53° M/CLOUDY, -
Friday, November 28, 2008, 8:53 pm
Friday night football: Regional semifinals
Injured Charlotte player Robb Roys' number 56 is shaved into the back of Charlotte High's J.P. Long's head as he and his team get ready for their match against Venice High School in Venice for the 5A Region 3 semifinal on Friday. (STAFF PHOTO / JENNA ISAACSON)DeSoto High School public address announcer Rodney McCray is also the Bulldogs’ most vocal cheerleader. He emplored a quiet home crowd at Bulldog Stadium to cheer through the first half of Friday night’s Region 3 semi-final against Braden River. “Come on, fans, make some noise,” he yelled over the microphone from the press box, “it was 20 degrees colder last week.”
When the crowd responded, McCray said, “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Braden River opened the game with an impressive 14-play drive, but got nothing out of it. The Pirates began at their own 15 and drove to the Desoto 29. But the drive ended when DeSoto recovered a backwards pass on their own 47.
When Braden River gets inside its opponent’s 20-yard line the Pirates go into their own version of the Wildcat formation. Wide receiver Willie McNeal moves to quarterback and takes the snap in the shotgun formation. The first time Braden River tried it Friday night in their Region 3 semifinal against DeSoto, McNeal scored on an 8-yard run up the middle. The Pirates led 7-0 at the half.
In what could be the biggest upset of the night, Southeast is shutting down the high-powered offense of Tampa Plant and leads at the half, 7-0 ... Venice leads Charlotte 14-10 .... Braden River still leads DeSoto 7-0 ....
A couple of upsets are brewing .... although it is a bit early .... Charlotte 7, Venice 6 .... Braden River 7, DeSoto 0 .... Southeast and Tampa Plant are scoreless thus far.
Injured Tarpon player Robb Roys, who suffered a severe spinal injury in an all terrain vehicle accident, participated in the coin toss prior to the Charlotte-Venice game Friday.
The games may have started before the kickoff ... Venice coach John Peacock said that standout running back Dri Archer would play against Charlotte Friday night. Archer, who has a sore shoulder (some say it is dislocated) was watching the game from the sideline.
Ethan Mix, a Venice High football player, was equipped with a fishing pole when he came out on the field for pregame warmups. Apparently Mix and his Venice teammates hope to hook a Tarpon tonight. ...
We are less than 1 hour from kickoff in week 2 of the high school football playoffs and the crowd is building at Powell-Davis Stadium in Venice ... It's a short trip for Charlotte fans, a group that travels well, and Venice fans have a reputation for their loyalty to anything green and white. 8,000, 10,000, 12,000. What's your guess for tonight's crowd at the Venice-Charlotte game? If you're going, you better get their quick ... or plan on standing ... -
Friday, November 21, 2008, 9:46 pm
Friday Night Football: First week of playoffs
Venice High School's Evan Boone takes a minute to himself at the 40-yard line as the team warms up for their game against Cape Coral in the 5A-Region 3 quarterfinal at Venice High School on Friday. (STAFF PHOTO / JENNA ISAACSON)Another area team advance .... Southeast 14, Tampa Jefferson 7
Another final ... Venice 35, Cape Coral 14 ....
Second final of the night: DeSoto 24, Spoto 6 ....
We're headed for some wild finishes .... Wildwood 21, Mooney 19 in the fourth ... Victory Christian 9, Out-of-Door 5 in the fourth ... Upset special: Braden River 16, Palmetto 10 in the fourth ... Southeast 14, Tampa Jefferson 7 in the fourth ...
The first final of the night and it's not pretty Orlando Boone 38, Riverview 0
Venice leads Cape Coral at the half 14-7 but standout running back Dri Archer is on the sidelines with a uniform top and no pads. ...
There are some early surprises as area games head toward halftime .... Unbeaten Venice is in a battle with Cape Coral at 7-7 ... Charlotte, normally a high-scoring team, has a 3-0 lead over Fort Myers. ... Southeast has a 7-0 lead over Tampa Jefferson ... DeSoto, also a big-play, high-scoring team, has a 9-0 halftime lead and in perhaps the biggest potential upset of the night Braden River, in just its third year of varsity football, has a 15-7 lead Palmetto. Other scores include: Orlando Boone 17, Riverview 0 at the half and Out-of-Door Academy leads Victory Christian of Lakeland 5-3.
