(Sarasota, FL) There
are five high-school football games tonight (Friday) in Sarasota and Manatee
counties highlighting the end of a three-week spring practice session. Spring
practice gives coaches an opportunity to evaluate new players and gives
returning players added reps to get prepared for the regular season that begins
in late August.
Headlining
Friday’s schedule is the 7A state champion Manatee Hurricanes who will host St.
Petersburg Gibbs in at 7:30 p.m. kick-off in Bradenton. ‘Canes head coach Joe
Kinnan won his fifth state title last December defeating Jacksonville First
Coast 40-0 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. His team is loaded again with senior
quarterback Cord Sandberg
returning for this third year at the helm. Sandberg passed for 2,187 yards and
19 touchdowns last season.
The Sarasota Sailors will face their cross-town rival Riverview Rams on the road at the Ram Bowl Friday at 7:00 p.m. Both teams had off years in 2011. Despite the records and time of year, this is always a game that brings out the spirit of school pride. Sailors coach Ed Volz enters his third season and instilling what he terms “a culture of toughness and physicality in the game of football” will be his main goal this season in turning around the fortunes of Sarasota High School Football.
Riverview is also looking to right the ship after a losing season (3-7) in 2011. Former NFL player and Riverview alum Todd Johnson is heading into his second season as the Rams head coach after replacing John Sprague. He has the tough task of returning the Rams to its winning tradition.
In other games Friday night, North Port hosts Lakewood Ranch at 7:30 p.m. St. Petersburg travels to Bayshore for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Bradenton. Braden River heads south to Naples in a 7:30 p.m. start.
The spring football season concludes next Thursday (May 31) when Paul Maechtle’s Southeast Seminoles host Venice at 7:00 p.m.
(Sarasota, FL) Legendary high school baseball coach and Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Famer Clyde Metcalf will lead his always tough Sarasota Sailors baseball squad into competition beginning Friday February 10 in the “First Pitch Classic” at Timber Creek. The Sailors have been perennial district and state champion contenders under Coach Metcalf and will open its home season on Thursday February 16 against North Port at 7:00 p.m.
The complete varsity baseball schedule is as follows:
Friday 2/10 Timber Creek (1st Pitch Classic) Away 7:00
Saturday 2/11 Boone (1st Pitch Classic) Away 1:00
Thursday 2/16 North Port Home 7:00
Tuesday 2/21 Riverview Home 7:00
Friday 2/24 *Venice Home 7:00
Tuesday 2/28 *Manatee Away 7:00
Friday 3/2 *Braden River Home 7:00
Tuesday 3/6 *Charlotte Away 7:00
Friday 3/9 *Port Charlotte Away 7:00
Mon.‐Thurs. 3/12‐15 Sarasota Baseball Classic Sarasota TBA
Tuesday 3/20 *Venice Away 7:00
Wednesday 3/21 Chiles Home 5:00
Friday 3/23 *Manatee Home 7:00
Thurs‐Sat. 3/29‐31 National High School Invitational Cary, N.C. TBA
Thursday 4/5 *Port Charlotte Home 7:00
Saturday 4/7 Dunedin Away TBA
Tuesday 4/10 *Braden River Away 7:00
Friday 4/13 *Charlotte(Senior Night) Home 7:00
Tuesday 4/17 Riverview Away 7:00
Wednesday 4/18 Jesuit Away 7:00
Thursday 4/19 Lakewood Ranch Home 7:00
*DENOTES DISTRICT GAME
.
(Orlando, FL) The Manatee Hurricanes came into the Citrus Bowl in Orlando Friday night and blew out the First Coast (Jacksonville) Buccaneers like a category 5 storm shutting them out 40-0 to win the FHSAA 7A State Football Championship. It was the fifth state title in school history for ‘Canes Head Coach Joe Kinnan.
