Sports
Sarasota, Manatee high schools adjusting after Hurricane Milton, FHSAA football season extension
SARASOTA – The force of Hurricane Milton has extended the Florida high school football regular season.
The postponement of athletic events due to Milton has forced the Florida High School Athletic Association to add a week to the 2024 season before the start of the state playoffs.
Anticipating possible interruptions in schedules because of inclement weather, the FHSAA incorporated a common bye week, Dec. 2-6, for member schools. That bye week now has been moved to Nov. 4-7 with regional playoffs set to begin the week of Nov. 11. The state semifinals are on Nov. 29 with the state championships in classes 1A-7A scheduled for Dec. 11-14 at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University once a contract is signed.
Added Week: FHSAA extends high school football regular season after Hurricanes Helene, Milton hit state
“This week can be used in several different ways,” FHSAA executive director Craig Damon said in a Monday Zoom call with the state’s media. “It can be used to make up a game, or it can be used as a bye week before starting the playoffs. So, if a team is entering the playoffs, it can take that week off to help kids get ready for the playoffs.
“But the key thing to remember is that all contests, district or non-district, must be completed by Thursday, Nov. 7. That will give our staff time to make sure all the results are correct, and then we can release our brackets for the playoffs on that Saturday.”
While schools will use the moved-up bye week to play postponed games, Sarasota head coach Amp Campbell’s team, which has a bye this week, missed playing two district games, against Riverview and Lehigh. But the Rams this week play Cardinal Mooney, while Lehigh faces First Baptist.
“We have two games we have to make up,” Campbell said. “I have to get together with (Riverview football coach) Josh (Smithers) and see when we can figure this thing out.”
Some schools will have to play two games in a week. Sarasota Christian, which is a member of the Sunshine State Athletic Association, will host Keswick on Tuesday night and Saint Stephen’s on Saturday. Also on Tuesday, Chris Valcarcel’s Falcons host Cambridge Christian before playing at the Blazers.
“I’m happy to have one practice before a game anyway,” Valcarcel said. “Then three before Saturday.”
This week’s previously scheduled games are staying as is, including 5-1 Manatee hosting 6-0 Palmetto on Friday night at 7:30.
“A lot of the kids still don’t have power,” Hurricane head coach Jacquez Green said. But, he said, power has been restored to Hawkins Stadium at Joe Kinnan Field.
Southeast athletic director Matt Kitchie said despite Milton ripping off the roof to the team’s field house, the lights, PA system, and scoreboard at Paul Maechtle Field at John Kiker Memorial Stadium will be working for the Seminoles’ game Friday against visiting Osceola.
“I think the No. 1 thing we all have to worry about is, first and foremost, are our kids OK, and how did they make it through the storm,” Kitchie said. “I think the big thing that is going to be interesting is the mental and physical health of these kids. Some may not have eaten. Maybe losing homes, or loved ones losing homes. Hopefully, we haven’t had any major things happen, but there are a lot of kids we have to worry about.”
Kitchie, who shares county AD responsibilities with Manatee AD Matt Bowling, said all Manatee County athletic teams were allowed to return to practice on Monday “if it was safe,” said Kitchie.
Meanwhile, Sarasota County students are slated to return to school on Wednesday, though county AD James Slaton said teams can return to practice on Tuesday.
“There are no quick-fix answers to any of this,” Kitchie said. “It’s a lot of moving pieces. It’s still a very fluid situation because so many people are affected in different ways. Pinellas County was meeting (Monday) to decide even if they’re going to do anything this week. The other thing is a large portion of our schools were used as shelters, and now they have to be cleaned and safe for our kids to go back into.”
Head coaches whose players put aside helmets and shoulder pads during the hurricane face their own problems and concerns.
“It’s tough,” Cardinal Mooney head coach Jared Clark said. “The most important part is making sure all the families are safe and healthy and have the help they need to get back to normalcy. Then your mind goes to what is the best way to get the team back to mid-season form. We’ve had several days off, so right now, just getting the team together in meetings and on the field and just being around each other will go a long way.”
Said Campbell, “The toughest thing is these kids’ mental health. Let’s think about the families that have lost everything. Let’s think about the kids whose homes were flooded. Now you’re telling a 14-, 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old kid to go play two games in one week. Some still don’t have power.”
The FHSAA also addressed district volleyball tournaments, which begin on Tuesday. Saturday is the final scheduled day to complete district play, but Damon said flexibility will be given to schools unable to finish by then.
This week’s Sarasota, Manatee football schedule
Games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Tuesday
Cambridge Christian at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal, 6 p.m.
Keswick Christian at Sarasota Christian, 7 p.m.
Thursday
IMG Academy Blue at Palmetto Ridge
Friday
Out-of-Door at Seffner Christian, 7 p.m.
Booker at Bayshore
Cardinal Mooney at Riverview
Palmetto at Manatee
Hardee County at North Port
Gateway at Lakewood Ranch
Parrish Community at Lennard
Venice at Clearwater Central Catholic
Vero Beach Master’s Academy at Classical Academy of Sarasota
Hawthorne at IMG Academy White
District volleyball tournaments
Class 2A-District 8
1. Bradenton Christian. 2. Saint Stephen’s, 3. Out-of-Door, and 4. Imagine School all have byes
WEDNESDAY
1. BC hosts 4. Imagine, 7 p.m.; 2. Saint Stephen’s hosts Out-of-Door, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Championship match, 7 p.m.
Class 3A-District 11
WEDNESDAY
1. Mooney has a bye; 5. Sarasota Military Academy at Frostproof, 7 p.m.; 2. Avon Park has a bye; 3, Lake Placid has a bye
THURSDAY
1. Mooney hosts Frostproof/SMA winner, 7 p.m.; 2. Avon Park hosts 3. Lake Placid, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Championship match, 7 p.m.
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12
WEDNESDAY
1. Port Charlotte has bye; 5. Cape Coral at 4. Southeast, 7 p.m.; 2. North Fort Myers has a bye; 6. Mariner at 3. Braden River, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY
1. Port Charlotte hosts Southeast/Cape Coral winner, 7 p.m.; 2. North Fort Myers hosts Braden River/Mariner winner
SATURDAY
Championship match, 10 a.m.
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 11
THURSDAY
1. Lakewood Ranch hosts 4. Palmetto, 6 p.m.; No. 2 Parrish hosts No. 3 Manatee, 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
Championship match, 10 a.m.
CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 12
WEDNESDAY
1. Venice has a bye; No. 5 North Port at No. 4 Lehigh, 7 p.m.; 2. Riverview has a bye; 3. Sarasota has a bye
THURSDAY
1. Venice hosts Lehigh/North Port winner, 7 p.m.; 3. Sarasota at 2. Riverview, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Championship match, 1 p.m.
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