Manatee’s stars shine brightest

BRADENTON — It didn’t feel like a preseason game, not with the stands packed to capacity and ESPN making its mark all over Hawkins Stadium.

And as Manatee toasted its stunning 48-10 win over Tampa Plant during Friday’s Kickoff Classic, it didn’t feel like a preaseason victory.

“No, no, no, no — it felt like it counted,” said Mike Blakely, Manatee’s senior running back who sparkled during Friday’s game, broadcast nationally on ESPN. “We put in blood, sweat and tears for the last three weeks.

“It feels good. It feels good to get the win.”

The game didn’t dent the Hurricanes’ record. That begins next week, when Manatee — ranked No. 8 by USA Today heading into Friday — opens the regular season against Woodland Hills, Pa. But it did further the momentum of a Hurricanes team that advanced to a state final last year for the first time since 1993 — when they lost to Plant.

“It’s a good dress rehearsal,” said Manatee coach Joe Kinnan. “We’ve just got to build on this...Maybe we gained a little more respect (Friday). Maybe we are back.”

It got off to a bleak start. Plant scored on its first play from scrimmage when Andre Crawford zipped out of the backfield and caught a Phillip Ely pass and sprinted 80 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.

Manatee’s defense never bent again, forcing three fumbles — two of which were recovered by junior safety Hershel Caywood — while its defensive line of Marquis Dawsey, Drakkar Wilson and Quinton and Chris Pompey made life difficult for Ely, who missed most of the second quarter after tweaking his ankle after getting sacked.

They also limited Plant running back James Wilder, one of the best players in the country and one of a number of Plant starters to play into the fourth quarter, to 15 carries on 86 yards.

Blakely took care of the rest. He ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns, threw for a score, and scored an electrifying 80-yard run when he shook off Wilder — who also plays linebacker — twice. Wilder was even called for a facemask and still couldn’t bring down Blakely, who has roughly 40 Division I suitors to choose from and spent the night breaking tackles.

“As you could see, it was a very wet night. It was very slippery,” Blakely said. “I don’t know if it was the water, or what it was, but there was somebody, and then they’d slide off me. Next thing you know, I was running for 15 (yards). Then I was running for 20. I was just like, ‘Thank you, God.’”

Sophomore quarterback Cord Sandberg pitched in as well, throwing for 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and scoring on a 36-yard run in the third quarter.

“Again, we had all the confidence in the world that he could get the job done,” Kinnan said. “He made some mistakes, but then he made some big plays and did some good stuff.”

The final score aside, Kinnan was quick to tell his players their record is 0-0, and they begin playing for real Friday.

“We’ve got to do our job and play every play hard,” he said. “(Plant) is a good football team...I just hope we get to play them again — that means we made it” -- to the Class 5A state final.