Meet the Herald-Tribune All-Area Football Offense for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
The Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte High School Sports Awards will be back with an exciting live event again in 2023. The program is produced with the support of Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota Ford.
The nine-month student-athlete recognition program will culminate in an in-person show, featuring the top student-athletes from the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte area. The event’s time, date and venue are still to be determined and will be announced soon.
Nominees for player of the year for 24 state-sanctioned sports will be announced throughout the year in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, on its website www.heraldtribune.com, and on its many social platforms.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the player of the year for each sport. The awards showcase will also feature other premier awards for both on- and off-the-field accomplishments of student-athletes, coaches and teams, including a courage award and coach of the year, team of the year, and the boys and girls athlete of the year awards.
All official nominees who RSVP can attend this event at no charge thanks to sponsors. Check the website listed above regularly for updated information on how to attend.
The Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte High School Sports Awards is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, which is the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. Last year’s show can still be viewed online at this link. This year, one school from the area will win a $1,000 donation to its school’s athletic department. More details on that are coming soon.
ALL-AREA FOOTBALL OFFENSEQUARTERBACKBrooks Bentley, Venice, senior
In his only season at Venice, the transfer from Gaither High led the green and white to the Class 8A state title game. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior finished 147-of-260 for 1,835 yards, 21 TDs and three interceptions. Bentley also ran 126 times for 473 yards and nine TDs.
Will Carter Jr., Booker, senior
The transfer from Riverview High helped Booker to its first winning record since 2018. The 5-foot-9, 155-pounder completed 107-of-196 passes for 1,633 yards and 16 touchdowns. Carter also rushed 68 times for 579 yards and five TDs.
RUNNING BACK
Kevin Everhart, Lakewood Ranch, senior
The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder carried the ball 147 times for 1,065 yards and 23 TDs. Everhart's two receiving scores gave him a school-record 25 TDs. Made the FACA first-team all-district team.
Edd Guerrier, Port Charlotte, junior
The heart and soul of the Pirate offense, the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder rushed 188 times for 1,450 yards, a 7.7 yards-per-carry average, and 20 TDs, despite the Pirates losing two games to Hurricane Ian. Also caught five passes for 113 yards and a score.
Ahmad Hunter, Booker, junior
The primary ball carrier for the Tornadoes, the 5-foot-7, 183-pounder averaged 20 carries a game. Hunter finished with 1,212 yards on 229 carries and 12 TDs.
Alvin Johnson, Venice, junior
One half of Venice's two-headed backfield, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder carried the ball a team-high 205 times for 951 yards and 11 TDs. Also caught 14 passes for 106 yards and two scores.
Trayvon Pinder, Braden River, junior
For the second straight season, the 5-foot-10, 203-pound Pinder eclipsed 1,000 yards. He finished this season with 1,086 yards on 182 carries and scored 13 TDs.
Jamarice Wilder, Venice, sophomore
The scatback in the Venice backfield, the 5-foot-9, 174-pounder finished with 898 yards on 142 carries and 12 TDs.
TIGHT END
Koby Keenan, Manatee, senior
The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder caught three of Manatee's seven passing scores. Finished with 28 catches for 346 yards and three TDs.
Luke Petitta, Riverview, senior
Playing in seven games, the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder caught 12 passes for 232 yards and three TDs. Also blocked solidly for Rams head coach Josh Smithers.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Mathew Locicero, Venice, sophomore
A first-year starter at center for Venice, the 5-foot-10, 265-pound Locicero, according to head coach John Peacock, has a chance to be the best center the school has ever produced.
Maddox Marchbank, Sarasota, senior
The 6-3, 280-pounder, the Sailors' MVP, played on both sides of the offensive and defensive lines. A starter all of his four seasons, Marchbank helped the Sailors rush for more than 1,700 yards last season.
Jayce Marcum, Port Charlotte, junior
A FACA first-team selection for Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties. The 6-foot-2, 290-pounder helped the Pirates record more than 5,000 yards total offense.
Xzavier McKinney, Manatee, senior
According to Hurricane head coach Jacquez Green, the 6-foot-6, 265-pound McKinney had one of the best seasons of any Manatee player.
