Manatee Stomps Plant, Head to PA for another Major Showdown

Defensive linemen Drakkar Wilson and Quinton Pompey Photo by Page Moore Photo

BRADENTON -- The Hurricanes exceeded all expectations when they ran over #2 in the nation Plant last Friday night, 48-10. Mike Blakely and Quinton Pompey upped their already considerable value, as multiple Division I schools attempt to sign the local stars. This week, the team heads up north to tackle a similarly endowed PA team known as the ”football factory“ – and this one counts!

When Manatee High and rival Plant locked up last Saturday night, there was one question. Could the Hurricanes stop the force of nature known as James Wilder Jr.? Wilder, the nation’s top-ranked prep running back was coming off of a banner season, including a 100-yard-plus game against Manatee in last year’s state title game.

The answer was a resounding yes. Led by the brick-wall middle of Quinton Pompey and Drakkar Wilson, Manatee held Wilder to only 86 yards on 15 carries. Pompey is a man among boys on the field, but double-teaming him only frees up Wilson, who’s also a force to be reckoned with and should be a big part of Manatee’s success this season. Pompey leveled Plant’s star QB, Phillip Eli and put him out for nearly half of the game, a loss that clearly rattled the Plant offense and emboldened Manatee to put more pressure on the backfield. 

Mike Blakely rushed for 140 yards vs. Plant Photo by Page Moore Photo

As good as the defense was, it was RB Mike Blakely who stole the show. Blakely had 140 yards and three TD’s to lead the Manatee offense. With all of the hype over Wilder, it was Blakely who looked like the nation’s top running back and college coaches all over the country were surely taking notes on the young star who is reportedly considering Florida, USF or joining former teammate Ace Sanders at South Carolina. Not only did Blakely outperform Wilder at RB, he also shook off several attempted tackles from the much bigger player, who’s also a highly-touted defensive star.

The 48-10 preseason victory shot Manatee up to No. 3 in the ESPN national rankings, but there will be no time to relax against Woodland Hills, also one of the nation’s top prep teams. After Friday night, it’s difficult to imagine any team of high school kids standing up to the Hurricanes and a state title certainly seems possible. This matchup should tell us whether a High School National Championship might also be within reach.

This week, Coach Joe Kinnan will be head to head with another iconic prep coach in Woodland Hills’ George Novak. The Wolverines are perennial contenders in Western Pennsylvania’s football hotbed that has produced stars like Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Joe Namath, Tony Dorsett, Johnny Unites and Jim Kelly – all from within a few miles of each other. NFL star Jason Taylor is a product of Woodland Hills program.

Novak has produced more than 30 Division I players this decade and Woodland Hills regularly draws upward of 10,000 fans to the ”Wolverena,“ where they’ve only lost two games since 1993. The Wolverines are led by Quinton Jefferson, a 6’4 DE, who’s received 8 Division I scholarship offers so far, and versatile two-way star Lafayette Pitts, who will be a Pitt Panther next fall. Make no mistake, the Hurricanes are going into hostile territory against a top-tier opponent, but they’re going in armed with one of the most talented squads this area has ever seen. 

Prediction:
Manatee 21
Woodland Hills 14