Charlotte High player Robb Roys, who suffered a serious spine injury in an all-terrain vehicle accident two days after the Tarpons capped a 9-1 season with a win over DeSoto High, was on the sideline for the start of Charlotte’s game against Fort Myers on Friday night.
Cardinal Mooney’s Steve Ierulli got off to a galloping start against Wildwood, rushing for 126 yards midway through the first quarter, including a 49-yard touchdown run to put the Cougars up 7-0.
Just say Braden River head coach Josh Hunter was caught up in the heat of the moment of his team’s first playoff appearance Friday night in Palmetto.
Despite temperatures in the low 50s and a stiff northwest wind, Hunter was dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and no cap during the Class 3A-Region 3 quarterfinal against host Palmetto at Harllee Stadium.
Who's going to advance to Week 2 of the football playoffs? Here's my best guess ... Venice, Charlotte, DeSoto, Palmetto and Southeast .... the likely losers ... Riverview, Out-of-Door Academy, Braden River and Cardinal Mooney ... Kickoff is right around the corner .... -
Friday, November 14, 2008, 8:59 pm
Friday Night Football: The final week of the regular season
Booker High School goes through their warm-ups before the start of Friday's game against Venice in Sarasota on Friday. (STAFF PHOTO / JENNA ISAACSON)We're midway through the final week of the regular season and here are a few of the more interesting game .... Out-of-Door 28, Saint Stephen's 0 at the half, the Thunder appear to be ready for their first trip to the playoffs next week ... Venice looks like it will wrap up an unbeaten regular season but the Indians are having a little difficulty putting away Booker, 14-0 at the half. .... Mooney has a 20-13 lead over Bishop Verot .... Charlotte leads DeSoto 12-0 at the half ... Bayshore could be on its way to its third win of the season as the Bruins lead North Port, 14-7 ... Palmetto 24, Avon Park 0 ... Naples 28, Sarasota 12 ... Southeast 27, Braden River 0 ...
Booker honored the 16 seniors on the varsity squad at halftime Friday. All the other players formed two lines running from the goal line to the 50-yard line and each senior walked with his parents to the 50 as an announcer read their list of accomplishments, cheered on by the crowd.
The Out-of-Door Academy broke open a tight first half with two long scoring plays. Leading 7-0 in the second quarter, the Thunder forced a Saint Stephen’s punt and took over on its own 20. Two plays later, running back A.J. Strong ran 63 yards for a score. The Thunder defense then turned in a three and out. ODA took over on the Falcons’ 41 following a 22 yard punt. On the first play, quarterback Tony Gurry hit wide-open wide receiver Nick Hepp on a 41 yard scoring pass to make the score 21-0.
The start of Friday night's game between Saint Stephen's and the Out-of-Door Academy was delayed 15 minutes by a faulty circuit breaker at Hobbie Field at Twin Lakes Park. The scoreboard and two racks of lights were not operating. The game was originally scheduled to start at 7 p.m. -
Friday, November 07, 2008, 9:26 pm
Friday Night Football: Week 10
Sarasota High School quarterback Sean Hurley is sacked by Riverview High School's Barry Martin, left, and Nafees Jones during the crosstown rivalry matchup of the Rams and Sailors at Sarasota High School in Sarasota on Friday. (STAFF PHOTO / CHIP LITHERLAND)Some interesting halftime scores .... Lakewood 20, Southeast 0, Southeast needs a big comeback to clinch the district title ... Riverview 14, Sarasota 10, a Riverview win gives the Rams a district title ... Charlotte 14, Port Charlotte 7, a Charlotte win qualifies the Tarpons for the playoffs ... Mooney 14, CCC 7, Cougars need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive ...
Venice High had 7 possessions on offense in the first half against North Port and scored TDs all seven times .... Venice leads at the half 49-6.
USF head football coach Jim Leavitt was seen at the Southeast at St. Pete Lakewood game Friday night. He could be checking out Southeast defensive back Kieron James ....
Friday night was the 50th anniversary of the Sarasota-Riverview football game. The game used to be held every year on Thanksgiving Day. The last time it was played on Thanksgiving was 1975. The teams used to be played for the Holm Stein but the Stein disappeared after Riverview won the game in 1981. Charlie Cleland, who the Sarasota High stadium is named after, was an assistant coach in the first game between these two teams in 1958 and became Sarasota High head coach in 1964 and held the job through 1984. "People planned ahead for that, it was like a party, " Cleland, 75, said in a phone interview. "Both schools would put their tickets on sale Nov. 1 and they would be all sold out in three or four days."
