Week 11 high school football previews

IMG WHITE (3-3) AT KEY WEST (6-1)

When: 7 p.m.

The scoop: Hurricane Irma displaced Key West High’s football players, but it didn’t stop the Conchs from pressing on this season. It took them more than three weeks after Irma before playing a football game, and the Conchs are in line for a playoff berth in Class 4A this year. The Conchs are a running team and are averaging 256 yards on the ground. Senior RB Kolby Kelleher (564 yards) is the leading rusher.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Key West 28, IMG White 7

OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY (6-1) AT SAINT STEPHEN’S (7-0)

When: 7 p.m.

The scoop: This is a second round Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoff game. It’s also a rematch from the regular season. The Falcons scored 61 points in the first half en route to a lopsided victory the first time around. To pull an upset, the Thunder must contain Saint Stephen’s explosive offensive weapons in QB Fred Billy and RB Chase Brown. The latter, a recent Western Michigan commit, has surpassed the 100-yard rushing barrier in every game this season. He has 1,078 rushing yards to date, while Billy is close to 1,000 rushing yards. The senior QB just needs 31 yards to hit that milestone. ODA’s Ryan Ives needs a huge game on defense for an upset.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Saint Stephen’s 56, ODA 14

SPRING HILL BISHOP MCLAUGHLIN (3-6) AT BRADENTON CHRISTIAN (3-6)

When: 7 p.m.

The scoop: It’s a consolation game for these two teams that lost in the SSAC playoffs last week. Bishop McLaughlin struggled to keep up with Saint Stephen’s, while Bradenton Christian — the seventh seed — nearly upset Mount Dora Christian on the road. BCS took an early 13-0 lead that nearly blossomed to 20-0, but a fumble at the goal line prevented that and Mount Dora came from behind to win 18-13.

Jason Dill’s prediction: BCS 24, Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin 14

HOLLYWOOD WEST PARK PREP (0-5) AT CARDINAL MOONEY (3-5)

When: 7 p.m.

The scoop: Arguably the best nickname in Florida high school football, the Crimson Trunk Elephants, is scheduled to come to the area. Last week, West Park Prep forfeited its game with IMG’s White team. A trying season for West Park Prep saw one player shot and killed, according to the Miami Herald, and the Crimson Trunk Elephants’ Week 1 opponent, Tampa Cambridge Christian, supplying equipment for the first-year program, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Cardinal Mooney RB Bryce Williams (Minnesota commit) shouldn’t have any issues supplying the offense in a game that caps his standout high school career.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Cardinal Mooney 42, Hollywood West Park Prep 0

PUNTA GORDA CHARLOTTE (5-3) AT PALMETTO (5-3)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: This is the biggest game in the area Friday, considering the outcome effects so many different teams. The winner is almost guaranteed a playoff berth and for Palmetto, that means clinching the No. 6 seed for the 7A-Region 3 playoffs. Charlotte, winners on a last-second field goal against archrival Port Charlotte last week, is looking to punch a Class 6A playoff ticket. A Palmetto win also helps Manatee, Port Charlotte, Braden River and Clearwater. The latter two are set to resume an early-season rainout Saturday, but aren’t likely to play it if the Tigers defeat the Tarpons. Manatee’s playoff fate is boosted with a Palmetto win, so the Hurricanes’ loss to the Tigers this season holds its points value instead of dropping into a lower category if Palmetto loses. Port Charlotte is likely in the 6A playoffs with a Charlotte loss, too. Charlotte’s players worth watching are QB Alex Muse (46.1 completion percentage), RB/DB Savorion Warren (396 rushing yards) and RB/S Ny Harvey (156 receiving yards). Palmetto’s experienced defense got even better when head coach Dave Marino decided to use OL Eriq Porter on the defensive line for this week’s game. Jason Spicer Jr. tore his ACL, but Lajohntay Wester is one of a couple playmaking sophomores picking up the void Spicer leaves.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Palmetto 28, Punta Gorda Charlotte 20

