High school football: Sarasota and Manatee previews and predictions for Week 2
Football previews and predictions for Week 2 high school games in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Hurricane Idalia: Which Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte football games have been moved
Sarasota Sailors (0-1) at Manatee Hurricanes (1-0)
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium, 902 33rd St. Court W., Bradenton
Last week: Fort Meade 28, Sarasota 14; Manatee 46, Lake Minneola 27
History: Manatee 13-2 (since 2004)
Last year: Manatee 42, Sarasota 20 (regular season), Sarasota 30, Manatee 20 (playoffs)
The skinny: Sarasota snapped a 13-game losing streak to Manatee in the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs last year. … First-year Sailors head coach Josh Phillips is a former Manatee assistant. … RB Kei’Shawn Smith rushed for 72 yards and a score, one of the Hurricanes’ four rushing touchdowns along with RB Cory Sanders, RB Trayvon Pinder and QB Andrew Heidel, who went 16-for-29 for 132 yards and a scoring pass to TE Cade Weiskopf.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Manatee 33, Sarasota 18
Out-of-Door Academy Thunder (1-0) at Oasis Sharks (1-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Oasis High, 3519 Oasis Blvd., Cape Coral
Last week: Out-of-Door 42, Berean Christian 0; Oasis 38, Gateway Charter 0
History: Out-of-Door 1-0
Last year: Out-of-Door 51-29
The skinny: Both teams pitched lopsided shutouts on Week 1. … RB Allen Clark rushed for 80 yards and scored twice for the Thunder. … QB Jackson Roth went 2-for-5 with a passing touchdown to RB Jack Meyers. Roth also rushed for a score. … Oasis lost its first two last season, including to Out-of-Door Academy in Week 1, and four of its first five a year ago. … RB Fred Harley gained 171 yards on the ground, 82 on a touchdown run, on nine carries.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Out-of-Door 28, Oasis 20
Buchholz Bobcats (1-0) at Riverview Rams (1-0)
When, where: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Ram Bowl, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota
Last week: Buchholz 41, Columbia 13; Riverview 54, Southeast 0
History: Buchholz 1-0
Last year: Buchholz 45, Riverview 6
The skinny: Buchholz QB Trace Johnson completed 18-of-31 for 272 yards and four touchdowns last week against Columbia. … WR/RB Jordan Richardson caught four passes for 115 yards and a score. … RB Quinton Cutler led the Bobcats’ run game with 85 yards and a TD. … The 54 points put up by Riverview last week were the most since the Rams hung 57 on Ridge Community on Sept. 13, 2019. … LB Chase Caldwell recorded 10 tackles, six solos, and notched a sack.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Buchholz 28, Riverview 21
It's Miller time: Former Venice QB Anthony Miller is now a dual threat for Riverview High
Saint Stephen’s Falcons (0-0) at Northside Christian Mustangs (1-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Northside Christian School, 7777 62nd Ave. N. St. Petersburg
Last week: Saint Stephens by forfeit over Jordan Christian Prep; Northside Christian 24, Akelynn’s Angels Christian Academy 0
History: Northside Christian 4-3
Last year: Northside Christian 21, Saint Stephen’s 6
The skinny: Saint Stephen’s picked up a forfeit win over Jordan Christian Prep after the Seahawks canceled in the middle of the week. … Northside Christian went on the road and posted its second straight shutout over Akelynn’s Angels. … The Mustangs also blanked Akelynn’s Angels, 21-0, last year, Northside Christian’s only two shutouts since 2018.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Saint Stephen’s 20, Northside Christian 13
Sarasota Christian Blazers (2-0) at Foundation Christian Academy Panthers (1-1)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Foundation Christian Academy, 3955 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Valrico
Last week: Sarasota Christian 58, Sports Leadership & Management 0; Oasis Christian 26, Foundation Christian Academy 14
History: Sarasota Christian 1-0
Last year: Sarasota Christian 57, Foundation Christian 26
The skinny: Sarasota Christian has outscored its opponents, 113-0, in two victories this season. … Last week, the Blazers rushed for five touchdowns, two each from RB Colton Loftus and RB Daniel Jacinto, who gained 70 yards on four carries. … Three Blazers quarterbacks combined to go 10-for-14 for 139 yards, including QB Justin Brock (6-for-7, 88 yards, TD). … After defeating St. John Lutheran of Ocala, 28-2, in its opener, Foundation Christian allowed 203 rushing yards and four scores on the ground in a loss to Oasis Christian of Winter Haven.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Sarasota Christian 40, Foundation Christian 12
Venice (0-1) at Cocoa Tigers (1-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Friday, Cocoa High School, 2000 Tiger Trail, Cocoa
Last week: Armwood 34, Venice 25; Cocoa 22, Jones 20
History: Venice 2-0
Last year: DNP
The skinny: Venice dug itself an early hole it could not climb out of last week against Armwood. … QB Ryan Downes scored on both of his rushes and QB Jadyn Glasser had a passing touchdown to WR CJ Lewis and a rushing score. … Cocoa jumped out to a 19-7 halftime lead against Jones and hung on. … QB Brady Hart threw for a touchdown, but was intercepted three times. … The Tigers’ defense recorded a safety and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Venice 28, Cocoa 26
LaBelle (1-0) at Bayshore (1-0)
When, where: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Bayshore High School, 5401 34th St. W., Bradenton
Last week: LaBelle defeated Glades Day 23-14; Bayshore defeated St. Petersburg Catholic 56-46.
