High school football: Sarasota and Manatee previews and predictions for Week 4
Here's a preview of the high school football games being played by Sarasota and Manatee County football teams this week.
THURSDAY
Sarasota Sailors (0-3) at Palmetto Tigers (1-1)
When, where: 7 p.m., Thursday, Harllee Stadium, 1200 17th Street West, Palmetto
Last week: Booker 33, Sarasota 3; Riverview 52, Palmetto 42
History: Palmetto leads 7-5 (since 2004)
Last year: Sarasota 16, Palmetto 7
The skinny: Sarasota managed only a 26-yard field goal by K Andrew Clayton last week in a loss to Booker. … The Sailors' defense allowed long scoring plays of 29, 34, 86 and 47 yards. … Palmetto was on the wrong end of a shootout with Riverview. … The Tigers had some long touchdowns: 72-yard run and 77-yard reception by ATH Roc Lodge, 81-yard reception and 80-yard kickoff return by Damari Magwood. … This will be the first game on Palmetto's newly turfed Harllee Stadium. The original first contest was postponed.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Palmetto 34, Sarasota 13
Week 3 rankings: Manatee, Cardinal Mooney still on top of Herald-Tribune football rankings
Week 3 results: Week 3 football roundup: Venice rolls past Northwestern for first win of the season
Lakewood Ranch Mustangs (0-3) at IMG Academy Blue Ascenders (0-2)
When, where: Thursday, 7 p.m., 5650 Bollettieri Blvd., Bradenton
Last week: Lakewood Ranch lost to Braden River 41-23; IMG Academy Blue lost to North Port 38-20.
The series: First meeting
The skinny: The Mustangs were outscored 61-19 in their first two games, losses to Lemon Bay and Cardinal Mooney, but Ranch showed some heart in last week’s 41-23 loss to Braden River. …QB Sebastian Mejia threw three TDs in the loss. … WR Cooper Orzel had seven catches for 80 yards and a score, and WR Jayden Munoz added five catches for 78 yards. … IMG Blue was the victim in North Port’s first victory in 23 months. … The Ascenders lost despite rushing for 165 yards and passing for 132. …They have rushed for 437 yards in two games, a 6.3 yards-per-carry average, but five backs have yet to score a TD.
Fernandes’s pick: IMG Academy Blue 24, Lakewood Ranch 17
Ambassadors Christian Academy Stallions (0-3) at North Port Bobcats (1-1)
When, where: Thursday, 7 p.m., 6400 W Price Blvd, North Port
Last week: North Port beat IMG Blue Academy 38-20; Ambassadors Christian lost to Okeechobee 48-0.
The series: First meeting
The skinny: In beating IMG Blue last week, the Bobcats won their first game in 23 months. …North Port ran for nearly 500 yards in its win. RB Zeke Baez, who didn’t play last season, rushed for 275 yards and two TDs. … In its third year as a school and, therefore, a program, Ambassadors Christian has been outscored 143-12 in losses to Okeechobee, Mulberry, and Victory Christian Academy. …The Stallions, who finished 3-7 last season, dress out only 16 players.
Fernandes’s prediction: North Port 38, Ambassadors Christian 3
Riverview Rams (2-1) at Cardinal Mooney Cougars (3-0)
When, where: Thursday, 7 p.m., Cardinal Mooney, 4171 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota
Last week: Cardinal Mooney beat Evangelical Christian 37-17; Riverview beat Palmetto 52-42
The series: Cardinal Mooney leads 1-0
Last meeting: Last season, Cardinal Mooney won 14-7
The skinny: In its three wins, Mooney has outscored its opponents 132-23. The trigger of the attack is QB Michael Valentino, who ran for two scores and passed for two in the win over Evangelical. He has now thrown seven TDs in three games and run for three. … Mooney is rushing for a powerful 6.5 yards-per-carry. Defensively, head coach Jared Clark has been pleased with the play of inside linebackers George Leibold and Jacob Brown. …Riverview racked up 589 yards in the win over Palmetto. Of that, 376 came on the ground, as did all eight of the Rams’ scores. …DJ Johnson had 161 yards and two TDs, as did Isiah Bell, who added 145 yards. … QB Braxton Thomas rushed for four TDs. Thomas, Bell, and Johnson each have four rushing scores.
