Hurricanes looking for quick bounce back

Those who think Manatee's football team has little left to play for during its last two games is sorely mistaken.
Coach Joe Kinnan wants his Hurricanes to close the season with wins over North Port and Booker and take some momentum into the Class 5A-Region 3 playoffs, which begins Friday, Nov. 20 when the Canes head to St. Petersburg Gibbs.
"We have to rebound," Kinnan said, "and end the regular season 9-1."
Manatee (7-1) lost to Venice on Friday, costing the team a chance to win its first district title since 2006. The Hurricanes, however, will head to the postseason with the district's second seed.
They visit North Port on Friday for their final District 10 game of the season before traveling to Sarasota next week to face Booker.
Regardless of how they play the next two weeks, the Hurricanes can get a rematch with Venice in a regional semifinal if both teams win their first round games. That game would be played Nov. 20 at Venice.
"It's not often in sports that you get a second chance," Kinnan said."And right now, we possibly could get a second chance."
Kinnan said he hopes to get senior defensive back Travon Montgomery into the next two games in order to get him ready for the playoffs.
Montgomery has appeared in four games for Manatee, totaling six tackles and an interception. He didn't play varsity football last season.
"It's tough (to evaluate) a player when he doesn't play as a junior or a sophomore," Kinnan said.