Florida High School Football: Manatee pulls off comeback win over Sumner

Trailing 27-14 with around six minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee’s chances looked bleak in pulling out a victory on the road against Riverview (Fla.) in their district opener.

[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]

The Hurricanes were unflappable in the final minutes as they blocked a punt for a safety and scored two touchdowns in a 30-27 comeback victory over the Stingray’s on Friday night. Manatee starts Class 5A, District 10 play with a solid win over the road over a pretty good Stingrays’ team.

”I was preaching my guys to just play into the clock hit zero,” Manatee head coach Jacquez Green said to Rivals on Saturday morning. “Stop worrying about what’s going on. Just keep playing the game. A lot of these guys come from this video game era when they lose them by so many points, they just turn the game off and quit.

“So I try to make sure our guys don’t have that type of mindset when we playing actual real football. With the type of skill guys I got on offense, we can always score fast anytime. In order to have great season, your best players have to be at their best in the biggest games.”

What made the win for the Hurricanes (4-2) impressive was the fact they needed two touchdowns and were able to get enough in order to edge out the Stingrays (3-3). Down by 13 points, Manatee got a kickoff return for a touchdown by Kansas 3-star wide receiver commit Tavares Powell to get to within 27-21.

A punt block out of the back of the endzone put the Hurricanes a little bit closer, still trailing 27-23, needing a touchdown in order to take the lead and they would get it in the waning moments. With 18 seconds left, 2029 QB Nolan Downes on fourth down and long found 2028 WR Deno Dalacas on a corner route for a touchdown.

Manatee can’t celebrate for too long as they have a treacherous two-game stretch coming up at home against undefeated Lake City (Fla.) Columbia and crosstown rival Palmetto, respectively.

More about Manatee High School

“Manatee High School, located in Bradenton, FL, offers a comprehensive educational experience with a strong focus on academics, athletics, and the arts. The school’s athletics program, the Manatee Hurricanes, competes in various sports and has a rich history of success. The school fosters a supportive community environment and emphasizes the development of student-athletes both on and off the field.”

More about Sumner High School

“Sumner High School, located in Riverview, FL, is dedicated to fostering academic excellence and athletic achievement. As a member of the Hillsborough County School District, the school offers a range of educational programs and extracurricular activities designed to prepare students for future success. With a commitment to community and student development, Sumner High School emphasizes both academic growth and athletic prowess.”