Prep football: Manatee holds steady in national rankings

photo by Tom O'Neill
Blake Keller's Manatee Hurricanes are No.1 in three national polls

Manatee is still the one in three national polls and second-best in another.
The Hurricanes, who ran their record to 8-0 following Friday's 62-0 win over Palmetto, remained No.1 in the nation in the eyes of ESPN, MaxPreps and USA Today.
Manatee is still ranked No.2 in the RivalsHigh 100 behind Louisiana's John Curtis.
The Canes look to lock up the Class 7A-District 10 crown Friday night at home against Sarasota.

Prep football: Tickets available for Southeast-Palmetto game

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie
Quarterback Myles Braxton-Johnson leads Southeast into Palmetto on Friday with the Class 5A-District 10 title on the line.

Tickets for Friday's game between Southeast and Palmetto are available at both schools.
The cost is $6.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Harllee Stadium. The Seminoles and Tigers have already clinched playoff berths, but Friday's game will decide the Class 5A-District 10 champion.
Friday marks Southeast's last regular-season game of the year as the Noles are on a bye during Week 11. Palmetto closes the regular season Nov. 9 against visiting Ocala Trinity Catholic.

Prep volleyball: Manatee headed to Stuart Martin County



photo by Paul Videla
Manatee opens the regional playoffs against the defending Class 7A state champion

 It took a few days, but the Hurricanes know where they are headed  Wednesday.
Manatee opens the Class 7A-Region 3 tournament at Stuart Martin County, who beat Okeechobee for the District 12 title Monday night.
The Martin County-Okeechobee game was scheduled for last Thursday but postponed because of Hurricane Sandy.
This marks Martin County's 23rd straight regional tournament berth and won the Class 7A state title last season over Winter Springs.
The Hurricanes are back in the regional playoffs for the first time in four years after falling to Venice 3-2 in the District 11 final.

Prep football: Manatee stays at No.1, Palmetto falls in latest AP Poll



photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie
Cord Sandberg and the Manatee Hurricanes are still No.1 in Class 7A

 Manatee's 62-0 win over Palmetto on Friday had an expected effect on The Associated Press state football poll.
The 8-0 Hurricanes stayed at No.1 in Class 7A, though Jacksonville First Coast did snag one first-place vote. Manatee beat First Coast in last year's state final.
Palmetto (7-1) lost its stronghold at No.1, falling to No.6, though the Tigers did receive one first-place vote.
They began the season ranked third.
Wakulla is the new No.1 in 5A.
Southeast received seven votes at Class 5A. The Seminoles head to Palmetto on Friday in a game that will decide the District 10 title.
Manatee will look to lock up the Class 7A-District 10 championship at home against Sarasota.

Prep cross country: District meets this week



photo by Timothy R. Wolfrum
County champion Katie Wray and the Mustangs will be in Estero on Friday morning

 The cross country postseason gets underway this week. Listed below is where each othe area's teams will be competing.

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 7
Where: Lithia Newsome
When: 4:30 p.m. Thursday
Locals: Manatee
Rest of field: Lithia Newsome, Plant City Durant, Nort Port, Riverview (Sarasota), Riverview.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 11
Where: Estero Community Park
When: 8 a.m. Friday
Locals: Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto
Rest of field: Cape Coral Island Coast, Estero, Fort Myers Cypress Lake, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda Charlotte, Venice.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 9
Where: Dover Horse Trails, Dover
When:  2 p.m. Tuesday
Locals: Bayshore
Rest of field: Brandon, Dover Strawberry Crest, Gibsontown East Bay, Ruskin Lennard, Seffner Armwood.

CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 10
Where: Oscar Scherer State Park
When:  10 a.m. Friday
Locals: Southeast
Rest of field: Arcaida DeSoto, Booker, Lehigh Acres Lehigh, Riverview Spoto, St. Petersburg Lakewood, Wauchula Hardee.

CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 10
Where: Taylor Park, St. Petersburg
When: 9:30 a.m. Friday
Locals: Cardinal Mooney, Out-of-Door Academy, Saint Stephen's
Rest of field: St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut, St. Petersburg Canterbury, St. Petersburg Catholic, St. Petersburg Keswick Christian, St. Petersburg Northside Christian, St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep, Sarasota Christian.

Prep football: A look at Manatee's county winning streak

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie
Quarterback Cord Sandberg was still in grade school the last time Manatee lost to a county team

Manatee ran its county winning streak to 23 following Friday's 62-0 win over Palmetto, a span that stretches back to 2006. The Hurricanes last loss to a local came on Aug. 25 of that year, when they fell to Southeast 28-21 during a weather-delayed game at John Kiker Memorial Stadium.
Here is a look at Manatee's county wins since. The Hurricanes host Sarasota in a Class 7A-District 10 game Friday but close out the regular season Nov. 2 against another county team, Lakewood Ranch.

2006
9/15 - Manatee 21, Lakewood Ranch 7
2007
8/31 - Manatee 35, Bayshore 6
9/14 - Manatee 28, Southeast 16
11/2 - Manatee 24, Lakewood Ranch 7
2008
9/5 -   Manatee 35, Bayshore 0
9/19 - Manatee 16, Southeast 14
11/7 - Manatee 41, Lakewood Ranch 13
2009
9/4  -   Manatee 45, Bayshore 0
9/11 - Manatee 35, Palmetto 3
9/18 - Manatee 30, Southeast 26
10/2 - Manatee 35, Lakewood Ranch 14
10/16 - Manatee 14, Braden River 7
2010
9/10 - Manatee 56, Palmetto 36
9/18 - Manatee 31, Southeast 24
10/1 - Manatee 34, Lakewood Ranch 7
10/15 - Manatee 24, Braden River 7
2011
9/30 - Manatee 48, Southeast 6
10/7 - Manatee 63, Braden River 0
10/28 - Manatee 29, Palmetto 26
11/11 - Manatee 38, Lakewood Ranch 7
2012
9/28 - Manatee 52, Southeast 13
10/5 - Manatee 56, Braden River 0
10/26 - Manatee 62, Palmetto 0
11/2 - Lakewood Ranch at Manatee, 7:30 p.m.

Prep volleyball: Regional pairings. Well, almost.



photo by Paul Videla
Tori Biach and the Saint Stephen's Falcons open the Class 3A-Region 3 playoffs at home

 Listed below are the pairings for the regional volleyball tournament, which gets underway Tuesday and Wednesday.
All matches begin at 7 p.m.
Manatee is still awaiting an opponent. The Hurricanes fell in five to Venice during Thursday's Class 7A-District 11 final and will travel to the District 12 champion, either Stuart Martin County or Okeechobee, on Wednesday.
But the District 12 final was postponed Thursday because of Hurricane Sandy and a make-up date hasn't been announced.
Tuesday and Wednesday's winners advance to the semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 6.

TUESDAY
CLASS 6A-REGION 3
Dover Strawberry Crest at Lakewood Ranch
WEDNESDAY
CLASS 7A-REGION 3
Manatee at Stuart Martin County/Okeechobee winner
CLASS 3A-REGION 3
Clearwater Calvary Christian at Saint Stephen's
Out-of-Door Academy at Clearwater Central Catholic