Rivalry games rule the night .... The 50th meeting of Sarasota and Riverview. .... Charlotte vs. Port Charlotte ... Venice at North Port .... Lakewood Ranch at Manatee .... these are all games that feature players that have grown up together ... everybody wants to beat their buddies so they can brag about it for the rest of the year ... -
Friday, October 31, 2008, 10:16 pm
Friday Night Football -- Week 9
Marching Canes drum corps members, from left, Xander Chawi, Ryan Copeman, center, and captain Jordan Guthrie, right, tune their instruments and warm up their arms before Friday night's game against Venice at Venice High School on Friday. (STAFF PHOTO / JENNA ISAACSON)More finals ...South Fort Myers 49, Lemon Bay 7 .... Charlotte 38, Lakewood Ranch 14 ... Bradenton Christian 28, Admiral Farragut 26 .... Sarasota 27, Hollywood Hills 21 ... Braden River 28, Sebring 11 .... Southeast 28, Bayshore 7 ... Tampa Robinson 24, Booker ..... and Venice 31, Manatee 16 ....
The Venice-Manatee game was delayed 15 minutes because of an injury to Manatee QB Brion Carnes. Carnes was taken to the Venice Regional Medical Center by ambulance ....
More area scores .... South Fort Myers 42, Lemon Bay 8 .... Charlotte 28, Lakewood Ranch 14 ... Bradenton Christian 28, Admiral Farragut 20 .... Braden River 21, Sebring 11 .... Booker 21, Robinson 17 ... Southeast 28, Bayshore 7 .... all scores in the fourth quarter ....
Manatee quarterback Brion Carnes has been knocked out of the game by the Venice defense. He was hit hard on two plays midway through the fourth quarter and had to leave the game .... 5:46 left, Venice 24, Manatee 16 ...
Venice has regained control of its game with Manatee and now leads 24-16 late in the fourth quarter .... Hollywood Hills has a 21-14 lead over Sarasota ... Riverview is clobbering Bay Point 35-8 .... a final just in, Port Charlotte 31, North Port 7 ... Palmetto is on the short end of a 24-14 scored with Lake Wales in the fourth quarter ... Keswick Christian claims the 1B-6 region championship with a 12-7 win over Out-of-Door Academy ....
Bay Point had 0 yards rushing on six carries in the first half against Riverview, which had 231 yards rushing on 38 carries. Bay Point had only run 10 plays by halftime. Rivervview had 13 first downs to Bay Point’s one.
Don't these teams know a district title is on the line? Keswick Christian 3, Out-of-Door Academy 0 at the half ....
An upset in the making .... Manatee 10, Venice 3 late in the first half ... Venice is 7-0 and ranked sixth in the state in Class 5A ....
Offense wore a mask on Halloween in the first half of the Class B-District 6 game between Out-of-Door Academy and host Keswick. The only scoring came when Keswick put together a 16-play, 89-yard drive that ended on a 23-yard field goal by Kenny Lucas. ODA didn’t threaten in the first two quarters and managed just 53 yards of offense.
Jimmy DuBose, a former standout at Sarasota High from 1969-71, a Gator from 72-76 and a Buccaneer for years after that watched the Sarasota-Hollywood Hills game from the sideline Friday night .... He was wearing his old jersey ...
Top game of the week has to be Manatee at Venice .... If Venice wins, the unbeaten Indians will clinch the Class 5A-11 title. .... A Manatee win could pave the way for a three-way tiebreaker for two playoff spots between Manatee, Charlotte and Venice. ... The Out-of-Door Academy can win its first-ever district title (B-6) with a win over Keswick Christian tonight .... Braden River (6-2, 2-1 in 3A-12) needs to grab a win over district rival Sebring to stay near the top of its district and Booker can't slip up against Tampa Robinson if it wants to be playing into the postseason. ... -
Friday, October 24, 2008, 10:21 pm
Friday Night Football --- Week 8
Chet Dyer, 16, a junior at Charlotte High School sports a blue ensemble and mohawk prior to the start of his school's matchup with Venice High School in Punta Gorda on Friday. The hair and makeup job took seven hours. (STAFF PHOTO / CHIP LITHERLAND)DeSoto 48, Sebing 12 ....
