Southeast, Manatee score big wins, Braden River returns to action

A big test awaits Braden River this week when highly-rated Venice shows up for a top-five Class 7A battle, but Numbers Game looks back at Week 7 first. We examine the honoring of a legendary coach, a huge second half rushing game to keep Southeast trucking forward, Manatee's potent offensive weapon showcasing more ways to score the football and who has a chance to qualify for the playoffs in Week 8.

Here are this week's delightful digits:

1,200

Estimated attendance in last Friday's game at Southeast, where the field at John Kiker Memorial Stadium.

The Noles earned a 42-21

victory over Cardinal Mooney, where Maechtle serves as the Cougars' defensive coordinator. Southeast is rolling on a three-game winning streak behind Kevin Johnson's tenacious running.

The senior amassed 209 of his 247 rushing yards in the second half as the Noles broke free from a 7-7 halftime deadlock to thrash the Cougars.

Johnson's personal-best tally for rushing yards in a single game leaves him 81 yards shy of the 1,000 rushing yard mark for the season. Johnson, who leads the county in rushing yardage, also produced his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game, and fourth overall.

4

Different ways Manatee senior Kavious Price has scored touchdowns this season with a rushing, receiving, passing and kick return scores. Price joined Palmetto's Octavious James, a former Manatee teammate, as the only players in the county to notch a rushing, receiving and passing touchdown this season when he threw and ran for two scores in the Hurricanes' 43-3 blowout of district foe Palm Harbor University last Friday.

But Price is also in a class by himself with two kick return touchdowns. No player in the county has produced scores via rushing, receiving, passing and off a kick return. His second kick return touchdown this fall was against Palm Harbor University, who he also had a two-point conversion against.

That victory also inched Manatee closer to a playoff berth, but more on that later.

7

Total number of suspensions handed out by the Manatee and Sarasota County School Districts for the post-game fight between Braden River and North Port on Oct. 2. Only two Braden River players were included in the suspensions that were levied last Thursday, while the Florida High School Athletic Association could issue additional punishment this week. None of the names were released, per student confidentiality. The Pirates are ranked fourth in the Associated Press Class 7A state poll, and face their biggest test of the year this Friday against visiting Venice, ranked No. 3 in the 7A state AP poll.

73.33

Out-of-Door Academy freshman backup quarterback Anthony Squitieri's completion percentage in the fourth quarter last week. He led the Thunder back from a 19-0 deficit in the final quarter to force overtime, which ended when he connected with Kendall Johnson for the game-winner, 25-19, over St. Petersburg Catholic. Squitieri might have won the starting role, too, with Gus Mahler (injured neck) forced to exit. Squitieri has a 56.1 completion percentage in relief of Mahler the last two weeks, while Mahler has struggled to a 46.3 completion percentage this season.

1

Only Cardinal Mooney can clinch a playoff berth this week with a victory. The Cougars gain direct entry if they secure a win Friday at St. Petersburg Catholic, which would then set up a district championship game at Clearwater Central Catholic on Oct. 30.

If Manatee wins Friday at Sarasota Riverview, the Canes guarantee they finish no worse than in a district tiebreaker. And with two more district games still on the schedule after facing the Rams, they'll earn the program's 29th district title since 1981 by running the table.

Southeast also is making inroads toward a playoff berth after dropping three straight games to teams with a combined 17-1 record to begin this season. A win over Englewood Lemon Bay coupled with Wauchula Hardee defeating Bayshore this week means the Noles trip to Wauchula on Oct. 23 would be for the district crown.

In 7A-11, the next three weeks will decide the two playoff teams as Braden River, Palmetto and Venice - the three unbeatens - square off with each other.

And 2A-5 is a bit cloudier, with several scenarios still yet to play out.

Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017 or via email at jdill@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 9:29 PM with the headline "Southeast, Manatee score big wins, Braden River returns to action."