Two dominant backs in KeiShawn Smith and Zahmir Mcneil are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Manatee Hurricanes will look to defend their home field on Friday against the Pinellas Park Patriots at 7:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Last Friday, Manatee was fully in charge, breezing past IMG Academy White 44-7 at home. Given the Hurricanes' advantage in MaxPreps' Florida football rankings (they are ranked 27th, while the Ascenders are ranked 102nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Smith continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, picking up 87 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 51 yards and two touchdowns. Andrew Heidel was another key player, throwing for 253 yards and two touchdowns on only 16 passes.
Manatee's defense was in the mix too, especially the secondary: they snagged two passes before it was all said and done. The picks came courtesy of Jamari Parker and Jermiah Patterson. Alvoid Kennon Jr. was another major factor on D, picking up a sack, forcing a fumble, and forcing a fumble.
Meanwhile, Pinellas Park came tearing into Friday's contest with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 29.3 points) and they left with even more momentum. They took their matchup on the road with ease, bagging a 41-10 victory over the Gladiators.
It was another big night for Mcneil, who rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns on only 15 carries. His rushing production has been exceptional recently as that marked his third straight game with at least 146 rushing yards dating back to last season. The team also got some help courtesy of Kaiden Nobles, who gained 32 total yards and two touchdowns.
Manatee's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 4-1. As for Pinellas Park, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 4-1.
Everything came up roses for Manatee against Pinellas Park in their previous matchup back in November of 2019 as the squad secured a 35-7 win. Does Manatee have another victory up their sleeve, or will Pinellas Park turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