It's over in Charlotte: Venice 56, Charlotte 26. Venice is the last unbeaten team. The announcers are freaking out about QB Trey Burton, or how brilliant Florida coach Urban Meyer is for getting the junior to commit to the Gators. Even comparing Burton to Tebow, minus not being left-handed. The announcers are talking about Venice moving up the state poll and possibly grabbing national attention. Hmmm, how long can the Indians remain unbeaten? Trey's thanking the offensive line, and talking about being focused on Manatee next week. Dri Archer also thanks the offensive line, also talking about next week's big matchup against the Hurricanes.
Cardinal Mooney picks up an important district win, 35-28 over Berkeley Prep
Southeast beats Boca Ciega 20-0 .... Port Charlotte keeps Lakewood Ranch winless 21-0 ... Saint Stephen's edges Bishop McLaughlin 24-21 ...
Steve Ierulli scores on a 1-yard run to give Mooney a 35-28 lead with 13 seconds left in a key district game ....
OK, make that eight possessions, eight touchdowns for Venice against Charlotte. Four TDs for QB Trey Burton, four for RB Dri Archer.
Midway through the fourth quarter of Friday night's game between Braden River and Hardee High, Pirate defenders sat on the bench passing around a chain given to them by the coaches. The significance was, don’t be the weakest link.
Venice QB Trey Burton scores on a 10-yard run, his third touchdown of the night, to boost the Indians' lead 42-20 over Charlotte toward the end of the second quarter. Six possessions for the Indians, six touchdowns. Three for Burton, three for Dri Archer.
Keswick Christian has 16 plays for minus 3 yards in the first half. They have one first down and five punts. One of its 16 plays was a 22-yard run. Without it, Keswick Christian would have had minus 25 yards in the half.
Don't count out the Tarpons; after Burton's TD, Mike Bellamy scores on a 3-yard run to cut Venice's lead 35-20 in the second quarter.
Venice's Trey Burton scores on a 65-yard run to answer a Charlotte touchdown, giving the Indians a 35-13 lead in the second quarter.
Venice' s Dri Archer scored on a 55-yard run for his third touchdown of the night, giving the Indians a 28-7 lead over Charlotte in the second quarter.
It's a real family affair at Braden River High. Josh Hunter is the Pirates head football coach. James Hunter, his brother, is the team's advance scout. His father, Jim, is also on the sidelines for each Pirates' game. "He's my get-back coach," said Josh Hunter. Jim Hunter walks the sidelines and tells any Pirate who wanders out of the players box on the sideline to 'get back.'
In case you were wondering ....The Gulf Coast Football Officials Association, along with the FHSAA, is showing its support for the fight against cancer by using pink whistles at tonight's football games ....
Sarasota High football coach Bob Perkins didn’t have any trouble getting to Hillsborough Riverview High. He has traveled this way many times in the past.
Perkins’ parents, Doug and Joanne Perkins live about three miles away from the home field of the Sharks. They moved here in 1990. His father-in-law, Phil Gallagher, lives about half a mile from the field. “When my parents moved here this was all fields,” Perkins said as he stood near midfield half an hour before the start of the game.
This is a big week for a number of area high school football teams. Most games are district games so in some cases, a playoff berth hangs in the balance. Riverview and Sarasota can clinch berths with a win tonight. Charlotte and Venice, the last of the unbeaten teams in the area, play each other tonight and can get the inside track to the 5A-11 title. The game is on CSS, channel 28 if you have Comcast. -
Friday, October 17, 2008, 9:40 pm
Friday Night Football .... Week 7
Booker High School's Jermaine Leverette does jumping jacks with his teammates as the sun sets prior to the start of the Tornadoes' matchup against the Seminoles at Southeast High School in Bradenton on Friday night. (STAFF PHOTO / CHIP LITHERLAND)Southeast's John Dowling intercepted a pass on his own 3-yard line late in the game to preserve the Seminoles' 20-13 win over Booker.
Lemon Bay and East Lake County are tied 7-7 and headed to overtime .....
How's this for a scorefest? ... DeSoto 42, Bayshore 31 ... and it's still in the third quarter ....
Charlotte quarterback Kyle Midgett came back into the game at 1:21 of the third quarter after being knocked out of the game in the first half with what appeared to be a leg injury.
