Week 5 takeaways, Florida high school football: Venice is still Venice

Jon Santucci, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Venice is still Venice.

Maybe you forgot because Venice was 1-2, not including a Kickoff Classic loss against IMG, heading into its Week 5 showdown with Seminole, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4M.

Despite falling behind 14-0, Venice rallied to win 24-17. Senior quarterback Brooks Bentley threw two touchdown passes and rushed for the game-winning score late in the fourth quarter.

Venice’s defense pitched a shutout in the second half and limited a potent Seminole offense to less than 100 yards in the half.

All in all, it was a strong reminder that Venice still is one of the best teams in the state.

“We haven’t played great, but obviously we have a young team,” Venice coach John Peacock said. “I knew there were going to be some growing pains, but Venice is still here. I think we made the state aware of that.”

More: Braden River rebounds against Booker, Venice, Port Charlotte, Ranch win

Bartram Trail can win a number of ways

Bartram Trail junior running back Laython Biddle (33) rushes the ball in a game against Lincoln on Sept. 15, 2022, at Gene Cox Stadium. The Bears won 24-7.
Bartram Trail junior running back Laython Biddle (33) rushes the ball in a game against Lincoln on Sept. 15, 2022, at Gene Cox Stadium. The Bears won 24-7.

The Bears defense was its calling card early this fall, allowing one score or less in three of its first four games. That wasn’t the case Friday against St. Augustine when Bartram Trail gave up 37 points – 31 in the first 30 minutes of the game. Of course, allowing 37 points doesn’t look (as) bad when you score 59. Sparked by Laython Biddle’s career game (15 touches, 198 yards, six total touchdowns), Bartram Trail showed it can win in multiple ways.

More: Biddle scores 6 TDs, Bartram Trail wins 5th straight over St. Augustine

Osceola dominates at Rockledge

The Kowboys have played one of the toughest schedules in the state but got a signature win Friday by routing previously unbeaten Rockledge 30-7 on the road. Senior quarterback David Buggs threw three touchdowns in the first half as Osceola built a 21-0 lead.

More: EG still perfect, Cocoa wins big at Melbourne

Mainland has big bounce-back week

Mainland QB Demarcus Creecy (4) looks to pass during a game with Flagler Palm Coast at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Monday, Sept.19, 2022.
Mainland QB Demarcus Creecy (4) looks to pass during a game with Flagler Palm Coast at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Monday, Sept.19, 2022.

Any concern over Mainland after losing to Bartram Trail is a distant memory after registering a pair of big wins in Week 5. First, the Buccaneers got a late touchdown from Ajai Harrell and held off Flagler Palm Coast 22-16 on Monday. Four days later, Mainland knocked off previously undefeated Lake Minneola 39-26 behind Damarcus Creecy’s 315 yards and three touchdowns.

More: Matanzas edges Atlantic in defensive slugfest

Creekside is a contender in 3-4S

Creekside players race through a banner onto the field before a high school football game at Mandarin on September 23, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Creekside players race through a banner onto the field before a high school football game at Mandarin on September 23, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

Halfway through the season, Creekside is 4-1 with its lone loss coming against state power Buchholz. The Knights pulled out a 37-27 win at Mandarin Friday behind two special teams scores – one by Andrew Kelley and another by Bruno Alves – and a defense that forced turnovers, including two interceptions by Jay Boyer. District 3-4S is deep and talented – maybe the strongest in the state – but Creekside has shown that its certainly in the mix.

More: Creekside vs. Mandarin: Andrew Kelley, Bruno Alves kick returns tip balance for Knights

Columbus keeps winning

Yeah, not a hot take at all. Columbus is one of the premier teams in the state on an annual basis. But remaining undefeated during a three-game stretch that included Jesuit (Class 6A champion in 2021), rival Miami Palmetto (regional finalist in 2021) and Miami Northwestern (state semifinalist in 2021) is impressive.

Quick links

More: Week 5 SWFL football: Golden Gate, Riverdale, Naples, Fort Myers, Gateway pick up wins

More: High school football: Field goal with 14 seconds left lifts Buchholz over Vanguard

More: Florida High, Chiles, Rickards, more win big on Friday night| Week 5 Big Bend football

More: Marion County high school football: Raines wins top 10 matchup against Trinity Catholic

Vero Beach High School's Vandrevius Jacobs escapes the grip of a South Fork defender as the Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians take on the South Fork Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bow in Vero Beach. Vero Beach won 54-6.
Vero Beach High School's Vandrevius Jacobs escapes the grip of a South Fork defender as the Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians take on the South Fork Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bow in Vero Beach. Vero Beach won 54-6.

More: Football: Vandrevius Jacobs' big plays lead Vero Beach past Miami Palmetto

More: Week 5: Treasure Coast impresses in defeat, John Carroll Catholic improves to 4-0

More: 'There when I need him': Colin Hurley, Miles Burris shine as Conquerors take down Columbia

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida high school football, Week 5 takeaways: Venice is still Venice