Week 6 high school football previews

MANATEE (1-1 OVERALL, 1-0 DISTRICT) AT TAMPA ALONSO (1-2, 0-1)

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

The scoop: The decision to utilize Keyon Fordham at quarterback was gold. The Manatee junior torched Lutz Steinbrenner for 365 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns last week. With Fordham receiving snaps, the Hurricanes are maximizing how often they give the ball to one of their top playmakers. He was inserted into the QB role during Week 2, but took first-team snaps in last week’s practices following Hurricane Irma. Meanwhile, first-year head coach Yusuf Shakir’s defense was lights out against Steinbrenner. The Canes shouldn’t have trouble with Alonso, either. Look for Manatee to stay unbeaten in district play as the key 8A-6 matchup with Sarasota Riverview gets closer.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Manatee 30, Alonso 3

OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY (2-0, 1-0 SSAC CORAL BAY DIVISION) AT SAINT STEPHEN’S (2-0, 1-0)

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

The scoop: It’s a game that ODA was fired up for shortly after edging Bradenton Christian, 7-6. The Thunder’s Ryan Ives is a key to ODA’s defensive efforts to stop Saint Stephen’s offensive dynamos of QB Fred Billy and RB Chase Brown. ODA senior QB Gus Mahler and senior RB Dakota Dickerson must avoid Saint Stephen’s S Sydney Brown, who delivers punishing hits from the secondary. The Thunder are winning close games and are off to a 2-0 start for the first time in quite a while, but that road could end with a trip to the Moore Athletic Complex at Turner Fields. The Falcons, the reigning SSAC state champs, are too explosive and too fast.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Saint Stephen’s 42, ODA 14

VENICE (3-0) AT BRADEN RIVER (1-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

The scoop: These two have quickly developed a heated rivalry, splitting the past four meetings. Venice eliminated Braden River in the regional semifinals in 2016, returning the favor the Pirates gave the Indians in 2015. And in each season the playoff winner reached the state semifinals. This year’s game is the Class 7A-District 11 opener for both teams, due to all the inclement weather this season. Venice is ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press 7A state poll, while Braden River is No. 4. The Indians are listed as a 17-point favorite, according to Joe Pinkos of FloridaHSFootball.com. The game should be much closer than that. Stopping QB Bryce Carpenter (60 percent completions, 226 rushing yards, five rushing TDs) and finding a remedy for Venice’s up-tempo offense is one key to a potential victory for the Pirates. Venice is going to have to solve Braden River’s explosive offense. Odds are the game turns into a shootout, which should favor Braden River. However, the Pirates haven’t played a full game since August and last played in a lightning-shortened half on Sept. 1. They can’t afford to ease into game shape on Thursday.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Braden River 42, Venice 41

PALMETTO (2-1) AT SARASOTA (2-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

The scoop: It’s the Class 7A-District 11 opener for both teams. For the second time this season, Palmetto produced a statement victory. The Tigers defeated Lakeland Lake Gibson, a Class 6A state finalist in 2016, on the road last week, scoring 17 points on offense against the Braves’ stingy defense in a 24-13 win. Sidney Pompey’s pick-six turned the tide. The Tigers need to avoid what happened after they knocked off Manatee in Week 2 if they want to contend for the 7A-11 title this season. After defeating the Hurricanes, Palmetto struggled offensively the next week at Sarasota Riverview. WR Jason Spicer Jr. is a dangerous weapon in the passing game, while a trio of RBs (Elijah Davis, Johnny Jones, Eddravian Butler) pack a punch in the running game. Sarasota hasn’t beaten a quality team this season, and look for that to continue this week. The Sailors had an up-and-coming team a few seasons ago, but transfers decimated the program.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Palmetto 35, Sarasota 0

ARCADIA DESOTO (0-1) AT SOUTHEAST (2-0, 1-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

The scoop: Welcome to the 2017 high school football season, Arcadia DeSoto. The Bulldogs played for the first time last week after Hurricane Irma and other storms wreaked havoc with the first five weeks of the year. Southeast’s defense is fast and controlled last week’s blowout until a couple late Bayshore scores. The Noles’ offense is solid, and RB Latrell Peavy’s senior season is off to a bang. Against the Bruins, he racked up 145 rushing yards. If opponents load the box to try to stop the run, Southeast speedy WRs Jattorious Galloway, Clyde Townsend and Tyler Stevenson are likely to take advantage. QB Alex Taylor’s maturation is key for Southeast’s potential this season, and the Bulldogs are a perfect opponent to help give him more confidence.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Southeast 40, DeSoto 7