Mathew Peavley, Venice, junior
The leader of Venice's offensive line, the 6-foot-2, 285-pounder combines strength — 425-pound bench press — with athleticism.
Noe Phommathep, Booker, senior
The 6-foot, 282-pounder led a Tornado offensive line that backboned one of the area's most productive offenses.
Hamlet Rodriguez, Manatee, senior
The 6-foot-1, 285-pound guard/center teamed with teammate Xzavier McKinney to give the Hurricanes a formidable duo.
Keion Brown-Smith, Palmetto, senior
A FACA all-district selection, the 6-foot-6, 275-pound tackle led a Tiger rushing attack that produced a 6-yards-per-carry average.
WIDE RECEIVER
Josiah Booker, Booker, junior
The 5-foot-7, 160-pounder led the area with 957 receiving yards on 58 catches, with nine TDs. Has scholarship offers from Marshall and Duke.
Zymarion Lang, Palmetto, junior
The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder was one of the favorite receivers of quarterback Zander Smith, catching 28 passes for 470 yards and a team-high five TDs. A FACA all-district selection.
Ryan Matulevich, Venice, sophomore
The favorite target of quarterback Brooks Bentley, the 6-foot, 180-pounder used his sure hands to latch onto 50 passes for 673 yards and five TDs.
Kevon Sears, Venice, senior
The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder had the best season of his four years at Venice. Sears caught 48 passes for 666 yards and eight TDs, tops among Venice receivers. He also added 191 yards in kickoff returns and 156 yards in punt returns.
Jamal Streeter, Port Charlotte, junior
The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder led all Pirate receivers with 55 catches for 752 yards. Streeter also caught three of quarterback Bryce Eaton's 10 TD passes.
PLACEKICKER
Brandon Gonzales, Palmetto, junior
Connected on 10-of-12 field goals and 25-of-26 PATs. His 55 points led the Tigers in scoring.
HONORABLE MENTION
Isaac Ashley, Lakewood Ranch, senior
BJ Bean, Manatee, junior
Ben Bradshaw, Bradenton Christian, junior
Brendan Chavarria, Charlotte, senior
Cooper Flerlage, Cardinal Mooney, senior
Colton Loftus, Sarasota Christian, freshman
Adonis Moise, Palmetto, sophomore
Travis Miller, Sarasota Christian, freshman
Justin Millican, St. Stephen's, senior
Omarion Patterson, Booker, senior
Nahzir Stamper, Parrish, junior
Clayton Dees, Lakewood Ranch, junior
Luke Donley, St. Stephen's, senior
Bryce Eaton, Port Charlotte, senior
Ben Milliken, Sarasota Christian, freshman
Zander Smith, Palmetto, sophomore
Jackson Volz, Parrish, junior
Carson Beach, Cardinal Mooney, junior
Evan Brown, St. Stephen's, junior
Griffin DeRusso, Out-of-Door, senior
Thomas Forte, Charlotte, senior
Joe Judge, Sarasota, junior
Kyrie Marshall, Palmetto, senior
Javon Moss, Parrish, sophomore
Cory Sanders, Manatee, junior
Joe Scott, Lemon Bay, junior
Josh Seagreaves, Bradenton Christian, senior
Joe Ziegler, Sarasota, junior
Randall Collins, Sarasota Christian, sophomore
Fin Jones, Venice, senior
Fischer Schmidt, Bradenton Christian, junior
Daunte Frazier, Sarasota, senior
Mike Konkol, St. Stephen's, senior
Kirill Kotov, Venice, senior
Triston Loftus, Sarasota Christian, senior
Marvin Palominos, Out-of-Door, sophomore
Ivan Tulupov, St. Stephen's, junior
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Peacock, Venice
Guided Venice High to a 9-4 record, playing the fourth-toughest schedule in the state, and a berth in the Class 4 Suburban state championship game, where it lost to undefeated Lakeland High, 21-14. Venice won a district title and regional championship.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
At the conclusion of each high school season, the Herald-Tribune sends the area athletic directors a nomination form for coaches to select and rank players for our All-Area teams. A combination of Herald-Tribune research and the coaches’ player rankings lead to the teams being selected. An athlete of the year for each sport will be announced at the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Area High School Sports Awards show.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota-area Herald-Tribune All-Area football offense team
