Come-from-behind effort sinks visiting University.
Quarterback Joshua Meyer threw the game-winning score for Manatee.
Photo by Del Mecum
Winning 21-0 in the second quarter, No. 13
University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) could have waltzed through the rest of the game just like it did against most of its opponents this season.
No. 17
Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.), however, is no ordinary foe.
The Bradenton powerhouse overcame a 21-0 deficit to defeat visiting University 28-24 on Friday night.
Manatee quarterback
Joshua Meyer threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to
Kelvin McKnight with less than three minutes to play that proved to be the game-winner.
The win moved Manatee to 9-0 on the season while snapping University's 19-game winning streak.
See the Qwixcore game log
Manatee's Marquel Hines had two touchdowns.
Photo by Del Mecum
University got off to an impressive start.
Sean White hit
Jordan Scarlett on a screen pass for a 91-yard touchdown to race to an early 7-0 lead.
Lajuan Hunt kept the Suns rolling with a 1-yard score that made it 14-0 in favor of University.
White and University were not finished in the first half. White connected with
Jarius Brown for a 21-yard score to put University up 21-0.
However, University would not find the end zone again as Manatee began to mount its comeback. A
Marquel Hines touchdown made it 21-7 before half.
The second half scoring started with a 38-yard University field goal to extend its lead to 24-7.
Manatee responded with another touchdown run from Hines to make it 24-14 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.
Meyer then led a long drive and capped it off with a 9-yard touchdown run. A missed PAT left the score 24-20 with less than 11 minutes remaining.
As momentum continued to tilt fully in favor of Manatee, Scarlett fumbled and Manatee recovered at University's 43-yard line.
On fourth down, McKnight caught a 1-yard touchdown pass with 6:07 remaining to give Manatee its first lead, 26-24. A 2-point conversion by
Trevon Walters made it 28-24.
Following a big stop on fourth down, Manatee took over with two minutes remaining looking to kill clock and preserve the lead.
A
Joshua Meyer run on third down sealed the victory for the Hurricanes.
This was Manatee's final major tune up before the Class 8A playoffs begin.
University has a date with Island Coast next week before closing out its regular season with a showdown against Miami Central.
