SARASOTA (SNN-TV) – After last week’s Kickoff Classics, the slate of high school game’s this week will count for real. One Sarasota County will be must-see, thus why it’s our Absolute Aluminum – Game of the Week.
The spotlight shines on Austin Smithers Stadium this week, as the Cardinal Mooney Cougars host the Booker Tornadoes on Friday. Both teams got off to hot starts in their Kickoff classic, as Cardinal Mooney won decisively against Seffner Christian, shutting out the Crusaders 53-0. Whereas Booker, also scored in bunches, defeating Hardee 59-27.
Booker’s new head coach and Athletic Director Scottie Littles has arrived at the arrived hoping to revert the program to its winning ways. According to junior wideout Josiah Booker, Littles is doing just that.
“He’s brought discipline and a love back of football back to Booker High School, [he’s] helping out the community.”
The Tornadoes boast a bevy of talent this season, under Littles tutelage, at the helm of the offense, is transfer QB Will Carter. Coming to Booker from Riverview, the senior signal-caller Carter, exploded onto the scene last week accounting for 5 of the Tornadoes touchdowns, 3 through the air and 2 on the ground. Carter says this is only the beginning, as last week’s success is a product of the teams effort this offseason.
“We’re just getting started. We work hard, it’s pretty hot out here. We grind everyday and people don’t really understand the amount of work we’ve been putting in behind closed doors. I feel like those five touchdowns, those weren’t for me. That was my line blocking for me, my receivers catching the ball, making plays, it was just everybody working together as one team.”
Known on the Suncoast for being one the area’s most elusive QB’s, his arm strength and throwing ability are under appreciated and overlooked. Carter embraces the doubt with confidence.
“I have an arm [that] people will continue to sleep on because I allow my legs to carry my game a lot. I’ll tell you this, when people do tend to bite on my legs, I have the ability to make them pay with my arm.”
But Carter and the Tornadoes will face a formidable Cardinal Mooney squad. One of the Cougars emerging stars is two-sport athlete and two-way star, Teddy Foster. The junior wideout and defensive back was once thought of as a basketball star only, but has found prominence of the gridiron obtaining several D-I offers. Foster recognizes the threat that is Carter and the Tornadoes offense are, and plans to adjust and apply his craft accordingly.
“I know his going to get pressured. I know we can put pressure on him. I’m just going to play my zone, stay patient and stay humble. We’ll see how that works out.”
On the offensive side of the ball for Jared Clark’s Cougars, they boast three-headed monster: top-area running back Carson Beach, first-season QB Johnny Antonucci, and Swiss army knife wideout Griffin Gisotti. Gisotti knows the rivalry will play out in various ways, but approaches Friday’s game with the proper confidence.
‘We know Booker, they like to talk, they do their thing. But that doesn’t change anything for us, it’s just another game. They can treat this like the Super Bowl or whatever, but we’re just going to play like we did last year and put up thirty-six [points].
The Cougars do look to repeat their performance from last season, shutting out the Tornadoes 36-0. But, what’s not to be overlooked is that this isn’t the same Booker team from last season, as the Tornadoes are now more disciplined and vastly talented.
“Everything is about execution, and that’s what we preach over here. Execute, execute, execute. As long as we execute and do our jobs, I feel like that’ll carry us a long way.”
Kickoff from Cardinal Mooney High School is set for 7pm tomorrow night. Be sure to catch all of the Suncoast High School Football highlights tomorrow night exclusively on SNN on Friday Football Fever, following the late edition.