sleep on the Tigers' offense - yeah, they can run (see: Josh Hicks), but quarterback Trent Miller's big game last week at Sarasota let everyone know they can pass, too.

Southeast (2-0) at Booker (0-2)

The skinny: The Seminoles may have been outsized last week against Lakewood Ranch, but that didn't stop them from scoring 33 points thanks in part to Courtney Allen's 188 rushing yards. Southeast should thrive again Friday against a Booker team that yielded 63 points last Friday to Venice.

Tampa Cambridge (1-1, 0-1 Class 2A Urban-District 5) at Bradenton Christian (1-1, 1-0)

The skinny: The Panthers have scored 90 points in two weeks and have found a bona fide back in Avian Humphrey (389 rushing yards), who scored six touchdowns last week against Northside Christian. And first-year quarterback Ryan Cobb (378 passing yards, 146 rushing, 7 total touchdowns) has adapted well to running an offense. But BCS' defense will need to clamp down on a Cambridge team that has scored 97 points in two weeks.

Southwest Florida Christian (1-0, 0-0 Class 2A Urban-District 6) at Saint Stephen's (0-2, 0-2)

The skinny: The young Falcons went into halftime tied last week with Naples First Baptist before things slipped away in the second half, and they have had a hard time against the run thus far. But receiver Adam Vining (10 catches) has made a fine target for quarterback Michael Roberts, and Saint Stephen's may be more accustomed to playing under the lights at Palma Sola Park than they were last week. The Kings, who were off last week, blasted Central Florida Christian Academy (51-0) in Week 1.

Moore Haven (2-0, 1-0 Class 2A Urban-District 6) at Out-of-Door Academy (2-0, 1-0)

The skinny: ODA coach Brett Timmons continues to work his magic with the Thunder, one of three undefeated teams in the area. Now they are locked in a key game against the Terriers. A key game in Week 3? Welcome to life in an eight-team district, where nearly every game counts.

Cardinal Mooney (1-1) at Lake Placid (1-1)

The skinny: It may seem like a long ride for a non-district game, but the Cougars need to get used to it: they play on the road this season against Class 3A-District 6 foes Fort Meade and Frostproof. Win or lose, playing the Dragons on Friday could pay dividends for Cardinal Mooney later this fall.

Prep football: Rankings update

2011-09-13T06:16:00.001-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Cord Sandberg and the Manatee Hurricanes are on the move in the always-interesting world of prep football polls.

The Canes went up on the Powerade Fab 50 ESPNHS Team Rankings, moving from No. 24 to No. 19 following their 48-6 romp over Riverview. The folks at the RivalsHigh 100 saw things a bit differently, however, bumping Manatee down a spot to No. 80.

On the state level, Class 7A Manatee remained at No. 8 in the Associated Press high school poll and No. 4 in the latest Floridahsfootball.com rankings. The Canes did fall in Rivals' Florida rankings, slipping from No. 8 to No. 15.

Meanwhile, Floridahsfootball.com kept 2-0 Southeast No. 3 in Class 5A while Palmetto (2-0), unranked in last week's poll, is now No. 16 in the same classification.

The Seminoles moved from No. 25 to No. 21 in Rivals' state poll and moved from No. 4 to No. 3 in the AP Poll.

Though Palmetto didn't crack the Associated Press' top 10, the Tigers received eight votes.

Got all that?

Prep football: Which is the best team in the area? You tell me.

2011-09-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

A new poll is up here at Prep Rally, and it's pretty basic: pick the best football team in area heading into Week 3.
Is it Palmetto and coach Dave Marino, pictured above, which is 2-0 after convincing wins over Riverview and Sarasota? Or maybe it's Southeast, also 2-0 following Friday's win against Lakewood Ranch.
Or maybe it's Manatee, which nearly beat nationally-ranked Our Lady of Good Counsel on the road two weeks ago and ran all over the Rams on Friday night.
It can be any of the 10 teams in our coverage area. It's up to you.

Prep football: Bosco routs Mission Viejo, heads to Bradenton with 36-game winning streak

2011-09-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Don Bosco Prep and its coach, Greg Toal, pictured above right, had little trouble in its regular-season opener Saturday, beating Mission Viejo, Calif. 35-7.
It's the 36th win in a row for the Ironmen, who head to Hawkins Stadium to play Manatee on Friday and are ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, ESPNRise and MaxPreps.
Misson Viejo (1-1) entered the game ranked sixth in the county by ESPN and fourth in the West by USA Today's Super 25 regional rankings.
The Hurricanes (1-1) and Ironmen play at 6 p.m. to kick off the Manatee Memorial Hospital Suncoast Challenge.
Tampa Plant and Bergen Catholic (N.J.) will play Game 2 beginning at 8:30 p.m.
The last time the nation's top-ranked team came to Hawkins Stadium was December 2009, when Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas played Manatee in a Class 5A state semifinal.
Manatee ended Aquinas' 37-game winning streak with a 28-20 win.

