Manatee vs Southeast 1985 Classic Game Video

[OldSchoolLion]

In 1985, two of the best teams in Florida were both from Bradenton. Manatee represented west Bradenton and Southeast represented east Bradenton in a rivalry that started in 1974.  In 1985, Manatee entered the game with a 29-game winning streak(due to Lakeland forfeiting a game in 1984) and was a heavy favorite.  Southeast had never beaten Manatee on the field.  This game was played at Hawkins Stadium(Manatee).

Manatee won the 5A state title in 1983 and repeated the feat in 1985 against powerhouse Pensacola Woodham.  Southeast played in the 1985 4A title game and finished runner-up to defending state champion Pensacola Escambia, who was led by a running back named Emmitt Smith.  Both of those title games were played in Bradenton. 

The mid 1980's was a time that saw the teams from this part of the state rise to prominence.  Later this decade, Sarasota Riverview was challenging Manatee for dominance in 5A.  3 legendary coaches led these teams...Joe Kinnan at Manatee, Paul Maechtle at Southeast and John Sprague at Riverview.   Palmetto played for a 2A title in 1986.

In addition to the Sarasota/Manatee teams, Dunedin played in two 5A finals, and Tarpon Springs played in a final.  West Central FL was loaded with talent!  Enjoy the video and some old school play.

 

 

[gwdrum75]

Hey, that's my Youtube video. 

I also have the '91 & '92 Southeast/Sarasota Riverview games on there as well.

1991 - Riverview came in ranked #1 in 5A, Southeast #2 in 4A. In overtime, Southeast stops Shawn Bane at the goal-line on a two point conversion attempt to take a 21-20 win.

1992 - Southeast scores a late TD to win 19-18.

[Hwy17]

14 hours ago, OldSchoolLion said:

In 1985, two of the best teams in Florida were both from Bradenton. Manatee represented west Bradenton and Southeast represented east Bradenton in a rivalry that started in 1974.  In 1985, Manatee entered the game with a 29-game winning streak(due to Lakeland forfeiting a game in 1984) and was a heavy favorite.  Southeast had never beaten Manatee on the field.  This game was played at Hawkins Stadium(Manatee).

Manatee won the 5A state title in 1983 and repeated the feat in 1985 against powerhouse Pensacola Woodham.  Southeast played in the 1985 4A title game and finished runner-up to defending state champion Pensacola Escambia, who was led by a running back named Emmitt Smith.  Both of those title games were played in Bradenton. 

The mid 1980's was a time that saw the teams from this part of the state rise to prominence.  Later this decade, Sarasota Riverview was challenging Manatee for dominance in 5A.  3 legendary coaches led these teams...Joe Kinnan at Manatee, Paul Maechtle at Southeast and John Sprague at Riverview.   Palmetto played for a 2A title in 1986.

In addition to the Sarasota/Manatee teams, Dunedin played in two 5A finals, and Tarpon Springs played in a final.  West Central FL was loaded with talent!  Enjoy the video and some old school play.

 

 

The 80's was the  "Golden Age" of football in this part of the state.  Its too bad that Hardee choose to be independent in 1986.  We went 10-0 and defeated Palmetto that year.  Many think we would have won state.  Hardee made it to the finals two years later but lost to Suwanee.  Avon Park won back to back state titles in 1987-1988.   

[OldSchoolLion]

nm

[OldSchoolLion]

17 minutes ago, Hwy17 said:

The 80's was the  "Golden Age" of football in this part of the state.  Its too bad that Hardee choose to be independent in 1986.  We went 10-0 and defeated Palmetto that year.  Many think we would have won state.  Hardee made it to the finals two years later but lost to Suwanee.  Avon Park won back to back state titles in 1987-1988.   

What goes around comes around.  I think Central Florida's time in the sun is coming again, but this time featuring teams further to the east in the Orlando area..

