H-T Top 15 prep football poll

1. VENICE (4-0, 75 points) — The Indians arrive atop the poll a lot sooner then most expected. But the question is whether they can remain there longer than Manatee and Booker, which lasted only two weeks each in the No. 1 position.

2. MANATEE (3-1, 66 points) — It was nice to have RB Ben Axon return last week, but the Hurricanes hardly broke a sweat in trampling over Port Charlotte in what has become the yearly bashing of the poor Pirates.

3. BOOKER (2-1, 64 points) — There is a rumor going around that the Booker faithful have purchased an all-expense paid cruise for Riverview High head coach John Sprague so he is sure to be out of town when the teams meet next year.

4. SOUTHEAST (3-1, 57 points) — The Seminoles still haven’t found their offense, but the defense has held things together giving RB Waymon Bowden more time to make the transition to 4A. His struggles show what a gap exists between Class A-B and the rest.

5. PALMETTO (3-1, 56 points) — Palmetto head coach Ray Woodie has always preached that talent is overrated and character usually wins out. He might be right, but the veteran coach is not complaining about all the gifted players that comprise his program.

6. CHARLOTTE (3-0, 54 points) — Area pollsters dropped the Tarpons two spots despite their third straight victory. But a win over Fort Myers this Friday and Manatee next week should vault them into the No. 2 spot and give head coach Binky Waldrop a lot of motivational ammunition.

7. RIVERVIEW (2-2, 46 points) — If the Rams could package how they play against Booker and use that energy for the rest of their opponents they would be in the hunt for state title every year. Unfortunately for them, that hasn’t been the case.

8. DESOTO (2-2, 42 points) — OK, we stand corrected. The Bulldogs proved you don’t need to pass the ball to win, at least not in their district. And at least not when you have nine running backs to share the ball.

9. BRADEN RIVER (2-2, 30 points) — The Pirates’ audition for the big-time fell short against DeSoto, but give this program a little slack. It’s only two years old on the varsity level. What did any of us accomplish at that age except create anxiety for whoever was watching us.

T10. CARDINAL MOONEY (3-1, 29 points) — You would have thought that the Mooney fans were handing out stick ‘em to the players the way they left their five-turnover debacle from the previous week behind last Friday. Steve Ierulli ran wild with 234 yards to regain the area rushing lead.

T10. SARASOTA (1-3, 29 points) — The young Sailors stopped themselves last week with penalties. With a new quarterback, they are hoping this Friday they can catch Manatee looking ahead to next week’s district showdown with Charlotte.

12. PORT CHARLOTTE (1-2, 18 points) — The best thing going for the Pirates is that they don’t have to play Manatee anymore this season. And if next year’s district realignment goes their way they may never see the ‘Canes again, which would be none too soon.

13. NORTH PORT (0-3, 11 points) — Sympathy cards are being collected for the Bobcats who have to go into Tornado Alley and face a wounded Booker team coming off another stomach-churning loss to Riverview.

14. LAKEWOOD RANCH (0-4, 9 points) — There are a lot of rumblings out at the Ranch that this team is too talented to be winless and have such an anemic offense. If the discontent continues, it's no secret where this trail will lead.

15. BAYSHORE (1-3, 7 points) — Don’t tell Bayshore that the team it beat last week for its first victory was winless. Still, a win is a win. Like the bailout being proposed in Congress, you take what you can get when things are tough.

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES

Lemon Bay (4)

Bradenton Prep (2).