Palmetto falls to Venice, needs victory in Week 11 to earn playoff berth

The Palmetto High football team experienced role reversal Friday night.

One week after blanking North Port 37-0, the Tigers fell 42-16 in a Class 7A-District 11 game at Powell-Davis Stadium.

Palmetto (5-3, 3-2) still has a chance to qualify for the playoffs. The Tigers host Punta Gorda Charlotte next week, with the winner earning a postseason berth. A postseason run could result in a rematch against the district champion Indians (8-1, 5-0).

The Charlotte-Palmetto game “means everything, everything these kids worked for,” Palmetto head coach Dave Marino said. “(We played) the toughest schedule by any standard in this area. Beating Lake Gibson, beating Manatee. Beating the teams we beat, they deserve to get in the playoffs. We’ve got to make sure we finish next week.”

The Palmetto defense forced Venice into two first-half turnovers, including the Indians’ first turnover inside an opponent’s 20-yard line this season.

Venice led 28-3 at halftime. The Indians jumped to a 6-0 lead with 9:06 left in the first quarter. Running back Brandon Gregory scored on a 12-yard run around the left side. Zack Sessa’s kick was blocked.

The scoring play capped a 31-yard drive that followed an interception by linebacker Caleb Smith on the Tigers’ first drive.

Venice made it 14-0 on its next drive. A short Palmetto punt gave Venice a first down on the Tiger 31. The stout Palmetto defense was about to force Sessa to attempt a 44-yard field goal, but a Tigers defender was pulled off sides, giving Venice life.

On the next play, Indians quarterback Bryce Carpenter ran 22 yards for a score. Carpenter then connected with Javon Heiligh on the 2-point conversion.

Palmetto got a first down on its next drive. However, a long pass by Anthony Marino was picked off by Noah Carr on the Venice 10. The Tigers’ defense then forced Venice to punt, giving Palmetto a first down on their own 46.

Johnny Jones gave the Tigers a lift, gaining 7 yards on fourth-and-3 at the Venice 34. Palmetto then had a first down on the Venice 17. Several plays later, Rafael Gonzalez made a 32-yard field goal to put the Tigers on the scoreboard, 14-3.

On the Indians’ next play from scrimmage, Carpenter connected with Heiligh on a 66-yard pass, giving Venice a first down on the Palmetto 14. Carpenter then connected with Heiligh on a 4-yard scoring pass. Sessa’s kick gave Venice a 21-3 lead with 7:28 left in the second quarter.

Venice then converted an onside kick to give the Indians a first down on the Palmetto 32. But the Tigers defense cornered a scrambling Carpenter and he lost 23 yards.

A Palmetto defender picked off a deep Carpenter pass on the Indians’ next drive. Later, a Carpenter-to-Heiligh pass resulted in an interference penalty against Palmetto and a Venice first down on the Tiger 33.

A Carpenter pass to Heiligh moved the ball to the 7. On the next play, however, Carpenter ran around the right side and fumbled the ball into the end zone, where it was recovered by a Palmetto defender, giving the Tigers a touch back. The Indians held on downs and the Tigers were forced to punt.

Strong safety Mike Goff then subdued Carpenter on third down on the Indians’ next drive, but Venice converted fourth and seven and had a first down on the Palmetto 19 with 34 seconds left in the first half. Carpenter connected with Heiligh on an 8-yard scoring pass and Sessa’s kick gave Venice a 28-3 lead with 25 seconds remaining.

Palmetto gained 32 yards on a pass from Marino to Lajohntay Wester to give the Tigers a first down on the Venice 48. But Marino was tackled while scrambling as time ran out at halftime.

Jones rushed 11 times for 36 yards in the first half. Elijah Davis rushed five times for six yards. Marino completed three of 10 passes for 46 yards and two interceptions.

Venice went up 35-3 on its first drive of the third quarter on a one-yard run by Court Doss with 7:26 left.

Zack Fryar scored on a 9-yard pass from Carpenter with 2:35 left in the third. Sessa’s kick gave Venice a 42-3 lead, triggering the running clock.

Wester replaced Marino and scored twice against Venice backup defenders. The first came on an 11-yard run with 6:31 left in the game and ended the running clock. The second was a 60-yard run on the final play of the game, leaving no time for Palmetto to attempt a PAT.

This story was originally published October 27, 2017 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Palmetto falls to Venice, needs victory in Week 11 to earn playoff berth."