Focused and ready Kinnan happy with Manatee’s approach

BRADENTON — As happy as he has been with the results, Manatee coach Joe Kinnan is just as pleased with his team’s approach.

“It’s been very business-like,” the Hurricanes coach said.

They’re not looking ahead, Kinnan said, and he hopes the trend continues tonight when Manatee (11-1) heads to Palm Bay Bayside (8-4) to play for the Class 5A-Region 3 championship.

“They know this is a one-game season,” said Kinnan, whose Canes are looking for their 11th regional title and third since Kinnan came back to the sideline in 2005. “Let’s head over there and try to take the next step.”

Getting there means getting past a Bears team that made program history Nov. 20 when it scored its first postseason victory by beating Royal Palm Beach. This is Bayside’s third trip to the postseason and first under head coach Derek Smith, who took over this year after serving as a longtime assistant at Melbourne Palm Bay.

“They’ve got some pretty good athletes,” said Kinnan, who has watched film of the Bears’ two playoff wins, “and they’re bigger than us on both sides of the ball.”

Unlike St. Petersburg, a run-happy team Manatee defeated during last week’s regional final, Bayside has found success on the ground as well as in the air. Quarterback Richard Burrows has completed 151 of 249 passes (nearly 61 percent) for 1,785 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Burrows has spent the fall hooking up with Jhomo Gordon (51 receptions, 731 yards, eight touchdowns) and Neally Cunningham (48 passes, 362 yards, two touchdowns), but has also connected with Davon Walker and Vontrail Rutland, who have teamed for 21 catches, 393 yards and three touchdowns.

When the Bears elect to stay grounded, they put the ball in the hands of Johnnie Hicks (1,283 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) or leave it in the hands of Burrows (585 rushing yards, four touchdowns).

“They play a lot of spread offense,” Kinnan said, “and they can run the ball behind their big offensive line.”

Manatee is multi-dimensional, as well. Though Brion Carnes threw for just eight yards last week, the senior quarterback has thrown for 2,047 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. Versatile threat Mike Blakely has done his best work this season running the football (1,095 yards, 14 touchdowns), and Manatee is allowing 7.3 points a game since surrendering 43 to Venice on Oct. 30.

Consequently, Manatee is on the cusp of going to a state semifinal, where the winner will host either Pompano Beach Ely or Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

“We’re in the elite eight,” Kinnan said. “Now we want to get to the final four.”