Fearless Fridays WEEK 2: Sarasota–Manatee Football Scores, Rankings, Records and Player Highlights
Complete results, team records, classifications, regional rankings and standout performances from games played August 28–29, 2026.
Bert "el 360" Jones
The second week of the 2026 high school football season produced several strong local performances, including shutouts by Riverview Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, a narrow 47–46 loss by Cardinal Mooney, and a 64–8 victory by Venice. The Sarasota–Manatee area schedule also included games involving Wellen Park, Bayshore, Bradenton Christian and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal.
Records below reflect each team’s record immediately after its Week 2 game, not its later-season record.
Week 2 Area Scoreboard
| Local team | Opponent | Score | Result | Record after game | Class / district |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayshore | Sunlake | 20–14 | Won | 2–1 | Class 3A, District 12 |
| Bradenton Christian | Lakeside Christian | 18–20 | Lost | 2–1 | SSAA, 8-man |
| Braden River | Fivay | 17–14 | Won | 2–0 | Class 3A, District 12 |
| Cardinal Mooney | Cardinal Newman | 46–47 | Lost | 1–1 | Class 3A, District 12 |
| Classical Academy of Sarasota | Sports Leadership & Management | 14–42 | Lost | 0–2 | Independent classification |
| Lakewood Ranch | Davenport | 27–0 | Won | 2–0 | Class 6A, District 12 |
| Manatee | Naples | 28–17 | Won | 1–1 | Class 5A, District 10 |
| North Port | Bear Creek | 14–45 | Lost | 0–2 | Class 6A, District 12 |
| Out-of-Door Academy | Cambridge Christian | 48–6 | Won | 3–0 | SSAA, freelance |
| Palmetto | Key West | 35–7 | Won | 2–1 | Class 5A, District 10 |
| Parrish Community | Tampa Riverview | 12–27 | Lost | 0–2 | Class 5A |
| Riverview Sarasota | IMG Academy Junior National | 51–0 | Won | 2–0 | Class 6A, District 12 |
| Saint Stephen’s Episcopal | Sarasota Christian | 32–35 | Lost | 2–1 | SSAA, freelance |
| Sarasota | Palm Beach Lakes | 47–58 | Lost | 1–1 | Class 6A, District 12 |
| Sarasota Christian | Saint Stephen’s Episcopal | 35–32 | Won | 2–1 | SSAA, freelance |
| Southeast | Hillsborough | 7–21 | Lost | Record not confirmed in the available game listing | Public-school classification |
| Venice | SmartEn Sports Academy | 64–8 | Won | 2–0 | Class 6A, District 12 |
| Wellen Park | Gateway | 41–21 | Won | 3–0 | Class 3A |
The listed scores are supported by MaxPreps, SI’s statewide scoreboard and the regional Week 2 schedule published through the USA Today Network.
Game Highlights
Riverview Sarasota 51, IMG Academy Junior National 0
Riverview Sarasota posted the area’s most dominant defensive performance of the week, shutting out IMG Academy Junior National, 51–0. The Rams improved to 2–0 after opening the season with a victory over Parrish Community. MaxPreps recorded 292 passing yards and 86 rushing yards for Riverview Sarasota in the game.
Quarterback Logan Carrillo was listed among the Rams’ early-season statistical leaders, while wide receiver Trenton Huffman entered the season as a major receiving threat.
Venice 64, SmartEn Sports Academy 8
Venice remained unbeaten with a 64–8 victory over SmartEn Sports Academy. The Indians improved to 2–0 and produced 207 rushing yards in the win. Tyree Mannings rushed for 92 yards and added 32 receiving yards.
Venice was listed in Class 6A, District 12. Running back Dorien “Macho” Irving-Jones was among the team’s early-season leaders with 114.5 rushing yards per game and seven total touchdowns listed later in the season’s statistical update.
Lakewood Ranch 27, Davenport 0
Lakewood Ranch recorded a shutout victory over Davenport and moved to 2–0. The Mustangs produced 108 passing yards, 103 receiving yards and 111 rushing yards in the game.
Running back Elidrick Berry was one of Lakewood Ranch’s early statistical leaders, while receiver Kamarion Jones also ranked among the team’s top contributors.
