Prep Football Week 8 Power Poll
Editor’s note: Programs are ranked based on how they are performing against their own schedules, not based on hypothetical head-to-head matchups.
Voting points breakdown: 10 for first, 8 for second, 6 for third, 4 for fourth, 2 for fifth, 1 for sixth. (Last week, school, record, points with first-place votes in parentheses)
Public schools
1. (1) Braden River, 5-0, 50 points (5)
Even though they’ve rolled to an unbeaten start, the bye week came at a good time for the Pirates. Why? Because it gave them an extra week to prepare for state-ranked Venice’s up-tempo offense in this week’s key Class 7A-District 11 tilt.
This week: at Venice, 7:30 p.m.
2. (2) Manatee, 4-2, 40
It seems like the only way the Hurricanes won’t win another district title is if they beat themselves. Manatee crushed Palm Harbor University in yet another district running clock game and saw WR Tarique Milton and QB A.J. Colagiovanni lead the dynamic offense on Saturday.
This week: vs. Sarasota Riverview, 7:30 p.m.
3. (3) Palmetto, 5-1, 30
The Tigers will get their chance to decide the Class 7A-District 11 race later this month, but must keep their eye on the ball with woeful North Port on the docket this week. The Bobcats picked up their first win at Bayshore on Saturday, and are hungry for an upset bid this week. Palmetto’s gauntlet awaits, yet the Tigers have to take care of business on Friday to control their own playoff fate.
This week: at North Port, 7:30 p.m.
4. (4) Southeast, 2-3, 20
Ouch. The threat from Hurricane Matthew wiped out practice for Southeast toward the tail end of last week, and the Seminoles came out flat at Cardinal Mooney. The offense, which produced two strong games to perch themselves atop the Class 5A-District 11 standings. The talented front seven gave up 28 points to the Cougars and a quick turnaround is needed at Lemon Bay to remain in the race for the district title.
This week: at Englewood Lemon Bay, 7 p.m.
5. (5) Lakewood Ranch, 0-5, 10
The Mustangs were off last week and will look for their first win, and gets a Sarasota squad that’s reeling with three straight losses. Both teams are winless in 7A-11 and must win to keep any mathematical chance alive of making the playoffs.
This week: at Sarasota, 7:30 p.m.
6. (6) Bayshore, 0-5, 5
The Bruins took their first lead of the season last Saturday, but squandered it against North Port in a battle of winless teams. Now the Bruins have the unenviable task of traveling to Wauchula to face Hardee in a key Class 5A-District 11 tilt, where their playoff fate hangs in the balance.
This week: at Wauchula Hardee, 7:30 p.m.
Private schools
1. (1) IMG Academy, 5-0, 50 (5)
This week: at West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy, 7 p.m. Thursday
IMG was off for the second straight week after the threat of Hurricane Matthew kept Southern Lab from making the trip to Bradenton from Baton Rouge, La. Quarterback Kellen Mond, however, still remains the most productive player in Manatee County, ranking second in passing yards and fourth in rushing. He’s accounted for 20 touchdowns with his arm and legs.
2. (2) Cardinal Mooney, 5-1, 40
This week: vs. St. Petersburg Catholic, 7 p.m.
The Cougars notched perhaps their most impressive win of the season Saturday, beating Southeast, 28-7. Mooney’s 5-1 start is a return to form after last season’s two-win campaign and Bryce Williams’ breakout year has been a major catalyst. The junior gashed a strong Seminoles defense for 151 yards and two touchdowns during Week 7.
3. (3) Saint Stephen’s, 5-1, 30
The Falcons can clinch their first ever district or division title Friday with a win against St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep to determine the Sunshine State Athletic Conference Coral Bay division champion. After reaching the playoffs for the first time in school history last year, Saint Stephen’s is even more balanced in 2016. The emergence of running back Chase Brown, who moved to Bradenton from Canada, gives the Falcons two of Manatee County’s top six rushers — and Brown has shot to third in the county in rushing yardage in just four games.
This week: vs. St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep, 7 p.m.
4. (4) Bradenton Christian, 1-4, 20
The Panthers’ bye week is gone and still they haven’t found a make-up date to play St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep after the originally scheduled meeting in September was washed out by Hurricane Hermine. If BCS beats St. Petersburg Keswick Christian on Friday then the game against Shorecrest Prep would have major playoff implications in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference. A win there would put Bradenton Christian into the playoffs for the first time.
This week: at St. Petersburg Keswick Christian, 7:30 p.m.
5. (5) Out-of-Door Academy, 1-6, 10
Out-of-Door’s postseason hopes during its first season in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference officially vanished Saturday with a 41-18 loss to Saint Stephen’s. There were signs of progress, though, with a one-point loss to St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep providing a season highlight.
This week: at Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin, 7 p.m.
Voters: Herald sports reporters Jason Dill, David Wilson, Alan Dell; sports correspondent Chad Brockhoff; Sunday news editor Alan Bellittera.
Jason Dill and David Wilson
This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Prep Football Week 8 Power Poll."