Prep rally: Canes' Tankersley returns to form

2011-09-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Manatee kicker Nick Tankersley was one of several Hurricanes who had a big night during Fridy's 48-6 win over Riverview.
Tankersley's performance, however,may have been the most reassuring of all.
He converted all six extra-point attempts, nailed field goals of 36 and 42 yards and sent all eight of his kickoffs in the end zone.
This came a week after he went 1-for-5 on field-goal attempts in a 24-17 double-overtime loss to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Yet Tankersley's final line doesn't tell all of the story from last Friday: two of his misses were from over 50 yards (51 and 53), and the 28-yarder he made in overtime was wiped away when Manatee was penalized for a false start.
And his making of a 28-yarder with just over three seconds left in the fourth quarter sent the game to overtime.
Yet Friday's game against the Rams was vintage Tankersley.
"He needed something to get his confidence back this week. Last week, he didn't have a good game," said coach Joe Kinnan. "But that's behind us, and we've got to move on."
The Canes know what they have in Tankersley, who totaled 72 points and 43 touchbacks last season while averaging 38.6 yards per punt. He has caught the eye of numerous Division I programs.
Nonetheless, Friday night was a good sign that Tankersley is back to his reliable self.

Prep football: Manatee 38, Riverview 0 at halftime

2011-09-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

It's all Manatee here at Hawkins Stadium, where Manatee leads Riverview 38-0 at the half.
The Hurricanes' offense has been paced by RB/WR Anthony Lauro (128 rushing, 48 receiving, 2 TDs), QB Cord Sandberg (110 passing yards, 71 rushing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD) and RB Leon Allen (36 rushing yards, 2 TDs).
But Manatee's defense has been absolutely stingy, limiting Riverview to 89 total yards. Blake Keller has 1.5 sacks, Marquis Dawsey has 1 sack and Clinton Heaven picked off a pass from Rams' QB Tater Williams with 37.5 seconds left in the half and Riverview going in from the Canes' 2.

Prep football: Canes all over Rams

2011-09-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

Manatee is all over Riverview, as the Hurricanes lead 24-0 early in the second quarter.
Manatee's Anthony Lauro has 108 yards rushing, 25 yards recieving and a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, the Hurricanes have forced four Rams punts in four possessions. Riverview has yet to cross 30.

Prep football: Week 2 matchups

2011-09-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Leon Gilbert and the Palmetto Tigers hope to further their hot streak when they head to Sarasota on Friday for Week 2 of the regular season.

Listed below are Friday's games. For more on each game, check out the capsules Friday on bradenton.com or in Friday's edition of The Bradenton Herald.

SOUTHEAST (1-0) at LAKEWOOD RANCH (1-0)

The skinny: It's the Seminoles' speed against the Mustangs' size in this week's only all-area matchup.

RIVERVIEW (o-1) at MANATEE (0-1)

The skinny: The Hurricanes are looking to bounce back from last week's maddening loss in Maryland while the Rams are looking to win their first regular-season game under new coach Todd Johnson.

PALMETTO (1-0) at SARASOTA (1-0)

Tke skinny: First came Venice in the Kickoff Classic. Then it was Riverview in Friday's season-opener. Now the Tigers set their sights on another Sarasota County school. This time, however, they'll have to do it away from the cozy confines of Harllee Stadium.

BRADEN RIVER (0-1) at NORTH PORT (0-1)

The skinny: The Pirates had no answer for a Lakewood Ranch ground game that racked up 230 yards. But Braden River did throw for 190 yards.

BAYSHORE (0-1) AT PORT CHARLOTTE (0-1)

The skinny: The run-first Bruins will need to get more from their backfield than they did in last week's loss to Tampa Catholic. The Pirates, who gave up 306 rushing yards to Golden Gate on Friday, may give Bayshore plenty of chances to do so.

FORT MYERS BISHOP VEROT (0-1) at CARDINAL MOONEY (1-0)

The skinny: Sean McAdams' arm and Anthony Caiazzo's legs were too much last week for LaBelle, and they may not run into much resistance against a Verot team that allowed 267 rushing yards to Mariner.