Not much of a game of the week .... Manatee 31, Riverview 0 in the third quarter ... Unbeaten Charlotte is in danger of losing its first game of the season. The Tarpons are tied 17-17 with North Fort Myers .... Braden River must be the real deal. The Pirates are tossing a shutout, 30-0 over North Port in the third quarter ... No surprise here, Palmetto 27, Mooney 7 ... You can never underestimate Paul Maechtle and his Southeast Seminoles. Southeast 20, Booker 6 in the third quarter .
Manatee senior offensive linemen Ronnie Daniels, one of the Hurricanes’ better linemen, takes his uniform off at halftime and dons the band uniform to play the drums with the school’s marching band.
Braden River junior running back Jajuan Bell put on quite a show in the first half against North Port at Braden River High Field on Friday night. Bell rushed 16 times for 146 yards and four touchdowns. He scored on runs of 4, 68, 2 and 1 yards as the Pirates took a 30-0 lead at the half.
Booker held the ball for 16 plays in a 72-yard opening touchdown drive that consumed 9:36 in the first quarter.
Charlotte quarterback Kyle Midgett suffered what appeared to be a left leg injury with 2:02 to go in the first quarter. Midgett was in the grasp of North Fort Myers junior linebacker Kyle Schmidt when he went down. Midgett was called for intentional grounding on the play at his own 5 yard line. It was the second intentional grounding call on Charlottte’s opening drive.
The two lead guys leading the Riverview team out on to the field held a six-foot long chain as they ran to the Rams' sideline. The chain signified that the Rams were only as strong as their weakest link.
Tonight is sort of a light night for high school football in the area, just nine games involving area teams. Game of the night looks to be Manatee at Riverview. ... Here are some of the questions that will be answered later tonight. Can the Rams hand the 'Canes their third loss of the season? Will Cardinal Mooney be able to stay with powerful Palmetto? ... Can Charlotte remain unbeaten? ... Is Braden River for real? ... and can Booker go up to Southeast and beat the Seminoles? -
Friday, October 10, 2008, 10:20 pm
Friday Night Football .... Week 6
The Sarasota Sailors defense, lead by Spencer Young (69) and Darius Harvin (55) sacks Durant quarterback Je«Twan Smith (3) during the second half on Friday, October 10, 2008 at Sarasota High School in Sarasota, Fla. (Photo by Craig Litten (CORRESPONDENT PHOTO / CRAIG LITTEN)Finals are rolling in ... Booker 17, Jesuit 0 .... Braden River 16, Avon Park 6 ... Frostproof 28, Cardinal Mooney 7 .... Lakewood 35, Bayshore 13 .... Lemon Bay 14, LaBelle 0 ... Venice 46, Port Charlotte 17 ... Riverview 35, Hills. Riverview 12 ... Southeast 59, Osceola 0 ...
Game of the week alert ... scratch that, make it game of the season alert ... Charlotte is now leading Manatee 31-29 with 4 minutes to go after converting an 18-yard field goal by Masters
Manatee regained the lead over Charlotte, 22-21, on a 4-yard TD pass from
Brion Carnes .... just over 10 minutes left in the game ....
Charlotte quarterback Kyle Midgett was 5-for-5 for 81 yards on the final drive of the first half, which put the Tarpons up 21-15 at the half.
Crafty Braden River Pirate students added to a sign that designates Section A in the South end zone of the home stands at Bradetn River High Field on Friday night. They put plastic cups in the holes in the chain link fence adjacent the sign to form the capital letters “R,” “G” and “H” to form ARGH.
Winless Avon Park (0-4) threatened to take the lead in the second quarter against Braden River when the Red Devils had a first-and-goal at the Braden River 5-yard-line. But four playes netted just two yards and eneded when the Pirates stopped Avon Park QB Albert Moses for a one-yard loss on fourth down. The Pirates then put together a 12-play drive that ended with a Kaden Kerns 31-yard field goal to give Braden River a 9-0 at the half.
In a battle of top teams in Class 5A-11, Manatee (4-1, 1-0) has a slim 15-14 lead over Charlotte (4-0, 1-0)
Cardinal Mooney is playing at Frostproof and battling a rain storm and its opponent trailing 7-0 at the half ...
There's an upset brewing in Class 5A-11 ... Undefeated Venice is having a tough time with Port Charlotte leading just 25-17.
Park the team bus for the rest of the season. Riverview is making its last road trip of the season tongiht. The Rams will play their next three games at home before playing at Sarasota High.
