Manatee had already proven themselves in the regular season and they didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They claimed a resounding 38-0 win over the Riverdale Raiders. The result was nothing new for the Hurricanes, who have now won nine contests by 24 points or more so far this season.
KeiShawn Smith continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, rushing for 145 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 7.3 yards per carry. He is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in the last three games he's played. Jalen Bryant was in the mix as well, providing Manatee with a touchdown.
Manatee wouldn't let Riverdale keep a hold of the ball as they managed to force four fumbles. Jamari Parker led the group effort, picking up two of those forced fumbles all by himself. Jordyn Lowery also set a new season high mark in total tackles with four. Another thorn in Riverdale's side was Alvoid Kennon Jr., who made nine total tackles (6.0 for loss).
Manatee was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 205 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Riverdale only rushed for 85.
The victory was the eighth in a row for Manatee, bringing their record for this year to 10-1. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 41.9 points per game. As for Riverdale, their defeat dropped their record down to 10-3.
Manatee will square off against St. Thomas Aquinas at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both teams are headed into the matchup with plenty of momentum (Manatee has won seven straight at home, while St. Thomas Aquinas won three straight on the road), something that'll have to change. Riverdale does not have any more games scheduled as of now.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