Out-of-Door Academy 48, Cambridge Christian 6
Out-of-Door Academy improved to 3–0 after defeating Cambridge Christian, 48–6. The Thunder entered the game with wins over Indian Rocks Christian and Babcock and later remained among the top-ranked teams in the SSAA division.
Through the early portion of the season, quarterback Jaxon Lawhun led the Thunder in passing yards, while Cam Yates was listed among the team’s touchdown leaders.
Wellen Park 41, Gateway 21
Wellen Park continued its strong start with a 41–21 victory over Gateway. The Eagles improved to 3–0 after also defeating Mariner and opening the season with a 45–7 victory. MaxPreps listed 176 passing yards, 199 receiving yards and 192 rushing yards for Wellen Park in the Gateway game.
Quarterback Noah Wireman and running back Will Campbell were among the early-season statistical leaders for the Eagles.
Manatee 28, Naples 17
Manatee earned its first victory of the season by defeating Naples, 28–17, in Bradenton. The Hurricanes improved to 1–1. Manatee’s offense produced 205 passing yards and 111 rushing yards in the contest.
Naples’ Javon Exantus rushed for 88 yards, while Manatee’s early-season leaders included running back Caedon White and receiver Deno Dalacas.
Cardinal Mooney 46, Cardinal Newman 47
Cardinal Mooney nearly erased a large deficit but fell to Cardinal Newman, 47–46, in one of the area’s most entertaining games. The Cougars entered the fourth quarter down but scored 26 fourth-quarter points in the comeback attempt.
Cardinal Mooney quarterback D. Davidson completed 18 of 35 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Connail Jackson rushed for 274 yards and two touchdowns, while receiver C.J. King recorded 109 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Sarasota 47, Palm Beach Lakes 58
Sarasota fell to Palm Beach Lakes, 58–47, in a high-scoring game at Sarasota High School. The Sailors moved to 1–1 after opening the season with a win over Bayshore.
Quarterback Hudson West completed 24 of 35 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 72 yards and three touchdowns, giving Sarasota one of the most productive individual performances of the week.
Sarasota Christian 35, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal 32
Sarasota Christian edged Saint Stephen’s Episcopal, 35–32, in a competitive private-school matchup. The Blazers improved to 2–1, while Saint Stephen’s fell to 2–1.
Sarasota Christian recorded 132 passing yards and 195 rushing yards. Saint Stephen’s freshman running back William Roseboro and receiver Dion Donkor were among the Falcons’ early statistical leaders.
Bayshore 20, Sunlake 14
Bayshore secured a 20–14 road win over Sunlake and moved to 2–1. The Bruins produced 219 passing yards and 103 rushing yards in the victory.
Receiver and defensive back D.J. Wortham and running back Jashun Judge were listed among Bayshore’s early statistical leaders.
Bradenton Christian 18, Lakeside Christian 20
Bradenton Christian dropped a close 20–18 decision at Lakeside Christian. The Panthers entered the game 2–0 and left with a 2–1 record. The matchup was identified as a conference game, and Bradenton Christian is listed in the SSAA 8-man division.
Braden River 17, Fivay 14
Braden River stayed unbeaten with a 17–14 road win over Fivay. The Pirates improved to 2–0 after opening the season with a 34–7 victory over Pasco.
Braden River recorded 106 passing yards and 193 rushing yards in the game. Running back David Louis was listed among the Pirates’ early statistical leaders.
North Port 14, Bear Creek 45
North Port lost to Bear Creek, 45–14, and moved to 0–2. The Bobcats are listed in Class 6A, District 12.
North Port’s early statistical leaders included quarterback and defensive back Cameron Wilson, receiver Zachary Patchell and defensive player Braylon Dane.
Palmetto 35, Key West 7
Palmetto earned a convincing 35–7 win over Key West and improved to 2–1. The Tigers were listed in Class 5A, District 10.
MaxPreps recorded 200 passing yards and 148 rushing yards for Palmetto in the win.
Parrish Community 12, Tampa Riverview 27
Parrish Community fell to Tampa Riverview, 27–12, and entered the next week with an 0–2 record. The Bulls later appeared on the schedule as a Class 5A program.
Classical Academy of Sarasota 14, Sports Leadership & Management 42
Classical Academy of Sarasota lost to Sports Leadership & Management, 42–14, on Saturday, August 29. The Patriots entered the game 0–1 and moved to 0–2.
