MANATEE COUNTY (SNN TV) — On Friday the Palmetto Tigers will stare down a little history when they arrive at Harllee Stadium.
“This is a huge opportunity, Palmetto has never had back-to-back regional champion,” Palmetto head football coach Dave Marino said. “This would be big for this school and this community.”
The Tigers have racked up 27 sacks and 18 interceptions this season. On the year, Palmetto has set to surrender 30 points to an opponent.
“We feel confident that we don’t have to overcompensate for anyone on our defense, we have some really good players across the board,” Marino said.
Palmetto’s opponent, Lakeland Lake Gibson has been explosive in the state playoffs. The Braves have scored 181 points in three games, knocking off area teams Braden River (56-49) and Southeast (48-22). 6-foot-4 inch quarterback Josh Siplin has done his part studying film on Lake Gibson all week.
“They are a pretty good team, we are going to be in a dog fight the whole game, but I feel like we can pull this out,” Siplin said.
During these playoffs Palmetto has played nothing but close games. The scrappy Tigers have outscoring their first two opponents by just 16 points combined. Cashing in win a 10 point win against Fort Pierce Westwood and a six point win on the road against Tampa Hillsborough this past Friday.
“We get to the fourth quarter and we’re close, or we’re ahead we feel like we can shut the door,” Marino said. “All of our guys get stronger as the game goes on.”
Siplin provides some of that steadiness late in games. The athletic quarterback has racked up 450 yards on the ground while throwing for more than 1,200 yards. Everyone who has ever played sports has role-models who they look up to and model their game after.
“I look up to Russell Wilson you know how he is very mobile, and when he escapes the pocket he keeps his eyes down field,” Siplin said.
Win or lose on Friday, Marino and the whole Tiger sideline has created something special in the city of Palmetto.
“I just couldn’t be more happy for the community and the school, the excitement and the buzz year in and year out now that we are a perennial playoff football team,” Marino said.