Bucs coach Jon Gruden was at the Saint Stephen's-Carrollwood Day game and an H-T photographer was able to shoot a few shots of him tossing the football on the sideline with one of his sons. It will be in the Saturday edition of the sports section.
Freshman Corey Kalitta scored Saint Stephen's final TD Friday giving Saint Stephen's a 59-0 win over Carrolwood Day. It was the first TD of his career. Kalitta is the son of Scott Kalitta, a drag racing legend who died in an accident during qualifying for the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. June 22.
Saint Stephen's is not having any problems with Carrolwood Day leading 38-0 at the half. Bucs coach Jon Gruden has a son on the Carrolwood Day team. His teammates call him Deuce and another Gruden son is the team's ballboy. However, there have been no sightings of the Bucs head coach. -
Friday, October 03, 2008, 9:30 pm
Friday Night Football -- Week 5
Bradenton Christian's Eric Fridenberg, center, is pulled back by Bradenton Prep's Jason Shkodnik in the first half of their matchup on Friday. Bradenton Prep led 21-0 in the third quarter. (STAFF PHOTO / JENNA ISAACSON)Braden River’s Willie McNeal had a big first half Friday night against Lake Placid at Braden River High Field. The senior wide receiver caught four passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Steve Fischer was 5-for-5 in the half for 221 yards and three touchdowns.
Manatee quarterback Brion Carnes is 8-for-9 for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
Booker's Maurice Brooks has eight carries for 50 yards in the first half.
Booker sophomore backup quarterback Jermaine Leverett came in for one play in the first half Friday and threw a 34-yard screen pass to receiver Jeremy Butler that gave the Tornadoes first-and-goal on the 1-yard line. They scored on the next play for a 14-0 lead.
Riverview's Ronnie Bright, who was not expected to play Friday night, scored the Rams first TD against Monsignor Pace.
Brion Carnes was 4-for-4 passing, including a 38-yard TD pass, as Manatee opened up an early 7-0 lead over Sarasota ...
Venice's Dri Archer scored on a 66-yard run on the first play of the game as Venice took a 7-0 lead over Naples Golden Gate.
If the Riverview Rams needed any inspiration Friday night the Miami Monsignor Pace Spartans provided it early when several players went to midfield and jumped up and down on the Ram insignia. Some of the players also taunted the Rams as the Riverview team warmed up. .... Friday night was Homecoming at Riverview. The Royal Court was presented. The various classes and organizations paraded floats and alumni returned to join the present Riverview Kiltie band. .... Prior to the game Riverview coach John Sprague said that it was unlikely running back Ronnie Bright would get on the field. Bright, a 6-3, 235-pound senior, has been bothered by sprained ankles.
There is just one district game tonight ... Bradenton Christian vs. Bradenton Prep ... but that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of interesting games tonight. Can Sarasota hang with Manatee, ranked No. 8 in Class 5A? ... will Venice, ranked No. 9 in 5A, remain unbeaten? .... can Lakewood Ranch pick up its first win of the season vs. Hardee? ... will Riverview be able to handle Monsignor Pace, ranked No. 6 in Class 3A, after beating Booker, ranked No. 7, last week? -
Friday, September 26, 2008, 11:17 pm
Friday Night Football ... Week 4
The Hurricane defense, led by linebacker Chris Conley (21), Ortavious Simmons (51) and Ervin Johnson (5) sack Port Charlotte quarterback Samuel Thruston (5). causing a fumble during the first half at Manatee High on Friday night. (CORRESPONDENT PHOTO / CRAIG LITTEN)Andre Booker scores again on a 4-yard run late in the fourth quarter to lift Riverview past rival Booker 14-7....
Andre Booker scores on a five-yard TD run for Riverview to tie up the game with Booker, the H-T's top-ranked team in the area, 7-7 early in the fourth quarter. ...
Danny Zarrella's interception of a Trey Burton pass in the second quarter gave Lakewood Ranch the spark it needed. Trailing 7-0, Zarrella picked off Burton, who has committed to the University of Florida, on the Venice 44 yard line. On the next play, Mustang QB Zack Self hit WR Marcus McNeal on a 44-yard TD pass to tie the game at 7.