Week 2 Area Storylines
- Best defensive performance: Riverview Sarasota’s 51–0 shutout of IMG Academy Junior National.
- Highest-scoring area team: Venice scored 64 points against SmartEn Sports Academy.
- Closest finish: Cardinal Mooney lost to Cardinal Newman by one point, 47–46.
- Top individual statistical performance: Cardinal Mooney’s Connail Jackson rushed for 274 yards and two touchdowns. (
- Most productive passing performance: Sarasota quarterback Hudson West threw for 409 yards and four touchdowns.
- Unbeaten local teams after Week 2: Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Riverview Sarasota, Out-of-Door Academy, Venice and Wellen Park.
Editorial Note
Classifications and district information are based on the 2026–27 listings available through MaxPreps, which identifies itself as an official FHSAA partner on team pages. Private and independent schools may use SSAA or freelance classifications rather than an FHSAA public-school district. (MAXPREPS)
Week 2 Power Rankings: Local Teams Make Regional and Statewide Moves
After the games of August 28–29, 2026, several Sarasota–Manatee teams appeared in regional or statewide power-ranking lists.
| Team | Post-Week 2 regional ranking | Statewide ranking | Power rating | Record at snapshot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice | No. 2 in Southwest Florida | No. 35 in LAZ Index | 85.42 FPRI rating | 2–0 |
| Cardinal Mooney | No. 3 in Southwest Florida | No. 14 in LAZ Index | 83.21 FPRI rating | 1–1 |
| Riverview Sarasota | No. 5 in Southwest Florida | No. 12 in LAZ Index | 65.39 FPRI rating | 2–0 |
| Palmetto | No. 6 in Southwest Florida | Not listed in the statewide top group | 63.37 FPRI rating | 1–1 |
| Out-of-Door Academy | No. 7 in Southwest Florida | No. 234 in LAZ Index | 62.31 FPRI rating | 3–0 |
| Manatee | No. 8 in Southwest Florida | Not listed in the statewide top group | 61.62 FPRI rating | 1–1 |
| Lakewood Ranch | Not in Southwest Florida Power 10 | No. 194 in LAZ Index | Not listed | 2–0 |
| Sarasota | Not in Southwest Florida Power 10 | No. 231 in LAZ Index | Not listed | 1–1 |
| Wellen Park | Not in Southwest Florida Power 10 | No. 337 in LAZ Index | Not listed | 3–0 |
The Southwest Florida Power 10 published September 2 ranked IMG Academy National No. 1, Venice No. 2, Cardinal Mooney No. 3, Riverview Sarasota No. 5, Palmetto No. 6, Out-of-Door Academy No. 7 and Manatee No. 8 following Week 2.
The LAZ Index snapshot was updated September 1 and placed Riverview Sarasota No. 12, Cardinal Mooney No. 14 and Venice No. 35 statewide. It also listed Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Out-of-Door Academy and Wellen Park in its broader statewide rankings.
Strongest Ranking Storylines
Venice rises to No. 2 in Southwest Florida
Venice moved ahead of Cardinal Mooney in the Southwest Florida Power 10 after defeating SmartEn Sports Academy, 64–8. The Indians were listed at No. 2 in the regional ranking with an 85.42 power rating.
Cardinal Mooney remains among Florida’s best
Despite its one-point loss to Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Mooney remained No. 3 in Southwest Florida and No. 14 in the LAZ statewide index. That reflects the Cougars’ strong opening win over Berkeley Prep and the quality of their early schedule.
Riverview Sarasota makes the week’s biggest jump
Riverview Sarasota moved to No. 5 in the Southwest Florida Power 10 after shutting out IMG Academy Junior National, 51–0. The Rams also ranked No. 12 statewide in the LAZ Index snapshot.
Out-of-Door stays unbeaten
Out-of-Door Academy remained unbeaten at 3–0 and ranked No. 7 in Southwest Florida. The Thunder’s early-season record helped place them ahead of several larger public-school programs in the regional power ranking.
National Power Ranking Note
We can include national rankings, but national rankings should be handled carefully. MaxPreps describes its football rankings as computer rankings based on game results, opponent ratings and strength of schedule, and says the rankings are updated twice weekly during the season.
