Nation's top junior recruit, Greenies hope to rebound against stacked, unbeaten team from Florida.
Arch Manning, the nation's top junior high school football recruit, and
Newman (New Orleans) get another chance to impress a national television audience Friday when they host an unbeaten team out of Florida on ESPNU.
Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) is 7-0, has outscored opponents 270-54 and features three of the top 150 senior recruits from the Sunshine State.
The Buccaneers will prove another stiff test for Newman, which dropped a
12-7 game last week to St. Charles Catholic (LaPlace, La.) on NBC's "The Battle Showcase," after opening the season with four impressive wins.
How to Watch
What: Berkeley Prep (7-0) at Newman (4-1)
Day: Friday, Oct. 22
Time: 8 p.m. CT
TV/Stream: ESPNU
Manning, the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning, went 16 of 28 for a season-low 136 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Greenies managed less than 200 yards offense against the undefeated and defensive-minded Comets (5-0, 21 points allowed).
Arch Manning may have to use his legs frequently Thursday when his Newman Greenies host the Berkeley Prep Buccaneers.
File photo by Parker Waters
The loss was in sharp contrast to the previous four games when Manning and Newman averaged nearly 400 yards and 52 points per game.
Berkeley Prep presents another stiff challenge for Manning, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder who has thrown for 1,186 yards and 17 touchdowns (one interception) this season and 5,546 yards and 72 TDs (15 interceptions) in his three-year career (22-4 record).
The first Newman quarterback player to start as a freshman will need to deliver the ball quickly with the likes of
Keon Keeley chasing him. The 6-6, 230-pound junior and Notre Dame commit has 11 sacks and 44 tackles in 2021. Linebackers
Tre Reader (66 tackles) and UCF-bound
T.J. Bullard (34 tackles) have combined for 28 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
The Bucaneers offense is led by running backs
Travis Bates (826 yards rushing, 12 touchdowns) and Iowa State-bound
Xavier Townsend (406, nine), who also leads the team in receiver with 10 catches, 247 yards and four more touchdowns. The team's top senior recruit is 6-7, 220-pound tight end
C.J. Hawkins, a Stanford commit and excellent basketball player.
Travis Bates (20) is one of two main running threats for Berkeley Prep.
File photo by Chris Copek
Berkeley Prep started the season with two competitive wins, before outscoring its last five opponents, 207-7 with four shutouts.
Besides Manning, the Greenies have other college recruits, including junior tight end
Will Randle, who has offers from LSU, Florida State, SMU, Georgia Tech and Texas, junior wide receiver
Kai Donaldson (Florida State, Virginia offers) and senior receiver
Christopher Hunter.
Arch's younger brother
Heid Manning, a 6-foot, 230-pound sophomore, is also the team's starting center and developing into a college prospect.
Berkeley Prep defensive end Keon Keeley (88) already has 11 sacks in 2021.
File photo by Chris Copek
