Carnes, Sanders meet Raiders again

BRADENTON — Big-time football returned to Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium in December 2005.

Manatee was back in a state semifinal for the first time in 11 years, and a capacity crowd filled the bleachers and lined the fences to watch the Hurricanes match up with the Raiders from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

Mingled in with the rest of the fans that night were Ace Sanders and Brion Carnes, Ace’s cousin and best friend.

Like everyone else, they were trying to get a glimpse of the game.

Turns out, they got a glimpse of their future.

Life will come full circle for Sanders and Carnes, seniors and two of Manatee’s captains, when the Hurricanes host those same Raiders on Friday in yet another state semifinal.

Win or lose, it’s the final game inside Hawkins Stadium for the two players who have started since their freshman year.

“Friday’s going to be a real emotional game for us,” said Sanders, a wide receiver. “Real emotional.”

“We remember talking, ‘We can’t wait to get here. That’s going to be us on the field some day,’” said Carnes, who became the first freshman quarterback to start under Manatee coach Joe Kinnan a year after he watched the first Hurricanes-Raiders semifinal. “By the blessings of God, He gave us the opportunity to play our freshman year.”

Carnes was thrust under center in ’06 after Ryan Rubino, Manatee’s starting quarterback the year before, suffered a shoulder injury over the summer and his backup, Aaron Reese, moved out of the area.

After playing Bayshore in a Kickoff Classic, Carnes’ first regular-season varsity game came against none other than Southeast.

The game was at Southeast and broadcast on Bright House Sports Network (then known as Catch 47).

“I was so nervous,” Carnes said. “That Southeast game, I was nervous. It was crazy. I was a freshman, I think I was 160-some pounds. Coming from youth leagues and playing those boys. ... I was a little scared. But I had to go out there and play ball, and that’s what we did.”

Initially billed as Carnes’ backup, Sanders jumped into the starting lineup Week 2 against Booker.

Three months later, they made the long trek across the state to Fort Lauderdale, where Manatee fell to Aquinas in double overtime in a state semifinal. Carnes and Sanders are the only two starters left from that team.

“They’re both great players,” Kinnan said. “And they need to play the game of their lives Friday night.”

Carnes, who has become the program’s all-time passing leader, has thrown for 2,136 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Sanders has an area-high 65 catches for 845 yards and eight touchdowns this fall.

Carnes has verbally committed to South Florida. Sanders has a number of Division I suitors, earning offers from schools such as USF, South Carolina and Clemson.

In their four years with the program, Sanders and Carnes have helped Manatee to 38 wins, two regional titles, a district title and three playoff appearances.

Not bad for a couple guys with some modest early goals.

“Coming in, I thought I’d just play JV (freshman year),” Sanders said. “I had family playing JV, so I thought it’d be fun.”

Carnes agreed.

“I thought, ‘We’re going to be in a Manatee uniform, playing JV and then we’ll get moved up,’” he said. “But hey, things happen for a reason.”

Four years after watching the Hurricanes play during that one night in December, Carnes and Sanders will lead Manatee into another state semifinal, trying one last time to beat Aquinas, while a litany of future Hurricanes watch from behind the fence.

“Now we’re about to get ready to graduate and get ready to go off to college,” Carnes said. “We’re going to look back on these memories and be like, ‘That used to be us out there.’”