Manatee Hurricanes Overcome 17-Point Deficit to Defeat Southeast Seminoles 31-24

Brian Poole ran for 142 yards on 14 carries for Southeast Photo by Page & Moore

BRADENTON -- Southeast put a scare into Manatee, but when you’re number two in the nation, you find a way to win. The Hurricanes overcame a 24-7 halftime deficit to defeat the Seminoles 31-24 in a classic duel between two Manatee high schools Friday night at Kiker Memorial Stadium. Mike Blakely rushed for 154 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the ÔCanes to its third win of the season.

Southeast took a 3-0 lead, less than four minutes into the game on Dustin Clark’s 28 yard field goal. Manatee went ahead briefly when Mike Blakely rumbled in from 23 yards out, capping off a 69-yard scoring drive with 2:47 left in the first quarter. Southeast answered back on its next drive when quarterback Dyron Speight connected with Boe Brand on a 30-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute left in the opening quarter to give Southeast a 10-7 lead.

Manatee's Mike Blakely ran for 154 yards & 4 TD's Photo by Page & Moore

Brian Poole tallied the first of his two touchdowns in the game with a 40 yard scamper into the end zone midway through the second quarter. After a Mike Blakely fumble was recovered, Poole scored again from 24 yards out, to give Southeast a 24-7 margin at halftime.

Facing a loss to their cross-town rivals, the Manatee Hurricanes came out in the second half and took command of the game. Mike Blakeley blasted through the line and scored from 55 yards to pull the ÔCanes within 10 points, four minutes into the third quarter.

Manatee recovered a fumble by freshman running back Courtney Allen at the Southeast 27 yard line and turned it into a 20-yard field goal by Nicolas Tankersley, cutting the ÔNoles lead to seven points at 24-17. Allen fumbled a second time at his own 20 yard line and Blakely made the ÔNoles pay for it by crashing into the end zone from 16 yards out to tie the game at 24-24 with 7:01 left in the 4th quarter.

Manatee’s defense held Southeast on its next possession and took the lead for good on Blakeley’s fourth touchdown of the game from the 14-yard line with 2:10 remaining in the 4th quarter. The Seminoles' final attempt to tie the game was thwarted when Boe Brand’s reception inside the Hurricane’s 35 yard line was called back due to a personal foul penalty. Rhoshaun Goff intercepted Dyron Speight with 1.7 seconds left in the game to seal the win for Manatee.

Both teams have an off week next Friday. Manatee (3-0) will next face Lakewood Ranch at Hawkins Field and Southeast (2-1) will travel to Venice on October 1st.

A video post-game recap on the game is posted below. The game broadcast is available by clicking here.