Prep football | Week 8 preview capsules
Venice (6-0 overall, 2-0 Class 7A-District 11) at Braden River (6-0, 2-0)
Online: thecube.com; dougmilesmedia.com
When: 7:30 p.m.
The scoop: This is arguably the biggest game to date in program history for Braden River. ... The Pirates enter as the third-ranked team in Class 7A, while Venice is ranked second. ... Both programs have stifling defenses, with the Indians allowing 25 points this season and the Pirates allowing 38 points this season. ... The two, alongside Palmetto, are tied atop the 7A-11 standings with unbeaten marks. ... That changes Friday with the Indians boasting a relentless pass rusher in Jarrod Hewitt (offers from Kansas, Virginia Tech and Rutgers), who has nine sacks this year. ... Braden River has lost all six previous meetings with Venice, the last matchup was a 42-7 blowout defeat in 2012. ... The Pirates, though, boast a potent rushing attack (184 YPG) and FIU-bound QB Jacob Huesman (62.6 completion percentage, 961 yards, eight TDs, two INTs) engineering the offense.
Prediction: Venice 21, Braden River 17
North Port (2-4, 0-2) at Palmetto (5-1, 2-0)
Online: palmettohighsports.com
The scoop: The Tigers return from a bye week for a meeting with the Bobcats before the schedule gets especially grueling with games against Braden River and Venice. ... North Port knocked off Bayshore 21-12 last week and has lost its first two district games by a combined 91 points. ... Jack Allison had his most productive passing game of the season before the bye week, throwing for 192 yards on 25 attempts in a win against Lakewood Ranch. He'll still be without starting wide receiver Azavion Smith, who has missed the past two games with a knee injury. ... While Smith was out, Brandon Luckett caught 11 passes for 128 yards and moved to fourth in Manatee County in yards. ... running back Octavious James ran for three more touchdowns prior to the PHS' bye week to give him nine this season. ... The Bobcats, who have five players suspended for a postgame fight with the Pirates two weeks ago, are led by Devon Allen. The running back ran for 106 yards and a touchdown against the Bruins and also threw a touchdown pass.
Prediction: Palmetto 35, North Port 7
Wauchula Hardee (3-2) at Bayshore (1-5, 1-1)
The scoop: The Bruins missed a chance for back-to-back wins when they fell to 21-12 a shorthanded North Port team Friday. ... BHS' win against Sarasota Booker the week before means Bayshore can't be eliminated from playoff contention Friday. ... Ryan O'Neill, who missed the beginning of the season with a shoulder injury, has provided a solution to the Bruins' quarterback quandary. The sophomore has completed 22-of-44 passes for 222 yards in parts of three games and against the Bobcats he threw his first touchdown of the season to wide receiver Miguel Rodriguez. O'Neill has also run for touchdowns in each of Bayshore's last two games. ... Hardee's offense boasts a balanced rushing attack. Three players have run for more than 200 yards this season led by sophomore Kai Washington, who has 353 yards on 64 carries.
Prediction: Hardee 22, Bayshore 14
Cardinal Mooney (1-5, 1-0) at St.Petersburg Catholic (1-5, 0-1)
On the air: WSRQ 98.9-FM, 106.9-FM, 1220-AM
When: 7 p.m.
The scoop: With heavily favored Clearwater Central Catholic expected to win the other Class 3A-District 5 game, a victory over the host Barons should send Cardinal Mooney into the postseason. ... It would also make the Cougars' Oct. 30 meeting with CCC for the district championship. ... The Cougars played Southeast tight for a half last Friday, before Seminoles RB Kevin Johnson let loose for 209 of his career-best 247 rushing yards in the last two quarters. ... Meanwhile, St. Pete Catholic had its own second-half issues last week. ... The Barons blew a 19-0 lead at Out-of-Door Academy, when the Thunder scored 19 fourth-quarter points and again in overtime to dust off the Barons.
