Prep football: Southeast vaults past Manatee in Florida state poll

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: Canes still ranked despite loss

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: Manatee's Week 1 opponent ranked 54th in nation

(photo from washingtonpost.com)Our Lady of Good Counsel, which plays host to Manatee on Sept. 2 in Olney, Md., is ranked 54th on the RivalsHigh 100 countdown.
Led by receiver Stefon Diggs, No. 7 in the picture above, the Falcons jumped 29 spots after finishing last year ranked No. 83 by Rivals.
According to the Rivals' write-up, Good Counsel features 15 players with Division I offers, including Diggs, who is being courted by over 30 schools. The 6-foot-1 senior earned a five-star ranking from Rivals, which also lists him second in the nation among receivers graduating in 2012.
The Falcons went 10-2 last season.
Rivals began unveiling its rankings 10 per day July 25, and will list 50-46 and 45-41 today.
No area schools have cracked the list yet.

Blakely a maybe against Braden River

Manatee coach Joe Kinnan said Mike Blakely's availability will be a game-time decision for the Hurricanes' game at Braden River on Friday.
One of the most highly-touted running backs in the nation, Blakely rolled his ankle in the first quarter last week against Sarasota and was limited to two carries and two receptions - though he did score a touchdown in the Hurricanes' 45-10 win.
Kinnan's caution makes sense. While Manatee wants to keep its perfect season intact, the team also needs Blakely healthy for the next two weeks against Class 5A-District 10 foes Riverview and Venice.
Manatee has not won a district title since 2006, but advanced to the state title game last year after clinching the district's No.2 seed.
In Blakely's absence last week, quarterback Cord Sandberg rushed for 89 yards, and Manatee also got 21 yards on seven carries from Antonio Agurs.
Kinnan said defensive back Clinton Heaven (jaw) and receiver Anthony Lauro (knee) are out this week, but junior strong safety Hershel Caywood, who had 10 tackles, a sack and recorded a safety in Manatee's first two games, practiced this week.

Manatee 19th in ESPN Rise Fab 50

Manatee has been ranked 19th in ESPN Rise's Preseason Fab 50.
Its opponent for Aug. 27th's preseason classic, Tampa Plant, is ranked second.
The Manatee-Plant game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN from Hawkins Stadium, is part of the network's new ESPN Rise High School Football Kickoff. Aside from Bradenton, games will be broadcast live from Texas, Ohio, South Carolina and California.
Manatee running back Mike Blakely is ranked 116th in ESPNU's ranking of the nation's 150 best recruits. Plant linebacker and running back James Wilder Jr. is eighth.