Lakewood Ranch, which had displayed an anemic offense in three straight losses, decided to change it up a bit Friday night against undefeated Venice in their Class 5A-District 11 opener. The Mustangs wanted to get the ball into the hands of talented WR Marcus McNeal as often as possible. To do so they moved him to tailback. He responded with 27 rushing yards and caught two passes for 75 yards and a touchdown as Lakewood Ranch held it's own, and trailed just 14-7 at intermission.
Keswick Christian defensive back Trevor Angell took an interception return 100 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, give Keswicj a 17-0 lead.
The football for Friday’s Riverview-Booker game was dropped from the sky to the 50-yard line. John Ledbetter of the Booker ROTC program and Rebecca King, a teacher in the school’s TV studio did a piggyback skydive to deliver the football. While Ledbetter has brought the football to the game several times, it was the first sky-dive ever for King.
The Booker football team picked up a big player this past week. Keith Miller, a 6-5, 350-ppound junior moved in from Phoenix City, Alabama. Miller was in street clothes Friday night but should be ready to play the in Tornadoes next game.
Saint Stephen's is playing at Mount Dora Bible School in central Florida. Here's something you don't see too often. There are no stands surrounding the football field. People who want to watch the game bring their blankets and chairs. The Falcons have a wooded area behind their sidelines and the concession stand is portable, sort of like what you would see at a county fair. For those who need to go to the rest room, there are six portables. By the way, the field is well-groomed and top notch.
The musical offerings at the Booker-Riverview game may have a bit of a Big Ten flavor. Booker’s fight song is similar to the University of Wisconsin’s, and Riverivew’s is a knockoff of Michigan’s. In twist of fate, the Badgers and Wolverines open their Big Ten schedule Saturday at the Big House.
It's a perfect night for football. The sky is blue, the humidity is low and district games are getting underway all around the area. Should be a fun night. What will be the big upset tonight? How about Braden River over DeSoto? -
Friday, September 19, 2008, 9:52 pm
Friday Night Football --- Week 3
Tampa Catholic LB Brandon Mendoza, left, misses a diving tackle as Cardinal Mooney RB Stephen Ierulli runs for a first down, with 1:44 remaining in the second quarter of their game at Cardinal Mooney High School, in Sarasota on Friday. (STAFF PHOTO / ROB MATTSON)Former Bucs QB Doug Williams is in attendance at the Moone-Tampa Catholic game watching his son D.J. Williams a wide receiver/quarterback for Tampa Catholic. ...
Southeast's Dyron Speight threw a 27-yard pass to Devon Bacon on fourth-and-14 to set up the Seminoles with a first-and-goal on the 4 with 32 seconds left. Running back Waymon Bowden scored on the next play to send the game to the half tied at 7-7.
It looked like Cardinal Mooney was going into halftime with a 7-0 deficit, maybe 10-0. However, when Tampa Catholic lined up for a 48-yard field goal at the end of the half the Cougars blocked the kick and Ben Bobish ran it in for a TD ... 7-7 at the half
Braden River’s Rueben Roderick could not of asked for a better start Friday night against Bayshore at Braden River High School Field. Roderick recovered a fumble by Bayshore’s Derick Hansen on the opening kickoff at the Bruin 14. Roderick then scored on a 14 yard run on Braden River’s first offensive play.
The crowd for the Southeast-Manatee game has been estimated at more than 7,000 ...
Two of Sarasota's first three passes were intercepted by Venice Robert Fordham ... Venice had 80 yards in the first half, 76 on one play. ...
For a few minutes Friday night in Lakeland, it looked like those touch football games on the streets of your old neighborhood – the sun was going down, but there was a street light (maybe) and you were going to cram every play you could into those last few minutes before sunset.
In this case, the field lights on Riverview’s side of Johnny Johnson Stadium went out, seconds after Lakeland Kathleen’s first offensive play in a scoreless game with 9:02 left in the first quarter.
School officials had to let the lights cool down before turning them back on. So while play continued for eight more plays in the rapidly-darkening stadium, the game was eventually halted – for eight minutes – until the lights were restored.
Manatee had the ball for 19 of 30 plays in the first quarter but hurt itself with 40 yards in penalties and the game remains scoreless at the start of the second quarter.
Running back A.J. Strong puts ODA on the board with a 25-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Fort Myers Evangelical Christian.
Kickoff is still 40 minutes away but the bleachers at John Kiker Memorial Stadium in Bradenton are jam-packed. Looks like fans trying to get into the Manatee at Southeast game can plan on standing ... It's still worth checking out.