Prediction: Cardinal Mooney 42, St. Petersburg Catholic 14
Seffner Christian (3-3, 0-2) at Bradenton Christian (2-4, 1-1)
The scoop: Quarterback Dominick Otteni has turned into a dual threat for the Panthers, running for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns in each of his past two games. He's also been helped by wide receiver Kevin Etienne, who has caught 13 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns this season. ... Defense has been an issue lately for BCS. Bradenton Christian has given up 699 yards and 89 points during its past two games, including 312 passing yards to Out-of-Door's backup quarterback two weeks ago. ... A win would keep the Panthers' alive in the postseason hunt and set up a potential play-in game with Tampa Cambridge Christian next week. ... The Crusaders have been carried by their running game this season. Running back Karmi Mackey has run for 967 yards in four games, an average of 241.8 yards per game. Mackey is also averaging 12.2 yards per carry.
Prediction: Seffner Christian 45, Bradenton Christian 42
Tampa Carrollwood Day (5-1, 2-0) at Out-of-Door Academy (2-4, 0-2)
When: 7 p.m.
The scoop: Carrollwood Day produced a season-low six points, while suffering its first loss last week. ... That defeat, though, came against St. Petersburg Northside Christian (ranked No. 2 in Class 2A by the Associated Press). ... Carrollwood Day runs its offense behind QB Raymond Woodie, the son of former Palmetto and Bayshore head coach Ray Woodie. ... The younger Woodie has completed 39 of 70 pass attempts for 722 yards this season. ... Yahsin Wooten (682 rushing yards) is the Patriots' leading rusher. ... ODA is coming off an emotionally-charged, come-from-behind victory against Class 3A St. Pete Catholic. ... The Thunder relied on backup QB Anthony Squitieri, who completed 73.33 percent of his fourth-quarter passes, to lead the rally. ... This week, though, doesn't look good against 2A-District 5 opponent Carrollwood Day, which has outscored league foes 89-28 so far.
Prediction: Tampa Carrollwood Day 49, ODA 7
Sarasota (2-4, 0-2) at Lakewood Ranch (1-5, 0-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The scoop: This is a chance to smile for one of two struggling teams that are fighting for the best record among the bottom three in their six team district. Lakewood Ranch has lost four straight by a combined 131-56 score and is allowing 33 points per game. Sarasota is allowing 28.3 ppg and has been outscored by a combined 115-34 in its last three games. Lakewood Ranch has been hit with multiple injuries. This game features two of the area's best running backs in Lakewood Ranch senior Justin Fischer and Sailors sophomore Josh Booker. The loser could likely wind up in the Class 7A-District 11 basement.
Prediction: Sarasota 28, Lakewood Ranch 17
Lemon Bay (4-2, 1-1) at Southeast (3-3, 2-0)
Online: highschoolcube.com
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The scoop: Southeast has won three straight after losing 12 of 13 under second year head coach John Warren. The Seminoles offense has been sparked by Kevin Johnson, who ran for a career high 247 yards last week against Cardinal Mooney and tied a school record with five touchdowns. It was the second straight 200 yard plus game for the senior, who has rushed for 583 yards in the last three games (7.8 avg per carry). A victory would put the Noles in good position to get at least the runner-up spot in Class 5A-District 11. The Mantas are led by quarterback Victor Mellor and like to run with Jared Connor and Brayden Curry. The teams have met twice with Southeast winning both by a combined 83-0. But the last meeting was in 2010 and both programs have changed dramatically. The Southeast defense is led by Teriq Houston, Dequan Williams and Jon Locke.
Prediction: Southeast 31, Lemon Bay 21
Manatee (4-2, 3-0) at Riverview (Sarasota) (2-4, 2-1)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
On The Air: WLSS 930-AM
Online: Manateefootball.com
The scoop: Manatee has had its way winning nine straight in a series that dates back to 1960. In the last five meetings, Manatee has outscored Riverview by a combined 226-26. Riverview is the last big hurdle for the Canes in 8A-6. If the Rams win they will likely create a three-way tie for first place. If Manatee wins it is in the driver's seat with two district games remaining.
Manatee has been clicking on all cylinders during its three game winning streak averaging 44.3 points per game behind quarterback A.J. Colagiovanni, running back Lorenz Allen and all purpose standout Kavious Price while taking advantage of a stout defense sparked by Emilio Gonzalez, Mahlik Mills, Jacob Main and Tony Collins. Aeron Green leads the Rams offense and quarterback Dominic Caldwell can be a threat. If Canes take care of the ball and don't let up they should prevail.
Prediction: Manatee 35, Riverview 10
This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Prep football | Week 8 preview capsules ."