PALMETTO – Palmetto (2-0) lost their starting QB Spencer Atkins and last year's Manatee County rushing champion Josh Hicks in week one, but if any team can absorb the otherwise catastrophic simultaneous loss of a QB and RB it is, without doubt, the Tigers. Senior WR Cory Crawford, who stepped up to rush for 144 yards in less than two quarters last week, started at RB against Sarasota Friday night and looked like he was born to play the position. Crawford broke loose on a 52-yard TD and rushed for a total of 277 yards on just 11 carries, as the Tigers ran away 47-28, in a game that was competitive until the third quarter.
Back-up QB Chris Tuten took some time to gain his confidence, but came on strong once he settled in, throwing for over 300 yards with 4 passing TDs. Senior WR Shaq Harris had a career game, pulling down 8 receptions for 177 yards and 2 TD's, one an incredible 44-yard grab inside the 10, in which he pulled down a high throw and immediately juked the defender who was on his back, to take it in for the score untouched.
E.J. Burston was the workhorse receiver of the night, grabbing the short outs and piling up yards after the catch, while also pulling down two TDs. Tuten hesitates in the pocket a bit, forces some of his throws and often puts more air under the ball than needed, giving secondaries unnecessary time to converge, but he gets to second and third look receivers, and the 6'2 sophomore can rifle the ball with impressive accuracy when he takes the time to set. Considering that two dangerous weapons are out of the lineup, Palmetto has the potential to be one of the most dynamic offenses in the state, once Hicks is healthy.
The defense, which was the question mark at the beginning of the season, had trouble containing the Sailors' compact Rod Tullis, a bruising RB who took them for 152 yards on 28 carries. However, the Tiger D stepped up when it counted, stopping several drives in the red zone, grinding down the Sarasota offense, which slowed considerably by late in the 3rd quarter when the Tigers began to dominate play.
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| Palmetto RB Cory Crawford (3) turns the corner on a successful run. |
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Southeast (1-1) sputtered again, but managed to pull off an ugly 12-7 victory against Lakewood Ranch (1-1), who was denied on a final drive that could have given them the victory. The Seminoles' junior running back Courtney Allen finally returned to form. Allen returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown, adding 181-yards rushing on 29 carries.
QB Miles Braxton Johnson fumbled twice in the red zone for Southeast. The Senior QB, who showed tremendous poise and potential in 2011, has yet to find his rhythm this season. Lakewood Ranch TE Wyatt McCloud established himself as a player to watch, scoring the Mustangs' only TD on a direct-snap rush that he took 37 yards.
Coming off their big win over Miramar, Manatee (2-0) routed Riverview, as expected, handing the Rams a 49-7 loss in the Ram Bowl in Sarasota Friday night. Cord Sandberg ran for a TD on the 'Canes opening possession and then threw for three more, putting up 248 passing yards in just over 2 quarters of play.
Sandberg spread it out to Ja Juan Pollick, Anthony Lauro and Broderick Yancy, who each did well turning up yards after the catch. The Rams were never able to get much going against the vaunted Manatee defense. The 'Canes host nationally-ranked Miami Central next week at Hawkins Stadium.
Manatee 49
Riverview 7
Palmetto 47
Sarasota 28
Southeast 12
Lakewood Ranch 7
Bradenton Christian 33
Northside Christian 10
Port Charlotte 24
Bayshore 22
First Baptist 67
Saint Stephen’s 0
North Port 42
Braden River 0
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