Manatee will be playing for a championship tonight.
It’s not the only one the Hurricanes want, nor is it the biggest one they want.
But it’s a championship, nonetheless.
The Hurricanes host Braden River with a chance to be called the county’s first football champion — an honor that won’t get Manatee any closer to the Citrus Bowl, site of the state football finals.
Heck, it won’t get them any closer to winning the Class 5A-District 10 title.
That opportunity will probably present itself in two weeks when Trey Burton leads the Venice Indians back into Hawkins Stadium.
But a win tonight marks the completion of goal — to win the county.
Accomplishing goals can get contagious. If Manatee secures this goal, momentum may help the Hurricanes secure a couple more.
“Hopefully,” said coach Joe Kinnan.
Having all six county schools play each other, thereby making a county championship attainable, has injected some juice into the non-district play.
In the past, teams wanted to win non-district games so they could take some positive vibes into the all-important district games.
Now, there was something on the line.
“This year, with everybody playing each other,” Kinnan said, “you really get a true measuring stick.”
What’s fitting is that tonight really is a true championship game — the Pirates have lost to one county opponent, the Hurricanes none.
A Manatee win tonight gives the Canes the outright crown. If Braden River wins tonight, and then defeats Palmetto during the final week of the regular season, the Pirates would own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Manatee.
Of course, both teams have bigger hurdles to clear. The Hurricanes face three consecutive district games beginning next week, including that mammoth meeting with Venice, and Braden River is 1-1 and in the heat of the Class 3A-District 10 hunt.
Both team are looking beyond winning the county — instead, they are looking toward playing beyond the regular season.
But winning something like this isn’t a bad bauble to collect while moving forward.
“Hopefully,” Kinnan said, “it keeps you prepared on a week to week basis.”
Manatee and Braden River hope to see more weeks like this one in the immediate future.
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