Canes win crucial late-season game

Even as the ball sailed over the intended receiver, Manatee High’s Sir Williams anticipated a potential tip.

The senior defensive back held his spot and waited.

The errant pass found his path on a decisive fourth down play as Manatee clinched Monday’s makeup game.

The Hurricanes defeated Lithia Newsome, 35-28, to conclude Class 8A-District 6 play and now face Venice this Friday to wrap up the regular season.

“Coach always says big-time players make big-time plays,” Williams said. “I feel it was just destined for me to make that play.”

With the revamped Florida High School Athletic Association playoff format, the top two teams in the district are no longer assured a playoff spot.

So despite clinching the runner-up spot in 8A-6 with Monday’s victory, the Canes aren’t guaranteed a playoff spot.

That said, Monday’s win was huge. Manatee moved up to seventh in last week’s updated playoff points standings. And the Canes are poised to remain inside the bubble for a wild-card berth with a victory over the Wolves, who fell to 6-3, when Tuesday’s updated standings are announced.

“We’re just happy to be in,” Manatee head coach Yusuf Shakir said. “We have Venice this Friday ... move forward and take one game at a time.”

Getting past the Wolves wasn’t a breeze compared to previous district games against Hillsborough County foes.

Manatee faced a shootout with Newsome in the first half.

Then the game turned quickly.

Brett Gerber, who was sidelined the majority of his senior season with an injury, picked off a screen pass in the final minute of the first half.

That followed Josh Booker’s 6-yard touchdown run that gave the Canes a 28-21 lead.

Manatee (5-2 overall, 5-1 district) extended that lead to two scores when Booker followed Gerber’s interception with another 6-yard touchdown run with 12.8 seconds remaining in the first half.

“That changed the momentum,” Shakir said. “We turned the ball over early. We gave them a gift first drive, so I guess that was our gift back to us.”

Added Williams: “He reads more film than anybody I know.”

The late first-half flurry gave Manatee some breathing room.

And that played into the Canes’ favor with Newsome’s clock-controlling offense once the second half began.

There were a total of seven possessions in the second half between the two teams, before Manatee’s victory formation for the final series.

A key to Manatee’s offense throughout the contest was Booker.

He tallied 157 of his 183 rushing yards in the first half.

Finishing with 24 carries, Booker produced three touchdowns.

“You want to lean on your seniors,” Shakir said. “Especially this time of the year. You want to make sure they are pushing and getting better.”

This story was originally published October 30, 2017 at 10:22 PM with the headline "Canes win crucial late-season game."