NORTH PORT (2-1) AT LAKEWOOD RANCH (2-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

The scoop: It’s not a misprint. Both North Port and Lakewood Ranch boast winning records as we enter Week 6. Both programs have struggled in recent seasons, spending the last two seasons toward the cellar in 7A-11. The Mustangs’ resurgence comes with winning two close games, fending off a late Bayshore rally a few weeks ago and then making a second-half comeback last Friday to upend Spring Hill Springstead. To prove it is for real, Lakewood Ranch has to keep the momentum going against North Port before the meat of 7A-11 (Braden River, Palmetto, Venice) games take place.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Lakewood Ranch 21, North Port 10

BAYSHORE (0-2, 0-1) AT SARASOTA BOOKER (0-5, 0-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

The scoop: This is a perfect opportunity for Bayshore to notch its first regular-season win. Booker is playing for the third time in seven days — the Tornadoes lost Friday to Sarasota before dropping a rescheduled district game with Wauchula Hardee by a lopsided margin Monday. The Bruins’ issues are steeped in the first three quarters of games. A furious fourth-quarter rally against Lakewood Ranch in Week 2 came up short. Last week’s makeup game with Southeast saw the Seminoles comfortably ahead 34-0 early in the fourth quarter before Bayshore showed signs of life, as the Bruins scored the game’s final 12 points. Booker’s offense has struggled, despite having USF commit Talik Keaton. Stopping Keaton and getting its own offense rolling early are keys to a Bayshore victory this week.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Bayshore 14, Booker 12

CLEARWATER CALVARY CHRISTIAN (2-1) AT CARDINAL MOONEY (3-0)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

The scoop: This is the first of a couple key Class 3A-Region 3 games for Cardinal Mooney. The Cougars currently are the top seed for the playoffs with a 42-point average in the new playoff system. That can change as the season progresses. Mooney has outclassed opponents, and the offense has delivered with superb line play and RB Bryce Williams. The Minnesota commit keeps eclipsing the 100-yard mark no matter how defenses line up against him. He produced a slick TD run last week against Englewood Lemon Bay where he had to reverse field before bursting past the opposition. Calvary Christian, though, possesses its own Division I recruit in Amari Burney. The senior safety is a Florida Gators commit and likely will be tasked with shutting down Williams.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Cardinal Mooney 28, Calvary Christian 21

FORT MYERS GATEWAY CHARTER (0-1, 0-1) AT BRADENTON CHRISTIAN (0-3, 0-1)

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

The scoop: After knocking off the rust to play ODA on Sept. 18 after Hurricane Irma, the Panthers are facing an opponent they shouldn’t have trouble with. BCS stopped ODA’s triple-option for the most part, producing a goal-line stand and forcing turnovers. However, the Panthers’ offense didn’t cash in on those turnovers with points. Still, BCS had a shot to win with a field goal in the closing minutes. It didn’t happen and now BCS has to regroup to down a Gateway Charter team that’s played just one game in 2017. The Griffins lost that one 30-12 to ODA.

Jason Dill’s prediction: BCS 30, Gateway Charter 14

MIAMI NORTHWESTERN (3-0) AT IMG ACADEMY BLUE (3-0)

When: 7 p.m., Saturday

The scoop: For the second straight week, IMG welcomes a top Miami team to Bradenton. The Ascenders thwarted Miami Central in a matchup of two top five nationally ranked teams last week. They did so through special teams play and a fourth-quarter rally. Central possessed multiple Division I running backs, but lacked a top-tier QB. That scenario for IMG’s defense is different this week with Northwestern QB Tutu Atwell. Committed to play wide receiver at Louisville next season, Atwell is the focal point of Northwestern’s offense. He might even be faster than the Central tailbacks who punished IMG for a couple long TD runs. Northwestern is ranked No. 1 in the latest Class 6A AP state poll, while IMG holds at No. 2 in the nation. The Bulls might surprise with an upset, though IMG is capable of keeping the national title hopes alive with a full week of practice and the ability to close tight games.

Jason Dill’s prediction: IMG Academy 20, Northwestern 17

Last week: 5-1

Season: 14-5

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 4:09 PM with the headline "Week 6 high school football previews."