Bayshore head coach Jean P. Gordon brings back memories of former FSU head coach Dr. Darryl Mudra. When he was at FSU in the mid 1970s, Mudra coached the Seminoles from the press box rather than from the sidelines like most head coaches. Gordon also coaches his team from the press box where he says he gets a better overall view from the game.
Saint Stephen's leads St. Edward's (Vero Beach) 20-6 at the half.
Top games of the night have to be Sarasota at Venice and the Manatee County rivalry between Southeast and Manatee ... it looks like a perfect night for football ... so let's get ready for kickoff -
Friday, September 12, 2008, 10:12 pm
Friday Night Football .... Week 2
North Port's Bryce Johnston, 40, pursues Desmond Hurley of Sarasota during the first quarter of their game Friday night in North Port. (STAFF PHOTO / JASON MCKIBBEN)In a game that is actually living up to its billing, Manatee and Booker, the top two rated teams in the area, are playing in a seesaw battle. For now, Manatee has the lead 21-17 ... but there's still plenty of time left
Fullback Ronnie Bright’s return from an ankle injury to the Riverview backfield Friday must have been welcomed by blue-chip running back Andre Booker, who racked up 114 yards on 14 first-half carries, including 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns on his first eight carries. Bright chipped in 34 for yards on three carries as the Rams jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Injured Booker High defensive lineman Arthur Jeffrey, one of the top recruits in the area, is on crutches on the Tornadoes' sideline. He's helping out the Booker defense talking to players who have been in the game trying to replace them.
Riverview running back Andre Booker is over 100 yards rushing and has already scored two TDs (on 20-yard and 51-yard runs) and it's still early in the second quarter ... The Rams are winning 14-0
DeSoto jumps out to a quick 13-0 lead over Port Charlotte in the first quarter before the Pirates put a touchdown on the board in the second to narrow the score to 13-2.
Forget the rain gear ... the weather has cleared up .... just watch your step on those slippery bleacher seats ....
Rain has hit the area in a big way .... this will certainly cause some delays with kickoff times .... we will keep you posted ..... bring your rain gear -
Friday, September 05, 2008, 9:56 pm
Friday Night Football is back
Covered in body paint, Sarasota High School juniors Edwin Medina, right, and Keith Webster, second from right, cheer for their football team during the season opener Friday night against Booker High School. (STAFF PHOTO / DAN WAGNER)Waymon Bowden scores his first TD as a Seminole to put Southeast ahead 17-10 in overtime
A Palmetto FG with 19 seconds to go sends the Palmetto-Southeast game into overtime ....
Braden River just took a 14-7 lead over Lakewood Ranch with just 42 seconds left in the game .... barn burner of the night
Booker is winning big over Sarasota; Manatee High is winning big over Bayshore ... best game of the young season will be Booker at Manatee High next Friday. How many people can fit into Hawkins Stadium?
Lakewood Ranch High School Athletic Director Sean Ward estimated that there were well over 6,000 fans at the Lakewood Ranch High Stadium on Friday night for the Braden River-Lakewood Ranch game. The stadium has a capacity of 3,500.
Waymon Bowden, a transfer from Out-of-Door Academy, looks good as in the backfield for Southeast. He is the Seminoles leading rusher at the half
Cardinal Mooney Running back Steve Ierulli carried the ball for the first 16 running plays in the Cougars’ season-opener.
The streak finlly ended when quarterback Robbie Lyons scrambled for 10 yards in the last 25 seconds of the fisrt half.
Ierulli, a 5-9, 195-pound senior, gained 118 yards on those 16 carries as Mooney took a 21-6 halftime lead.
Last season Ierulli gained 1,101 yards last season as a junior.
Members of the 1968 Sarasota High team that advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals were honored before the Sarasota-Booker game. Eight to 10 members of the team showed up, along with coach Charlie Cleland. They also ate a pregame meal with the current Sailors' team.
Braden River High fans apparently are ready for the start of the season. 45 minutes before the start of the team's game with Lakewood Ranch High at Lakewood Ranch High Pirates fans filled the visitors' bleachers ....
Welcome to the Herald-Tribune's live blog from area high school football games .... there should be some classic games tonight with rivalries like Booker at Sarasota, Venice at Riverview, Southeast at Palmetto, Riverview at Venice and Braden River at Lakewood Ranch kickoff off the season .... are you ready for some high school football? ... the weather looks like it's cooperating
Friday Night Football
