Carnes helps Manatee win another classic

BRADENTON — Speaking in terms of the result, the venerable head coaches sat on opposite sides of the spectrum.

Speaking of the game itself, however, Joe Kinnan and Paul Maecthle were in complete agreement.

“The fans got their money’s worth,” Kinnan said, “there’s no doubt about that.”

“Two good teams ... running up and down the field, having a good time on a Friday night,” Maechtle said. “That’s what high school football is all about.”

It was Kinnan’s Manatee Hurricanes who topped Maechtle’s Southeast Seminoles, scoring a 30-26 win in front of more than 6,700 frenzied fans Friday at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium, providing a salve for a community that has dealt with its share of horror over the last few months.

The game-winner came compliments of Brion Carnes, Manatee’s senior quarterback playing in his fourth and final Manatee-Southeast game. With less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Carnes spun and sprinted four yards for a score, giving the Canes (3-0) a lead they never relinquished.

It was Carnes’ second running touchdown in a span of three minutes. He also threw for a pair of touchdowns and 153 yards, as well.

But the biggest play of the night came from a defensive player — Taylor Shipley. A senior linebacker for the Canes, Shipley set up Carnes’ win-clinching run by falling on a Southeast fumble with 5:29 remaining, giving Manatee the ball at Southeast’s 29.

“I just saw it pop out,” he said, “and I dove on it.”

That wasn’t the lone miscue that proved costly for Southeast (1-2). The Seminoles got inside Manatee’s 4-yard line on their first drive of the game, but came away with nothing. And a bad snap on a punt attempt led to another Carnes scoring run, which helped Manatee close to within 26-24 with 6:19 remaining.

The Seminoles did get big nights out of a number of players, including Jonathan Dowling, the Noles’ highly touted defensive back heading to Florida. Dowling returned a first-quarter interception 45 yards for a touchdown before lining up at wide receiver and catching two touchdown passes from Southeast quarterback Dyron Speight. Speight threw for 222 yards and three scores, and helped give the Noles a 20-14 lead at the half.

“They’re a heck of a football team,” Kinnan said of the Seminoles.

Manatee, however, controlled the second half, mostly by staying grounded. The Canes attempted just six passes after the break, relying on the legs of Mike Blakely (110 rushing yards) and Carnes.

They helped Manatee even the series 14-14 — though Maechtle told his team to celebrate its improvement after the postgame huddle.

“I feel bad for our kids because they played so hard all night long,” he said. “They’ve just got to know they’ve got to play that hard night in and night out.

“We just couldn’t quite get the home run when we needed it.”

Manatee High senior defensive back Deonte Huggins sealed the game with two late interceptions.