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Preview Thursday's spring high school football games in Sarasota and Manatee County

Dennis Maffezzoli
| Special to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

It may feel like midsummer, but a feeling of fall is returning to Manatee and Sarasota counties this week.

The area's high school football programs will conclude their 20 days of spring training with exhibition games. Here's a look at the six games played Thursday night.

Bradenton Christian at Bayshore

AT: Balvanz Stadium, 7 p.m

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Bradenton Christian has a new coach Phillip Spesswho takes over Nate Strawdermanwho accepted the offensive coordinator position at Southeast High under the new coach Curt Bradley. … Spess takes over a Panthers team that went 7-2 last season with just two losses to Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy. … Bradenton Christian cut 16 players from the roster last year, so they will look to fill some key spots and add much-needed depth. … Bayshore got off to a good start last season, winning the first two and three of the first four. … The Bruins will also look to develop more depth to have a better second half of the season.

Parish in Seminole Osceola

AT: Osceola High School, Seminole, 7 p.m

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Second year coach Dylan Clark is looking to build on a 7-4 season that saw Parrish Community qualify for the regional playoffs for the first time in the program's four-year history. … The Bulls, who lost their regional quarterfinal 42-0 at Naples High, graduated many key players but had a young roster to fill the gaps. …Expect big MLB performances this season Gage Cameron and WR/DB Kymistrii Young, who had eight touchdowns on 22 catches a year ago.

Port Charlotte near Palmetto

AT: Harllee Stadium, 7:30 p.m

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: With Palmetto still without a permanent coach, it will be tested early by a Port Charlotte team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. … Assistant Jim Webbalong with the girls flag football coach Butch Santcil, have temporarily led the Tigers' spring practices until a new coach is hired. …Tigers athletics director Bryan Wilkes plans to advertise the position after spring. … After a 5-5 season and a 16-15 record over the past three seasons following back-to-back state semifinal appearances, Palmetto still has work to do to become a dominant team in the region again. … Rising junior WR/QB/CB Dylan Wester was a versatile player for the Tigers a year ago. … Rising senior QB Jackson Roth transfers from Out-of-Door Academy, where he threw five touchdowns and rushed for two more. … The Pirates finished 9-3 last season and closed the regular season with six straight wins.

Sarasota at St. Petersburg Lakewood

AT: Lakewood High, St. Petersburg, 7 p.m

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Coming off a 1-9 season in coaching Josh Phillips' In its first season, Sarasota will attempt a major rebuild under the leadership of the former Riverview High assistant Amp Campbell. … The Sailors will look to rejuvenate a program that has made the playoffs twice in the last 10 years with a relatively young roster. … Lakewood was 2-9 last season and reached the Class 2A-Metro playoffs.

Ocala Vanguard at Manatee

AT: Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium, Bradenton, 7:30 p.m

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: With a record of 15-7 over the last two seasons, Manatee is looking to take the next step as a coach Jacquez Greens fourth season. … The Hurricanes went 9-3 before losing 35-30 at home to Riverview in the regional semifinals last year. … Manatee has plenty of talented players, especially along the defensive line where there are players like rising seniors DE/DT Ian Johnson Kelley and DE/DT Avoid Kennon build a wall. …QB Andreas Heidel returns for his senior season at quarterback and has a number of weapons in both the backfield (rising sophomore RB). Keith Smith) and at wideout (rising seniors). Torey Gilley And AJ Causey) at his disposal. … Vanguard went 11-3 last season and lost to eventual state champion Daytona Beach Mainland in the Class 3A-Suburban State semifinals.

Cardinal Mooney and Clearwater in St. Petersburg

AT: St. Petersburg High, St. Petersburg, 6:30 p.m

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Coming off its first state championship since 1972, Cardinal Mooney is looking to become the first area team to make back-to-back appearances since Southeast High in 1993-94. … The Cougars have enough firepower to keep up with the emerging junior dual threat Devin Mignery back to playing the majority of snaps at quarterback after seeing split time last year Michael Valentino. … Look for last year's state finals hero, rising senior WR/DB Chris McCorkle to play an even bigger role after catching the game-winning touchdown and intercepting a pass on the final play of Cardinal Mooney's 31-27 victory over Ocala Trinity Catholic in the Class 1 Suburban title game. … There are holes to fill, such as finding a dominant running back to take the workhorse RB's spot Carson Beach and plug holes at linebacker. … Cardinal Mooney had a good spring test in a scrimmage against Port Charlotte High on Saturday. … Clearwater went 7-5 last season. … St. Petersburg took an 8-3 lead a year ago.

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