Quarterback Cord Sandberg led the ‘Canes to a touchdown on the opening drive going 58 yards in 8 plays and running it in himself to give Manatee the only score it would need to win the game. The junior signal caller rushed for 78 yards on 14 carries and completed 13 of 17 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown in a nearly flawless performance Friday night at the Citrus Bowl. Manatee racked up a total of 429 yards of total offense in the game.
Manatee’s defense totally stymied First Coast’s offense limiting the Bucs to just 108 total yards including minus 71 yards on the ground.
The ‘Canes captured its first state title since 1992. Two years ago, Manatee lost to Plant at the Citrus Bowl. Cord Sandberg was on the roster as a freshman in 2009, but did not play. Sandberg will return for another run at a title in his senior year along with twelve other seniors.
Head Coach Joe Kinnan has five state titles in 27 years at the helm of the Manatee football program. Miami Southridge (1983), Pensacola Woodham (1985), Miami Carol City (1989), Ft. Lauderdale Dillard (1992) and First Coast Jacksonville (2011).
(Bradenton, FL) Manatee Hurricane fans who are unable to make the trip to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando to see the school’s state championship game against First Coast (Jacksonville) Friday night will be able to listen to the game via the FHSAA Network. Live audio will be streamed both Friday and Saturday for the four state championship games at www.FHSAASports.com.
The FHSAA Network is a partnership between the FHSAA and PlayOn! Sports featuring live streaming and on-demand coverage of high school sports in Florida online. The FHSAAsports.com video portal provides fans access, at no charge, to a wide variety of events, all of which will be archived and available for on demand viewing.
The matchups and times for the 2011 FHSAA Football Championships live from the Citrus Bowl in Orlando are:
Friday, Dec. 16
5A 1 p.m. ET Miami Norland vs. Wakulla (Crawfordville)
7A 7 p.m. ET First Coast (Jacksonville) vs. Manatee Hurricanes
Saturday, Dec. 17
6A 1 p.m. ET Armwood (Seffner) vs. Miami Central
8A 7 p.m. ET Plant (Tampa) vs. Miramar
(Bradenton, FL) The Manatee Hurricanes scored on a late 4th quarter drive to defeat Dwyer 19-14 at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton and advance to the Class 7A state championship game next Friday night at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando against Jacksonville First Coast.
Cane’s junior quarterback Cord Sandberg capped off the game winning drive by running the ball into the end zone from 20 yards out, giving Manatee a 19-14 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the game. The ‘Canes defense held Dwyer and Manatee (12-2) will advance to the championship game for the first time since 2009 and attempt to capture its first state title since 1992.
Jacksonville First Coast (13-0) defeated Lakeland 24-14 in the other 7A semi-final game Friday night.
Meanwhile, Palmetto’s run for the Class 5A state title ended Friday night with a 35-27 loss to Miami Norland at Harlee Stadium in Palmetto. The Tigers had a chance to even the game late in the fourth quarter when a pass interference penalty gave Palmetto the ball at the Miami Norland 3 yard line. An incomplete pass and run stops kept Palmetto out of the end zone as time expired advancing Miami Norland to play for the 5A title
Palmetto’s 12 wins are the most by any Tiger team including the 1986 team that reached the state final and the state champion 1975 squad.
All of the state championship games next weekend will be televised live on the Sun Sports network.
(Bradenton, FL) The Manatee Hurricanes are one game away from a trip to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando for the state championship. The ‘Canes final hurdle will be a tough one as they host Dwyer in the regional finals Friday night at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton.
Manatee defeated Ft. Pierce Central 13-10 last week while Dwyer knocked out St. Thomas in a defensive battle 6-3.
Joe Kinnan’s Hurricane defense will face one of the top high school quarterbacks in the state in Faton Bauta, who has been recruited by the Georgia Bulldogs. Manatee signal caller Cord Sandburg, who has been outstanding again this year both as a passer and a runner will need to have his best game of the season so far to lead the ‘Canes to the championship game. Receivers Anthony Lauro and Ryan Taylor will be Sandburg’s key targets Friday night.
