Prep football: Southeast-Manatee, the last five.

(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

(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

(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?

(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

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

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

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.