Week 7 prep football preview capsules
Week 7 prep football preview capsules
Palm Harbor (4-1, 2-1) at Manatee (3-2, 2-0)
When: 7:30 pm
On the air: WLSS 930-AM
Online: manateefootball.com
The scoop: A victory in this Class 8A-District 6 contest can virtually seal a playoff bid for Manatee, which has hit its stride in the last two weeks by putting up 90 total points. Quarterback A.J. Colagiovanni is coming off his best game where he threw for 300 plus yards and three TDs and ran for a touchdown. Lorenz Allen rushed for 141 yards on 18 carries. Emilio Gonzalez had 9 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles and a pass defended. Palm Harbor is young team with all its key skill players underclassmen. Sophomore quarterback Cam Mouton has completed 38-of 63 passes for 555 yards and 5 TDs. It likes to run behind juniors Nick Gust (50 carries, 357 yards) and Jemaine Derogene (44-361). TJ Colmery, a 5-9, sophomore, leads the receivers with 18 catches for 257 yards and 5 TDs. Manatee has had its struggles defending the pass, which would be Palm Harbor's best chance for a win. Manatee has been flagged 26 times in the last two games. Palm Harbor has put together late drives to win a couple of games so Manatee needs to play a full 48 minutes.
Prediction: Manatee 35, Palm Harbor 17
Cardinal Mooney (1-4) at Southeast (2-3)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Online: highschoolcube.con
The scoop: Southeast's legendary former coach Paul Maechtle will be honored before the game when the venue will be officially renamed Paul Maechtle Field at John Kiker Memorial Stadium. Maechtle, now defensive coordinator for Cardinal Mooney, doesn't appear to have the personnel to slow down the Seminoles, who have won two straight and are trying to reach .500 for the first time under second year head coach John Warren. Kevin Johnson ran for 195 yards last week in Noles win over DeSoto and 141 in the prior game. Mooney got its first victory last week and showed some life on offense behind quarterback Tristan Hillerich. But the Cougars dressed only 23 players due to injuries and that will be a major problem against Southeast if it continues.
Prediction: Southeast 28, Cardinal Mooney 14
Southern (Baton Rouge, La.) Lab (4-1) at IMG Academy (5-0)
Online: live.imgacademytv.com
When: 7 p.m.
The scoop: The Kittens are averaging 33.8 points per game in Marcus Randall's first year as head coach. Randall is a former LSU QB that is best-remembered for his game-winning 75-yard TD pass to Devery Henderson that beat Kentucky in 2002, also known as the "Bluegrass Miracle." QB Bladrick Veal, who has received offers from Nebraska and Ole Miss, pilots the offense. When IMG's offense failed to ignite last Friday, the Ascenders relied on a punishing defense. LB Rahshaun Smith, LB Brendan Pyne and LB Joel Dublanko tallied 38 combined tackles, while DB Bryce Beard snatched two INTs and DE Josh Kaindoh added two sacks. Southern Lab hasn't scored less than 16 points in a game this season.
Prediction: IMG Academy 49, Southern Lab 7
Bayshore (1-4) at North Port (1-4)
When: 7:30 p.m.
The scoop: The Bruins' offense has changed now that Ryan O'Neill has gotten healthy. The sophomore quarterback has thrown at least seven passes in the past two games with a 56-percent completion rate and already leads BHS in passing yards. O'Neill's health has had a trickle-down effect. Zorion Brooks, who started under center with O'Neill hurt, slid out to receiver full-time during Friday's 17-14 win against Sarasota Booker - Bayshore's first victory of the season - and caught four passes for 78 yards. The Bobcats lost to Braden River 42-7 last week and will be missing five players who were involved in a postgame brawl for this week's non-district tilt. Individuals have not been identified in accordance with district policy.
Prediction: North Port 20, Bayshore 17
Saint Stephen's (5-0, 5-0) at Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic (5-0, 5-0)
When: 7 p.m.
The scoop: The only two remaining unbeatens in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference Coral Bay division meet with a top seed in the SSAC playoffs likely at stake. The loser would likely get a road game against another division winner in the first round. Both teams have rolled through their schedules thus far. The Falcons have won every game since their season-opener by at least 28 and Santa Fe Catholic has won every one by at least 39. Fred Billy topped 100 passing yards for the first time this season during SSES' 28-0 win Friday against Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin Catholic. The quarterback has thrown for nine touchdowns, run for seven and still not committed a turnover. Eleven different Saint Stephen's players have scored touchdowns this year.
Prediction: Saint Stephen's 45, Santa Fe Catholic 42
Bradenton Christian (2-3) at Deltona Trinity Christian (2-3)
The scoop: The Panthers have a long trip out to Deltona for a non-district game after an emotional 55-40 win against rival Out-of-Door. Streaky quarterback Dominick Otteni delivered his best performance of the season against the Thunder, completing 13-of-19 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns while also running for 115 yards and two scores. Wide receiver Kevin Etienne caught a touchdown for the third consecutive game, tying him with IMG's Drake Davis for the second most receiving touchdowns in Manatee County. Trinity Christian has used two quarterbacks this season -- Amorie Archibald and Mike Williams Jr. -- who have thrown for a total of 631 yards on 101 attempts. The Eagles have run for just 138 yards this year.
Prediction: Bradenton Christian 38, Trinity Christian 35
St. Petersburg Catholic (1-4) at Out-of-Door Academy (1-4)
When: 7 p.m.
The scoop: Turnovers have haunted St. Pete Catholic. The Barons have lost the ball 16 times through INTs (nine) and fumbles lost (seven). St. Pete Catholic has only scored 21 points in five games, and was pelted 51-0 by Clearwater Central Catholic, ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press Class 3A poll, last week. The Thunder have also struggled this season and have allowed 498 yards of total offense in last week's 55-40 district loss to Bradenton Christian. ODA's defense has allowed 763 more yards than the offense has produced. Anthony Squiteri (19-for-35, 330 yards, 4 TDs) and Gus Mahler (35-for-72, 378 yards, 3 TDs) are the QB options, and both have thrown three INTs.
Prediction: St. Petersburg Catholic 28, ODA 21
This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 12:31 AM with the headline "Week 7 prep football preview capsules ."