NAPLES COMMUNITY SCHOOL (0-1, 0-1 Class 2AUrban-District6) AT OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY (1-0, 0-0)

The skinny: The Thunder head right into district play, hoping the pass-and-catch tandem of Evan Wilson and Brian Ragone find more success. Community School lost 41-7 on Friday to Evangelical, giving up two touchdowns on special teams and another on an offensive fumble.

BRADENTON CHRISTIAN (0-1, 0-0 CLASS2AUrban-District5) at ST. PETERSBURG NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN (0-1, 0-0)

The skinny: It's the league opener for both teams, but it's a huge game for the Panthers, who have come within a game of reaching the playoffs the past three years. Northside fell 17-0 on Friday to Shorecest Prep.

NAPLES FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY (0-1, 0-1 CLASS 2AURBAN-DISTRICT 6) at SAINT STEPHEN'S (0-1, 0-1)

The skinny: It's the first of four Falcons' night games at Palma Sola Park as they continually try to build enthusiasm for the program. Quarterback Michael Roberts, however, may do that himself, especially after he ran for 105 yards and threw for 78 last week. Naples First Baptist lead Moore Haven by 10 at halftime, but allowed a kickoff return and punt return for a touchdown en route to a 41-31 loss. It may be early, but the losing team will have a hard time making the playoffs.

Prep football: Noles rise, Canes fall in latest AP Poll

2011-09-06T16:08:00.001-07:00

Southeast and Manatee went in different directions in the latest Associated Press Top 10 Florida high school poll, which was released Tuesday.

The Seminoles moved up to No. 4 in Class 5A following Thursday's 21-13 win over Largo. Glades Central is ranked No.1, earning 15 of 16 first-place votes.

The Class 7A Hurricanes dropped five spots to No. 8 following their 24-17 loss to Our Lady of Good Counsel on Friday in double overtime.

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, which beat Manatee in the Class 5A state semifinals en route to winning a state title last year, is the unanimous No.1, having earned all 16 first-place votes.

Prep football: Canes still ranked despite loss

2011-09-06T13:13:00.001-07:00

A double-overtime loss at Our Lady of Good Counsel last week wasn't enough to knock Manatee out of this week's PowerAde Fab 50 ESPNHS rankings or the RivalsHigh 100.
The Canes fell to No. 24 on ESPN'S list after opening the regular season at No. 8. Good Counsel moved up eight spots to No. 11.
Manatee fell three spots in the RivalsHigh countdown, landing at N0. 79.
"Manatee fans may blame a bad spot for its 24-17 loss," wrote the folks at Rivals. "But the team had chances to win and didn't."
Rivals had the Hurricanes at No. 36 entering the season, but dropped them following a 20-14 win against Delray Beach American Heritage in a Kickoff Classic.
Good Counsel moved up from No. 28 to 27 on Rivals' rankings.
Manatee hosts Riverview this week.

Prep football: What others are saying about Manatee-Good Counsel

2011-09-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

(photo by Preston Keres)

Friday's game between Manatee and host Our Lady Good Counsel brought out over 4,000 fans and tons of media to Kline Stadium.

USA Today wrote how the game's final spot was "right on the 25-yard line", while Good Counsel coach Bob Milloy told The Washington Post he was "very sorry" the game ended the way that it did. Milloy added that the Falcons' all-world receiver, Stefon Diggs, called the play that resulted in Good Counsel's game-winning touchdown that sealed a 24-17 victory in double overtime.

Prep football: Saturday morning in Laurel

2011-09-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

OK, so I snapped this photo Friday night at Dancel Field. But I still get a kick out of seeing fresh fruit served at a prep football game. And for just $1!

Anyway, it's about 8:40 a.m., and the Hurricanes are heading back to their rooms after having breakfast. They are heading out at about 9:30 a.m. to take a tour of Washington, D.C., which according to MapQuest, is less than 30 miles from the hotel in Laurel.

Their flight back is slated to leave Baltimore-Washington International Airport at 3:30 and land in Tampa at 5:45.

Curious to see where Mantee sits in the national rankings following Friday's game. The Hurricanes dropped 39 spots in the RivalsHigh 100 after WINNING their Kickoff Classic against Delray Beach American Heritage, so even though they took a tough national power to double overtime on the road, don't be surprised to see them unranked in some polls heading into next Friday's game with Riverview.