[WhatsUpDoc]

On 8/23/2018 at 11:17 AM, Hwy17 said:

The 80's was the  "Golden Age" of football in this part of the state.  Its too bad that Hardee choose to be independent in 1986.  We went 10-0 and defeated Palmetto that year.  Many think we would have won state.  Hardee made it to the finals two years later but lost to Suwanee.  Avon Park won back to back state titles in 1987-1988.   

dumbest move by the Hardee HC just to make a point he punishes the players!!! Hardee would have beaten everybody that year!!! Best ever team!!

[DarterBlue2]

On 8/22/2018 at 8:55 PM, OldSchoolLion said:

Manatee won the 5A state title in 1983 and repeated the feat in 1985 against powerhouse Pensacola Woodham.  Southeast played in the 1985 4A title game and finished runner-up to defending state champion Pensacola Escambia, who was led by a running back named Emmitt Smith.  Both of those title games were played in Bradenton. 

The mid 1980's was a time that saw the teams from this part of the state rise to prominence.  Later this decade, Sarasota Riverview was challenging Manatee for dominance in 5A.  3 legendary coaches led these teams...Joe Kinnan at Manatee, Paul Maechtle at Southeast and John Sprague at Riverview.   Palmetto played for a 2A title in 1986.

In addition to the Sarasota/Manatee teams, Dunedin played in two 5A finals, and Tarpon Springs played in a final.  West Central FL was loaded with talent!  Enjoy the video and some old school play.

Two things stood out to me. First the size (or lack thereof of the linemen). Back then, it seems like both lines still had athletes, at least in high school, and not the freak show we have today. 

The second thing that stood out: Manatee came into this game ranked # 1 in Florida and 20 nationally and clearly did not have a true QB. They had an athlete at the position. While I can see such a team still winning a State Title in Florida, I can't for the life of me see them ranked so high. 

[OldSchoolLion]

The average NFL lineman in the 80's was 6'4 275 pounds.  A 250-pound hs lineman back then was "big" and 275-pound was "really big."  So, many of the hs lineman today are carrying 35-50 pounds of extra weight.  It's upsetting to see because it is undoubtedly unhealthy for the kids.  

National polls back then were really a mystery and undoubtedly much less sophisticated than today.  The average person did not have a computer and had never heard of the internet.  There was not all of this focus on individual athletes   Once a week the newspaper would publish the state poll, usually in really little print.  And newspapers in the 70's were really "local."   

USA Today started their poll back in 1982.   It was a trendy newspaper and reading "national" news was a new thing, at least for me.  Manatee appeared in those early polls.  My recollection is that once a team and/or area,  built a reputation, the polls stuck with it until there was a clear fall-off. For example, Pensacola Woodham was ranked in 1982 and Pensacola teams (Woodham, Escambia and Pine Forest) were featured in USA Today polls throughout the 1980's. 

  

 

[FL_HS_football]

The QB for Manatee game versus Southeast wasn't with Manatee by the end of the regular season, and in all honesty Manatee was much better for it. The Manatee OL that season, while not as big as the 83 and 84 teams, still averaged about 250-260 (which was still huge for that time period for HS football). The Southeast defense (They were known as "Orange Crush"). that season was probably one of Southeast best ever, no RB ran for over 100 yards against them that season until the state championship when Emmett ran for about 150 yards against them. Manatee's game against Woodham for the state championship in 1985 was a year late in happening, as Manatee's 1984  team had eyed Woodham all season long as the team they wanted to play for a state championship, only to be upset by Lakelend 19-14 in the second round of the playoffs. Manatee fumbled twice inside the Lakeland 10 and it ultimately cost them the game.

[gwdrum75]

16 hours ago, FL_HS_football said:

Manatee's 1984  team had eyed Woodham all season long as the team they wanted to play for a state championship, only to be upset by Lakelend 19-14 in the second round of the playoffs. Manatee fumbled twice inside the Lakeland 10 and it ultimately cost them the game.