Fernandes’s prediction: Riverview 21, Cardinal Mooney 17
Berkeley Prep Buccaneers (1-1) at Booker Tornadoes(2-1)
When, where: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Tornado Alley, 3201 Orange Ave, Sarasota
Last week: Booker beat Sarasota 33-3; Berkeley Prep beat Plant 31-24
The series: First meeting
The skinny: In Booker’s win over Sarasota, QB Alex Diaz threw four TD passes, but the Tornadoes were assessed 19 penalties for nearly 200 yards. … The Buccaneers, 8-4 last season, got 254 yards rushing and three TDs in the win over Plant. RB Joseph Troupe leads the team with 243 yards on the ground and 3 TDs. … RB/WR Dallas Golden has rushed for 99 yards and a score, and leads the team in receiving with six catches for 101 yards and a TD. … RB Ahmad “Tooda” Hunter has rushed for 325 yards and 2 TDs. … Diaz’s 9 TD passes have gone to three players: Josiah Booker with four, Joshua Burrows with one, and Tyren Wortham, who leads the team with six. The sophomore has nine catches overall.
Fernandes’s prediction: Booker 38, Berkeley Prep 17
FRIDAY
Braden River Pirates (2-0) at Manatee Hurricanes (3-0)
When, where: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium, 902 33rd St Ct W, Bradenton
Last week: Manatee beat Charlotte 46-7; Braden River beat Lakewood Ranch 41-23
The series: Manatee leads 6-2
Last meeting: Last season, Manatee won 10-7
The skinny: Manatee beat Braden River last season 10-7, the last of its four wins to start the season. … A fourth-quarter FG was the difference in last year’s meeting. … Manatee averaged 30 points in its first three games while allowing 16. … RB KeiShawn Smith, RB Cory Sanders, RB Trayvon Pinder, and QB Andrew Heidel each have rushed for 2 TDs. . . . Defensively, Ean-Johnson-kelley has 3 sacks and 9 QB hurries. … Keying the Pirates’ 2-0 start has been the RB combination of Marcus Galloway and Yahshua Edwards. The two have combined for 337 yards and 6 TDs. . . . In two games, LB Ronin Dangler has 18 tackles, 1 INT, 1 blocked FG, and 1 INT.
Fernandes’s prediction: Manatee 31, Braden River 24
Parrish Community Bulls (2-1) at Avon Park Red Devils (0-2)
When, where: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Avon Park High, 700 E. Main St., Avon Park
Last week: Parrish Community 63, Bayshore 22; Lake Region 38, Avon Park 0
History: Parrish Community 1-0
Last year: Parrish Community 26-19
The skinny: Parrish Community scored the most points in program history last week, one more than the Bulls scored in last year’s 62-7 victory over Bayshore. … QB Jackson Volz went 12-for-14 for 293 yards and four touchdowns. … RB Jerome Turner gained 111 yards on three carries and scored twice. … WR Jermaine Edwards had eight catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. … WR RJ Mosley made four catches for 88 yards, two resulting in touchdowns for the Bulls, who compiled 512 yards and nine touchdowns on offense. … Avon Park has not scored this season. … The Red Devils allowed 54 points to Cardinal Mooney on Week 1.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Parrish Community 45, Avon Park 6
IMG Academy White Ascenders (3-0) at Evangelical Christian Sentinels (2-1)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Evangelical Christian School, 8237 Beacon Blvd., Fort Myers
Last week: IMG Academy White 49, Southeast 13; Cardinal Mooney 37, Evangelical Christian 17
History: First meeting
Last year: DNP
The skinny: IMG Academy White rolled to its third win of the season against Southeast. … The Ascenders have scored 41 or more points in all three games. … QB Ely Hamrick has completed 57 percent of his passes (34-for-60) for 584 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. … WR Xavier Southall (12 catches, 168 yards, TD) and WR Jacob Diver (10 catches, 216 yards, 2 TDs) have been Hamrick's main targets. … Workhorse RB Clay Ash has 42 of the team's 65 carries, 436 of the 608 rushing yards and seven of the 10 touchdowns on the ground. … Evangelical Christian suffered its first loss after opening with two wins. … The 37 points allowed were 31 more than surrendered in the first two games. … QB Tanner Helton has thrown for 591 yards and seven touchdowns on 43-of-60 accuracy. He also leads the team in rushing attempts (21) and rushing yards (140). … WR Jamarion McElrow (14 catches, 171 yards, 2 TDs) and WR Seven Bullock (13 catches, 194 yards, 3 TDs) top the receiving corps
