Manatee Hurricanes 2012 Year-in-Review

While the 2012 season came to a heart-breaking end, the Canes journey was one worth remembering.

The season began with sky-high expectations. As the Hurricanes proceeded to demolish opponent after opponent, state and national title aspirations began to come into view. However, as the season wore on and injuries mounted, the Hurricanes fell short in Fort Lauderdale at the state semifinals. The Hurricanes were down eight starters and struggling to find answers. The Hurricanes carried the banner of the #1 national ranking in two polls for several weeks and marked tremendous team victories and individual accomplishments along the way. While the season finished on an unexpected note, it was one to remember. Week 1: The Hurricanes blasted then nationally-ranked Miramar 41-6 on national TV. Junior Trevon Walters had a breakout game gaining …

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Andy Warrener

3:11 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Eternal thanks for the professional photography from Andy Gregory. If anyone would like to purchase a print or a larger file of any of these lovely photos, please contact Andy Gregory at andygregory@verizon.net. And go Canes!   more ›

Manatee Easily Moves Forward in Playoffs

The Hurricanes defeat St. Petersburg Northeast 65-12

Manatee Football Tradition Reaches It's Zenith

The football culture at Manatee High reaches across generations.

Manatee football is synonymous with winning. The Hurricanes have five state championships to their credit. However, this year they are in the national spotlight like never before. It's the type of year that gets anyone excited, even folks that have seen it all. "Sure it's different this year, there's all the national press and expectations," Bill Crisp, grandfather of Cord Sandberg said. Crisp is a Manatee High graduate and his son, Prather Crisp, was on Manatee's 1989 state championship team. Three generations of Sanberg's family are not just Manatee grads but Manatee Varsity footballers. "There's a very strong family tradition here at Manatee," Crisp said. "It goes back a long way." Blake Keller, Manatee's seemingly unblockable, UCF-…

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