With the 2022 high school football season here we are previewing the Top 25 teams in our Florida Top 25 rankings that we have already debuted on Varsity Sports Network’s Florida Gridiron Report last week. Rankings for the Florida Top 25 will be updated each Wednesday night on the Florida Gridiron Report and on FloridaHSFootball.com along with all classification rankings.
NO. 6 VENICE INDIANS
Head Coach: John Peacock, 16th year
Classification & District: 4S-14
2021 Record: 14-1
Key Athletes: DE Damon Wilson, Sr; S Elliot Washington, Sr; TE Fin Jones, Sr; QB Brooks Bentley, Sr; DL Trenton Kintigh, Sr; QB Michael Valentino, Jr;
2022 Schedule
Kickoff 7:30 PM ET unless noted
* – Denotes District Game
Fri. 8/26 (Week 1) – Miami Northwestern
Fri. 9/2 (Week 2) – Naples
Fri. 9/9 (Week 3) – BYE WEEK
Fri. 9/16 (Week 4) – Baltimore St. Frances Academy, Md., 8 (ESPN game)
Fri. 9/23 (Week 5) – Sanford Seminole
Fri. 9/30 (Week 6) – @ Sarasota Riverview*
Fri. 10/7 (Week 7) – Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna
Fri. 10/14 (Week 8) – Sarasota*
Fri. 10/21 (Week 9) – Palmetto
Fri. 10/28 (Week 10) – Bradenton IMG Academy White
Fri. 11/4 (Week 11) – Clearwater Academy International
Season Outlook: Venice is coming off its second state championship victory in the last five years and the expectations are riding very high for the Indians going into 2022. For Coach Peacock’s group, they have found a way again to schedule some very tough and very challenging opponents that will test them from the start of the regular season to the end of the regular season to prepare them for another deep playoff run. While the quarterback position will be in the hands of a newcomer to lead the offense after the graduation of Ryan Browne, however on defense players like Dameon Wilson and Trenton Kintigh are back and will anchor a very explosive defensive line that was part of the defense that helped the Indians win the state championship in 2021. With that said, the Indians should be able to make the playoffs easily thanks to their three-team district with Sarasota Riverview and Sarasota being their district opponents.
