BRADENTON – 7A Sarasota will be an underdog when they come into John Kiker Memorial Stadium to face 5A Southeast High on Friday night. Though the Seminoles put four players into Division I programs last season, they are again stacked at skill positions. Undefeated at 3-0, they've outscored opponents 96-38 so far this year. Looking to go into the big game with Manatee next week undefeated, the 'Noles are sure to bring their A-game.

Junior DB/RB Brian Poole last season vs. Manatee Page Moore Photo: 941-518-4600

Coming into the season, the Seminoles had lost a lot of star power. The combo of QB Dyron Speight and WR Bo Brand, who'd confounded offenses for 4 straight years, had graduated and along with teammate Terron Williams (OLB) and 2010 'Noles grad Jon Dowling (transfer from Florida), the quartet reunited at Western Kentucky, which is starting to become known as Bradenton north under head coach Willie Taggart, who starred as a QB at Manatee before excelling as a 4-year starter for WKU in the late 90's. This season, Brand already has 7 receptions for 68 yards in the Hilltoppers first three games. Williams has recorded 3 tackles. Speight will redshirt and Dowling will sit out a season for transferring.

To make matters worse for Southeast, star defensive lineman Deangelo Dawes relocated to within rival Manatee's district. Still, Coach Paul Maechtle returned some quality players with big-game experience and for a program steeped in the tradition of winning, that's often all it takes. Perhaps most amazing, Maechtle's impact players are all underclassmen, including two emerging receivers, sophomore Bobby Haines and Junior Jacob Sannon. If 2011 is in fact a rebuilding year, that certainly bodes well for the Seminoles' future.

Leading the fireworks is sophomore tailback Courtney Allen, who's already exploded for 340 rushing yards in the first three games. Allen saw time as a freshman, sharing the load with speed-burner Brian Poole until former Bradenton Prep star Jared Williams finally got cleared to for a transfer late in the season. Poole led the county with 18 TD's, while also rushing for over 800 yards on limited carries. But as one of the state's top defensive secondary prospects, Maechtle was always looking for a way to trim his offensive workload.

Williams, who'd rushed for over 5,500 yards with Bradenton Prep and is now the 2nd-string halfback at SMU as a true freshman, shook off the rust quickly. Allen, then only a freshman, also came into his own late in the season. As a result, Poole has seen limited action on offense this year, which lets the Seminoles access his ability to shut down a full side of the field on defense. Junior QB Myles Braxton-Johnson, who starred at LB last year, is also showing promise. He's grown more consistent in each game, culminating with a 15 for 18 effort against Booker and he's yet to throw an interception, while firing three TD's.

Sarasota (2-1) predictably routed North Port last week, but they struggled to beat Booker 17-12 and were manhandled by a strong Palmetto squad 35-14. Their college-style spread offense gives a lot of packages to adjust to. On defense, the Sailors are led by D-I prospect Marcus Reilly at free safety. They've also got giant, 6-foot-8, 260-pound tackle Doug Mulhollen plugging up the middle with quick feet for a player his size. He'll go up against the 'Noles' 6'4, 312 OT Kevin Williams in an interesting match-up.

All signs point to the Seminoles scoring another victory to carry a 4-0 record into the big game at Hawkins Stadium next Friday night. The 'Canes have a bye week, so they'll likely be scouting their rival high school team to see what they'll be looking at come next week. If Southeast can win big, they'll enter the game with plenty of momentum to take on a particularly strong Manatee squad, one that's much better than its 1-2 record would suggest.

related:

Under Center, Sandberg Brings Instant Expectations – and Possibilities