Palmetto finds offensive balance in rout of Booker

Palmetto broke the huddle for a crucial red-zone play during the second quarter against Sarasota Booker on Friday and Jason Spicer Jr. jogged off toward the left sideline. The wide receiver-turned-quarterback-turned wide receiver knew Booker had to account for him because the Tigers trust him to make plays during his senior year back at his natural position.

Spicer faked a quick slant when the ball was snapped to Anthony Marino, then spun his body back toward the sideline. The quarterback tossed an easy throw toward the pylon where Spicer hauled in the first touchdown of his final fall in Palmetto. The Tigers doubled their seven-point lead at Harllee Stadium on the way to a 28-0 win against the Tornadoes in a preseason classic.

“We had more explosive plays tonight than we had all season,” head coach Dave Marino said, comparing his passing attack Friday to a year ago. “We’re getting more chunks in the passing game. The run game, as well, is going to open up where we’re going to get explosive plays.”

Palmetto’s blowout win was an encouraging sign for a team that has muddled around .500 in recent seasons. Last year, the Tigers boasted one of the best defenses in Manatee County, but one of the worst offenses as Spicer played out of position as the quarterback in a run-heavy offense.

All four Palmetto touchdowns Friday came on offense — two through the air and two on the ground. Marino hooked up with Spicer for 8- and 10-yard touchdowns, while running back Johnny Jones punched in two more scores from 1 and 2 yards out. The Tigers no longer need to rely solely on a ground attack to survive.

“When Anthony went to quarterback, we got a lot more options,” Jones said. “We didn’t really have a throwing game last year, so this year we’ve really got a better throwing game. So it works for the running game.”

Palmetto began its season by leaning on Jones. The junior got the first seven carries of the game for the Tigers, and after being stuffed for no gain or worse on his first three attempts, he started breaking off chunks. Runs of 10, 18 and 10 yards pushed Palmetto down to the goal line, where he fought his way in from 2 yards out to open the scoring and give the Tigers a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Then Palmetto’s running game changed. The Tigers used a stable of running backs relatively evenly in 2016, and Marino said he plans to do the same this year. His second option Friday was Eddravian Butler, a sophomore making his varsity debut. The running back began his Palmetto career with a 17-yard run and broke off even bigger plays throughout the evening. Later during the drive, he took a screen pass from Marino for 40 yards. In the third quarter, he set up Spicer’s second touchdown catch with a 50-yard run to the Tornadoes’ 10-yard line.

Butler finished with 89 yards on the ground and 40 through the air. Jones racked up 62 total yards.

“It’s going to open up the other area of the field for other guys to make plays and they did tonight,” Marino said. “The running backs made their plays. It’s going to be a team effort.”

This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Palmetto finds offensive balance in rout of Booker."