If both teams’ defenses are effective in shutting down the opposition’s offenses, the kicking game will be a key to victory. Manatee’s Nick Tankersley has proven himself one of the best and most accurate kickers in high school football in Florida with the ability to boot field goals from over 45 yards.
Kickoff Friday night is 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast locally on WLSS 930 AM with Dave Bristow calling the play-by-play beginning at 7:05 p.m.
Meanwhile across town, Palmetto can get to the 4A title game with a win over Miami Norland Friday night at Harllee Stadium. Dave Marino’s Tigers advanced to the regional final with an impressive 42-21 road win against Immokalee last week. Miami Norland, a perennial state title contender defeated Glades Central last Friday.
Kickoff is at 7:30. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on WTMY 1280 AM beginning at 7:05 p.m.
(Bradenton, FL) The Manatee Hurricanes won the Class 7A Region 3 title Friday night with a 13-10 victory over Ft. Pierce Central at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton. The ‘Cane will host Dwyer (Palm Beach) next Friday night (December 9) in the state semi-final who defeated St. Thomas Aquinas 6-3 in Ft. Lauderdale.
While not the usual offensive showing the Hurricanes are used to, the defense scored the only touchdown of the game for Manatee when defensive lineman Derrick Calloway stripped Ft. Pierce’s J.J. Stevens of the ball at the 2-yard line. The ball squirted into the end zone where safety Rhoshaun Goff fell on it for the touchdown less than two minutes into the third quarter to give the ‘Canes a 10-3 lead.
Kicker Nick Tankersley made it 13-3 on Manatee’s next possession before Ft. Pierce scored a touchdown to pull within three, 13-10.
Ft. Pierce had one more chance late in the game to tie or take the lead but a defensive hold by the Manatee defense forced a 4th and out giving the ‘Canes the ball back with 2:27 left in the fourth quarter. Manatee held on for its 13th regional title and fifth in the last seven years.
Meanwhile across the state, the Palmetto Tigers captured the Class 5A-Region 3 title with a 42-21 win over Immokalee at Gary Bates Stadium. Quarterback Trent Miller tossed five touchdown passes while the defense sacked Indians quarterback Tshumbi Johnson four times.
Palmetto will host Miami Norland, which defeated Glades Central Belle Glade 29-13, next Friday night in the Class 5A State semi-final at Harlee Stadium.
Winners next week advance to the state championship games in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL in two weeks.
(Bradenton, FL) The Manatee Hurricanes continue their quest to the state championship Friday night at home against Ft. Pierce Central in the Class 7A regional semifinals. Last week the ‘Canes had little trouble defeating the Venice Indians 34-21 at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton to advance in the high school football playoffs.
Ft. Pierce Central’s offense is led by a pair of Marcuses. Running back Marcus Levy ran for 1377 yards while averaging over seven yards a carry this season. Cobras quarterback Marcus Sigmon threw for just under 1500 yards with 19 touchdown passes and just 4 interceptions.
Manatee signal caller Cord Sandburg tossed a pair of touchdown passes and ran for 113 yards last week against Venice while Antonio Agurs rushed for a pair of touchdowns. The ‘Canes defense effectively shut down the Indians offense except for one sustained drive late in the game last week.
Manatee’s early season schedule against national powerhouse schools like Our Lady of Good Counsel and Don Bosco Prep have prepared the Hurricanes for a run at the state title.
Friday’s game will be broadcast on WLSS 930 AM and streamed online at www.wlssradio.com beginning at 7:05 p.m. with Dave Bristow calling the play-by-play.
Palmetto, the area’s other team in the post-season, defeated Hardee last week 27-9 to advance in the 5A playoffs and will travel to Immokalee Friday night. Dave Marino’s Tigers will face an 11-1 Indians team with quarterback Tshumbi Johnson.