FORT PIERCE -- Lawnwood Stadium was a cauldron of noise and excitement Friday night.

The hometown Fort Pierce Central Cobras were not only riding an 11-game winning streak into a Class 7A-Region 3 final, but they were getting the chance to take on the Manatee Hurricanes, considered the nation's top team by ESPN, MaxPreps and USA Today.

Approximately 9,000 filled the large stadium, thanks in part to the impressive contingent of Manatee fans that made the long trip over from Bradenton.

By halftime, however, only one side was making any noise.

The visitor's side.

The Hurricanes continued

their special season Friday with a 51-0 rout of the Cobras, sending Manatee (13-0) into next week's state semifinal against Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

"There's only four left," Manatee coach Joe Kinnan told his team, which has now won 25 straight games and four consecutive regional titles.

Manatee attacked from all angles. Running back Trevon Walters ran for 155 yards and scored three times. Quarterback Cord Sandberg threw five touchdowns, four to receiver Ja Juan Pollock.

And the Hurricanes defense allowed just 145 yards of offense to a Cobras team that had scored nearly 400 points this season.

It may have been Manatee's first postseason game in an opponent's stadium in nearly two years. But the Hurricanes were the furthest thing from rusty.

"We had a good time. We had a lot of fun, had a good meal," Kinnan said. "A lot of these kids have been on two airplane flights … to play two teams out of state."

Next stop: the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, the only ones standing between Manatee and a second straight trip to the Class 7A state title game.