Maffezzoli’s prediction: IMG Academy White 40, Evangelical Christian 13
Aubrey Rogers Patriots (0-3) at Saint Stephen’s Falcons (2-1)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Moore Athletic Complex at Turner Fields, 315 41st W., Bradenton
Last week: American Heritage 41, Aubrey Rogers 6; Saint Stephen’s 21, Out-of-Door 7
History: First meeting
Last year: DNP
The skinny: Aubrey Rogers, a first-year school in Naples, has been outscored 103-22 in its first three games. … The Patriots have gained most of their yardage through the air with QB Dominic Ardezzone throwing for 131 yards. … Saint Stephen’s posted its first on-the-field victory last week. … The Falcons’ first win by via forfeit. … QB Evan Brown has completed 15-of-25 for 198 yards and a score. He also has rushed for a team-high 229 yards on 32 carries and all three rushing touchdowns. … WR Caleb Bosek tops the Saint Stephen’s receivers with eight catches for 153 yards and a score.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Saint Stephen’s 41, Aubrey Rogers 7
The Classical Academy of Sarasota Patriots (2-2) at Sarasota Christian Blazers (4-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Sarasota Christian School, 5415 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota
Last week: Sarasota Christian 22, Canterbury 14; Donahue Catholic 47, The Classical Academy of Sarasota 6
History: The Classical Academy of Sarasota 1-0
Last year: The Classical Academy of Sarasota 40, Sarasota Christian 21
The skinny: The Classical Academy scored 37 unanswered points in the second half, including 31 in the fourth quarter, to hand Sarasota Christian a loss on Week 1 last season. … The Patriots have alternated wins and losses this season. … QB Sam Nolt has thrown for 91 yards and a score while rushing for 315 yards and seven touchdowns. … Sarasota Christian has outscored its opponents 177-28 this season. … QB Justin Brock is 31-for-41 for 463 yards and eight touchdown passing and has 16 carries for 259 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. … RB Daniel Jacinto leads the Blazers with four rushing touchdowns.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Sarasota Christian 35, The Classical Academy of Sarasota 20
Lely Trojans (1-2) at Southeast Seminoles (0-3)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Paul Maechtle Field at John Kiker Memorial Stadium, 1200 37th Ave. E., Bradenton
Last week: Monsignor Pace 41, Lely 6; IMG Academy White 49, Southeast 13
History: Lely 1-0
Last year: Lely 38, Southeast 3
The skinny: Lely has dropped two straight since opening the season with a 47-26 win at Riverdale. … The Trojans have scored 20 total points the past two weeks. … QB Colin Raymond (18-for-26, 258 yards) has thrown three touchdown passes, two to WR Joshua Philogene (8 catches, 183 yards). … RB Jayvian Tanelus tops the running game with 409 yards on 64 carries and all five rushing touchdowns. … Southeast has been outscored 146-26 this season. … The Seminoles have lost seven straight dating back to last season.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Southeast 20, Lely 14
Glenville Tarblooders (Cleveland) (3-1) at IMG Academy National Ascenders(3-0)
When, where: Friday, 7 p.m.; IMG Academy, 5650 Bollettieri Blvd, Bradenton
Last week: Glenville beat John Adams 38-0; IMG beat Ben Davis 34-14
The series: First meeting
The skinny: For the Ascenders, it’s their first home game after opening the season with three on the road. … IMG scored in every quarter in its win over Ben Davis. … QB Jayden Bradford is completing 60% of his passes, with 6 TDs and 0 INTs. His favorite target has beenWR Donovan Olugbode, who has 12 catches for 285 yards and 2 TDs. … The Tarblooders went 15-0 last season, winning the Division IV state title. … This season, Glenville has scored 124 points in its four games while allowing 47.
Fernandes’s prediction: IMG 34, Glenville 21
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Previews, predictions for Sarasota and Manatee Week 4 high school football games
