Manatee County High School Football Scores 10/28/11

Manatee's Anthony Lauro takes off with a Thor Miller escort Page Moore Photo 941.518.4600

BRADENTON – BRADENTON – On a cool, wet and rainy night at Harllee Field, the Manatee Hurricanes had to bite down and earn every point to serve the Palmetto Tigers their first loss of what has so far been a superb season. Kicker Nick Tankersley saved the day, kicking three field goals, including the 35-yard game winner in the 4th, giving Manatee a 29-26 lead with just under four left.

Palmetto nearly came back when a punt on their next and likely last possession drew a personal foul and a first down. Four plays later, they went for it on 4th, but QB Trent Miller was stuffed by a pack of 'Cane defenders, before illegally flipping it to an offensive lineman in a desperate toss that fans initially mistook for a recovered fumble that would have set up another first down and possible field goal attempt. The loss of a down was the nails in the coffin.

Palmetto QB Trent Miller under pressure from Marquis Dawsey and Blake Keller (55)                 Page Moore Photo 941.518.4600

The Hurricanes' offensive line was sporadic, opening big holes early, but struggling to make blocks in the red zone, where Manatee missed three attempts to score, including an end zone interception on their initial drive and a failed 4th and a foot in the second quarter. QB Cord Sandberg carried the rushing load, hauling nearly 200 yards in a Tim Tebow like performance. WR Anthony Lauro was straight up money on the reverse, tenaciously willing himself into the smallest openings with precision cuts that made the Tiger's secondary's head spin.

The Hurricanes defensive line, led by a truly spectacular multi-sack performance from senior DE Blake Keller,  made life miserable for Palmetto. Keller, along with teammates Demarcus Christmas and Derrick Calloway, set up permanent camp in the Palmetto backfield. Miller, the top passing QB in the region, had a tough time getting set in the first half, but settled into a rhythm of short drops and quick passes to combat the swarming D and pulled out several big passes in the second half.

Josh Hicks showed that he is the premier RB in SW Florida, coming up with big plays time and again, running up 213 yards on 18 carries. Palmetto's young corps of receivers again exposed Manatee's susceptibility to the deep pass when QB's get time to set and throw. Shaq Harris and Cory Crawford burned the Hurricane defense for several big plays throughout the evening -- Harris twice for TD's.

Cord Sandberg turns up field on one of many big runs. Page Moore Photo 941.518.4600

In other action, Southeast lost a heart breaker to Hardee on the road, driving 74 yards on the final possession, when QB Myles Braxton-Johnson hit Brian Poole for the score. Needing the 2-point conversion to tie it, Johnson connected on a pass to Jacob Sannon, who slipped and failed to bring it down in bounds and Southeast fell 21-19. The loss sets up a muddled playoff picture for District 10 5A. If Palmetto beats the 'Noles in next week's showdown, they win the title outright. However, if Southeast wins, they'll need a Hardee loss to avoid the tie.

High School Football
Friday 7:30 p.m.

Manatee 29 Palmetto 26 (preview)
Southeast 19 Hardee County 21
Riverview 0 Sarasota 36
Lakewood Ranch 22 Largo 42
Bayshore 14 DeSoto County 7
Calvary Christian 14 Bradenton Christian 13