BRADENTON -- Prep football fans will get their first look at local teams this weekend in the annual showcase known as the Kickoff Classic. Manatee County is coming off a banner year for high school football in which Manatee High won its 5th state title and captured the national spotlight, while Palmetto entered the realm of elite Florida teams under first-year coach Dave Marino, winning district and regional titles, while giving 5A state champs Miami Norland their toughest game of the year (35-27) and nearly knocking off the 'Canes (29-26). Manatee enters the season as one of the most talked about prep programs in the nation, while Palmetto brings a talent-rich squad that looks capable of another state championship run. Both teams are in pre-season action Friday night and will face each other October 26 at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton.

Blake Keller gets a sack in the 2012 state championship game photo: Page-Moore

The Hurricanes are ranked No. 1 in the nation by leading high school football website Maxpreps and No. 3 by USA Today, who happens to have Manatee's week 3 opponents Miami Central ranked No. 1, giving the 'Canes a plausible shot at grabbing the consensus top spot when they face the Rockets at Hawkins Stadium September 14.

The team will get something of a break in hosting Osceola Friday, having faced defending 2009 state champs Plant High and 2010 state runner-ups, American Heritage in their last two Kickoff Classic games. The event gives the 'Canes a dress rehearsal before they host always tough Miramar in week 1, who was 13-0 before losing to Plant in last year's 8A state championship.

Osceola struggled at 4-6 last season and do not figure to be much of a challenge for Manatee. While the Hurricanes lost several key players to graduation, including linebacker Darius White (Iowa State), Safety Clinton Heaven (North Carolina) and RB Leon Allen (Western Kentucky), they return a squad that may be even better than last year's nationally-ranked state championship team.

The 'Canes once again have star QB Cord Sandberg, who has verbally committed to Mississippi State, WR Ja Juan Pollock and versatile playmaker Anthony Lauro to an offense anchored by an O-line that features three-returning starters, including college prospect Thor Miller. On defense, it's not hyperbole to suggest that Joe Kinnan and his defensive-line coach Steve Gulash have cultivated one of the greatest prep front fours anywhere – ever.

Demarcus Christmas wraps up a runner for a loss photo: Page-Moore

The 'Canes return an entire d-line that produced 38 sacks last season. With ultra-quick defensive ends Blake Keller and Marquis Dawsey on the perimeter, while 300-pounders Demarcus Christmas and Derrick Calloway tie up the middle, offenses will be losing sleep thinking about how to keep their QBs safe.

Keller and Dawsey, both seniors, had 14 sacks each last season. Calloway, also a senior, is considered one of the top d-line recruits in the nation, while Christmas, a junior, is already attracting interest from big-time colleges. The across the board talent means that offenses can't double team any of the QB hunters without leaving a LB open, a dangerous proposition when you consider that White's apprentice, Raland Brewer, lurks in the wings.

Palmetto heads to Venice Friday night to take on the Indians, who will be in a rebuilding year following five straight seasons in which they have made the playoffs. The Tigers also lost some key players to graduation, including QB Trent Miller on offense, who walked on to USF.

Marquis Dawsey pressures the QB photo by Page-Moore

The Palmetto defense said goodbye to linebacker Daqual Randall (Western Kentucky) and DB Dallas Jackson (Jacksonville University). But the Tigers once again benefited from the football academy at IMG when Illinois senior Spencer Atkins decided to transfer to play for the school after studying under IMG guru and Heisman Trophy-winning QB Chris Weinke.

Atkins will have a talented and battle-tested receiving corps to work with, as Palmetto returns all three of last year's starters, including All-Madden selection Cory Crawford. He'll also carry the peace of mind that comes with having a thousand yard rusher in the backfield to share the load. Josh Hicks figures to get plenty of carries, and if he can manage to accomplish even most of what he did in last year's breakout season, Marino and company should be looking at another run at the school's second state title. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.

see also:

Photo Gallery: Manatee High Wins State Football Championship

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