Live updates: High school football scores for Bradenton, Manatee County teams in Week 7
Manatee’s defense had allowed 57 points over four games prior to Friday’s showdown with Venice.
The Indians hung 56 on the Hurricanes en route to a 56-24 victory.
It was Manatee’s first loss of the season. The Canes were dealt a blow one play into the game when starting middle linebacker Max Freeman suffered a shoulder injury.
Later in the game, Damontez McDowell, Manatee’s other starting senior middle linebacker, left with cramping in his calf.
By that point, though, Venice, last year’s Class 4S state runner up, had the game in hand.
“We didn’t tackle well, we didn’t line up well,” Manatee head coach Jacquez Green said.
Venice scored on its opening possession, with Manatee (6-1) settling for a field goal on its first drive. The Hurricanes delivered a big punch on special teams early in the second quarter to keep the deficit to four points when Ty’ron Jackson returned a kick 92 yards for a touchdown.
But that was the closest Manatee could get to the Indians. They scored on their next two drives and held an 11-point halftime lead that ballooned to a second-half blowout.
The Indians penchant for fourth down conversions and their up-tempo, fast-paced offense wore down Manatee’s defense during their 28-point second-half barrage.
“It’s hard to replicate it (in practice),” Green said. “You really can’t replicate it. Basically, it’s like going against the wing-T. You can’t replicate what they do. We just got to get lined up better. The good thing is we got it on film now to see where we made mistakes at. Just have to watch the film and clean it up.”
With 11 minutes, 2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, referees threw multiple flags for personal foul penalties following a Venice touchdown that put the Indians ahead 49-17.
One of the flags resulted in Manatee defensive lineman Tyreek’e Robinson’s ejection. Manatee saw a second player get ejected later in the quarter.
Green said there was some personal stuff at halftime with Robinson, which made him emotional.
“He came off the field and he was talking when the guy said, ‘(Expletive) the referee,’” Green said. “I guess the referee heard him and was all rabbit ears ... so he threw the flag, threw him out of the game. After they told my players not to talk to them, but their coaches were cussing out our players on the field right there.”
Venice tallied 589 total yards of offense in the win, while Manatee had 251 total yards of offense.
Here’s a look at the rest of the Week 7 games with scores below:
Palmetto 34, Southeast 19
North Port 42, Bayshore 14
Parrish Community 23, Mulberry 22 (OT)
Bradenton Christian 72, Marco Island Academy 0
Saint Stephen’s 24, St. Petersburg Catholic 20
IMG Academy National 49, St. Johns Bartram Trail 20
IMG Academy White at NFL Academy (London, England)
IMG Academy Blue at NFL Academy (London, England)
Swipe below for scores involving Bradenton-area programs:
