Palmetto extends recent dominance of Sarasota with 38-20 win
Palmetto High’s quarterback switch continues to pay off.
Tigers junior Anthony Marino led his team to a 38-20 win against Sarasota on Thursday night, completing 15 of 20 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
He took over late last season for Jason Spicer Jr. and has looked comfortable in the starting role.
“A lot of composure,” said Tigers coach Dave Marino, Anthony’s father. “A lot of composure. Seeing the field, making the right reads, throwing some accurate balls. He’s stepping up every week. He’s getting better and better. We’re blessed.”
Marino’s performance gave the Tigers (3-1, 1-0 Class 7A-District 11) two consecutive wins and six victories in their past seven games against the Sailors (3-3, 1-1).
Two consecutive plays late in the third quarter changed the game.
Trailing 24-20, Sarasota rushed for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown, but a chop block nullified the play. The Sailors fumbled on the next play, and Palmetto free safety Trayvontae Thompskin returned it 42 yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 32-20 lead with 2:21 left in the quarter.
Marino, who became the starting quarterback so Spicer could return to his natural position of wide receiver after being forced into action at QB last season, extended the lead to 38-20 with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Spicer with 9:16 left.
“Our defense gave up some big plays to give them momentum,” Dave Marino said. “We talked about it, we talked about it, we talked about it. That’s what these guys have to learn. There’s nothing easy. They don’t give championships away – Pop Warner, maybe YMCA.
“This isn’t YMCA football. This is big boy high school football at its best. You’ve got to come ready to play every week. So hopefully they learned that lesson.”
The Tigers opened the scoring with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Marino to wide receiver Trey Goodman, a pass that was tipped by one of their teammates. They added a 30-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Elijah Davis and an 18-yard touchdown reception by Andrew Osborne on fourth-and-3 with 4:03 left in the second quarter.
The Tigers allowed touchdown receptions of 75 and 80 yards to Sarasota’s Deric DuBose and a 98-yard kickoff return with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter.
Davis finished with six carries for 108 yards, and Tigers running back Johnny Jones had 16 carries for 78 yards.
Marino completed passes to nine different receivers, with senior Trey Goodman leading the group with four receptions for 64 yards.
This story was originally published September 28, 2017 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Palmetto extends recent dominance of Sarasota with 38-20 win."