Series: First meeting.
The skinny: Bayshore, 0-9 last season, won its season opener for the first time since 2018. It was the most points scored in a game by the Bruins since a 62-0 victory over Celebration in 2004. … Jamal Sanders is in his fourth season as Bayshore head coach. He came into this year with a 5-23 career record. … The Cowboys, 4-4 last season, defeated Glades Day last week upon the back of running back Isaac Santamaria, who rushed for 148 yards and scored all three of the Cowboys’ touchdowns.
Fernandes’s prediction: Bayshore 31, LaBelle 28
UPDATED: 2023 weekly high school football schedules and scores for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
Booker (0-1) at Southeast (0-1)
When, where: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Southeast High School, 1200 37th Ave. E., Bradenton.
Last week: Booker lost to Immokalee in OT 47-41; Southeast lost to Riverview 54-0.
Series: 9-9.
Last meeting: Last season, Booker won 31-17.
The skinny: In last week’s loss to Immokalee, Booker led 22-14 at the end of the first quarter, and 35-21 at halftime. But the Tornadoes scored just six points the rest of the way, while Immokalee scored 14 in the third quarter, six in the fourth, and six in OT. … QB Alex Diaz threw for 269 yards and three TDs in the loss. RB Ahmad Hunter rushed for 109, but the Booker defense allowed Immokalee to rush for 316 yards and quarterback Trannon Villarreal to throw three TD passes. . . . Southeast did little right in its blowout loss to Riverview. QB Tooda Thomas threw three interceptions and Southeast rushed for fewer than 30 yards.
Fernandes’s prediction: Booker 41, Southeast 7
Bradenton Christian (1-0) at Bell Creek Academy (0-1)
When, where: Friday, 7 p.m.; Bell Creek Academy, 13221 Boyette Rd., Riverview
Last week: Bell Creek lost to Eagle’s View 28-6; Bradenton Christian defeated Keswick Christian 35-0.
Series: First meeting
The skinny: Bell Creek, which finished 2-7 last season, threw four interceptions in its loss last week to Eagle’s View. … In their win over Keswick Christian, the Panthers, 2-7 last year limited the Crusaders to 45 yards passing and 18 yards rushing. … Bradenton Christian’s first-year coach is Nate Strawderman, a former player at Out-of-Door Academy and assistant at Bradenton Christian before getting the head spot after John Warren stepped down shortly after being named coach in the spring.
Fernandes’s prediction: Bradenton Christian 35, Bell Creek 7
Lakewood Ranch (0-1) at Cardinal Mooney (1-0)
When, where: Friday, 7 p.m.; Cardinal Mooney, 4171 Fruitville Road, Sarasota
Last week: Cardinal Mooney defeated Avon Park 54-0; Lakewood Ranch lost to Lemon Bay 20-13.
The series: 1-1.
Last meeting: Last year, Lakewood Ranch, 51-23.
The skinny: In the victory over Avon Park, Cougar running back Carson Beach rushed for two scores, Bo O’daniel scored on a 44-yard punt return, and quarterback Michael Valentino threw two touchdowns to wide receiver Zy’marion Lang, one for 20 yards, the other for 58. … The Mustangs fell behind the Mantas last week 20-0 before making it close. Ranch was outgained in yards in the first half 242-62. … Quarterback Sebastian Mejia threw second-half touchdowns to Jaron Fields and Jayden Munoz. … It was the debut of former Ranch player Scott Paravicni as head coach.
Fernandes’s prediction: Cardinal Mooney 42, Lakewood Ranch 17
IMG Academy White (1-0) at Key West (0-1)
When, where: Friday, 7 p.m.; Key West High School, 2100 Flagler Ave., Key West
Last week: Key West lost to Clewiston 28-21; IMG Academy White defeated St. John Paul II 41-18.
The series: Key West leads 1-0.
Last meeting: In 2017, Key West won 35-21.
The skinny: In its loss to Clewiston, Key West rushed for 416 yards on 50 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Running back Jaden Fox had 174 yards on 18 carries. But the Conchs, 3-6 last season, lost five fumbles. … IMG White sophomore quarterback Ely Hamrick went 15-of-27 for 232 yards and two TDs in the win over St. John Paul II. Running back Clay Ash rushed for 141 yards on 18 carries and two scores.
Fernandes’s prediction: IMG White 38, Key West 21
Lemon Bay Manta Rays (1-0) at Parrish Community Bulls (1-0)
When, where: 7 p.m., Saturday, Parrish Community High, 7505 Fort Hamer Road, Parrish
Last week: Lemon Bay 20, Lakewood Ranch 13; Parrish Community 43, North Port 0
History: First meeting.
Last year: DNP
The skinny: Lemon Bay jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first half and held off Lakewood Ranch in its opener Aug. 24. … The Manta Rays received 140 rushing yards and a touchdown from RB Joe Scott. … QB Lorenzo Maurceri rushed for 95 yards and threw for 58 and a score, all in the first half. … Parrish Community received five touchdowns from QB Jackson Volz (4 passing, 1 rushing) in the rout of North Port. … The Bulls’ defense pitched the first shutout in program history.
Maffezzoli’s prediction: Lemon Bay 21, Parrish Community 20
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Previews, predictions for Sarasota and Manatee Week 2 high school football games