VENICE (7-1) AT MANATEE (5-2)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: Manatee secured a huge victory over Lithia Newsome earlier this week, and the Hurricanes can quell any playoff doubts with a victory over rival Venice. QB Ryan O’Neill showed he has some dual-threat capability as Manatee’s offense did its most damage on the ground. Josh Booker exploded for more than 150 rushing yards in the first half, before Newsome’s ball-control offense limited possessions in the second half. The youthful Canes are going to need every ounce of defense this week with Venice’s high-powered offense rolling into Bradenton. It sounds simple: stop QB Bryce Carpenter in the running game and WR Jaivon Heiligh in the passing game. Most teams haven’t made Venice one-dimensional. It’s likely Manatee’s Keyon Fordham, arguably the team’s best athlete, will not play. He’s been out with an injury sustained in a loss to Sarasota Riverview.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Venice 42, Manatee 0

BRADEN RIVER (6-1) AT ST. PETERSBURG (6-3)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: The Pirates can clinch the No. 5 seed, the highest seed attainable for non-district champs, in the upcoming Class 7A-Region 3 playoffs with a victory. Braden River’s offense is on point lately, scoring 41 or more points in the last four games. In fact, the Pirates were held to 35 or fewer points in only two games this season. QB Bryan Gagg, RBs Deshaun Fenwick and Cam White, and WRs Knowledge McDaniel and Craivon Koonce power the offensive explosion. The defense is also shaping up and faces another 7A playoff contender for Region 3 in St. Pete. The Green Devils are a run-oriented team, and that should play in the Pirates’ hands. A victory for Braden River also helps Palmetto, which sits just above the Green Devils, for a wild card playoff berth.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Braden River 45, St. Petersburg 7

HARMONY (6-3) AT SOUTHEAST (1-6)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: It’s been a truly awful two weeks for Southeast. The Seminoles lost six players to suspension for their role in a post-game altercation with Wauchula Hardee on Oct. 20, then saw their season flip completely upside down with Tuesday’s announcement that they were forfeiting six games for using an academically ineligible player. The Seminoles were still poised to potentially make the playoffs with a win this week, even after losing players to suspension, prior to the forfeits. The game also lowers Harmony’s playoff chances as a Class 7A bubble team looking to secure big points in the FHSAA’s new playoff system. With all that’s transpired, it’s hard to see Southeast playing to the level the team was at earlier this season. Still, the Seminoles can play for pride.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Harmony 21, Southeast 20

LAKEWOOD RANCH (3-4) AT ARCADIA DESOTO (3-4)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: The Mustangs are on a four-game losing streak and last week’s loss was especially critical to their playoff chances. They’re likely eliminated from playoff contention, so this week’s trip to Arcadia is a chance for the senior class to go out with a bang. DeSoto is coming off a waxing at the hands of longtime rival Wauchula Hardee and the Bulldogs aren’t making the playoffs, either. This one is all about pride, and the Mustangs should have enough — even with the road trip — to end the regular season on a winning note.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Lakewood Ranch 24, Arcadia DeSoto 14

BAYSHORE (2-5) AT MULBERRY (4-5)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: The Bruins were one of the teams that earned a victory with Southeast’s forfeits earlier this week for using an academically ineligible player. Despite that, Bayshore isn’t in line for a 5A-Region 3 playoff berth. However, the Bruins can play spoiler when they visit Mulberry, a team that’s in sixth place in the most recent Class 4A playoff points standings. Only the top four teams in 4A make the region playoffs.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Bayshore 14, Mulberry 10

IMG BLUE (6-0) AT HOOVER (ALA.) (7-2)

When: 8 p.m.

The scoop: The Ascenders return to action after a week off with another long road trip. This time, they’re playing a perennial Alabama state power in Hoover. It’s a team Manatee High fans should know as the Hurricanes played Hoover in 2015. While IMG is unbeaten, the Ascenders haven’t necessarily wowed in their victories, despite their lofty No. 2 national ranking. IMG’s depth, with so many Division I talents, is what’s carried the Ascenders past top-tier national programs each week. The trip to Hoover shouldn’t be any different.

Jason Dill’s prediction: IMG Blue 35, Hoover (Ala.) 21

Last week: 9-2

Season: 53-18

This story was originally published November 2, 2017 at 9:01 PM with the headline "Week 11 high school football previews."