Manatee High School football players teaching 8-year-old with rare condition how to be a kicker

BRADENTON, Fla. - On a practice field in Bradenton, in between the players almost twice his size, is Caden Whitfield. 

"Kick it whenever you're ready," the Manatee High School football players tell him.

To look at him - 8 years old, an almost ear-to-ear grin - you'd never guess what he has overcome. 

"He has had a lot of his childhood taken away," Caden's mom Kapi Whitfield says through tears.

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Instant Replay: Watch St. Pete vs Manatee football

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2014 High School Stat Leaders | Bradenton Herald

Check out the leaders by individuals and Team.

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Game of the Week, Clash of the Canes!

Game of the Week, Away Vs. Palm Harbor Hurricanes

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Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game, Vs. St. Petersburg Green Devils

Offensive player of the game, Kelvin McKnight # 1, and Defensive Player of the game, Jumar Gaskins # 13.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Numbers Game | Thursday night works for Manatee County's prep football teams

A successful Thursday night, a trend of second-half dominance for Manatee and the conclusion of Palmetto's unscheduled two-week break.

Numbers Game makes its October debut as the prep football seasons grinds toward a stretch run full of non-district rivalry games and intense affairs with postseason fates hanging in the balance.

So here's a look back to Week 5 with an eye toward Week 6.

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Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/10/07/5400744/numbers-game-thursday-night-works.html?#storylink=cpy

FOOTBALL: Manatee, Venice only 2 area teams ranked in top 10

The Manatee and Venice high football teams maintained their positions in the latest Associated Press Top 10 football poll.

The Hurricanes remained ninth in Class 8A. The Indians stayed fifth in 6A.

No other area teams are ranked.

Here is the complete poll:

The Associated Press Top 10 Florida high school football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records, rating points and previous rankings:

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Frazier, Wuerffel enshrined in college hall

ATLANTA — It's been nearly 20 years, and Tommie Frazier is still trading jabs with Danny Wuerffel.

The former quarterbacks at Nebraska and Florida have plenty of goodwill for each other, too, as they're enshrined Tuesday night in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Frazier and Wuerffel joined 10 former players and two coaches who make up last year's hall of fame class.

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Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/10/07/5401735/frazier-wuerffel-to-be-enshrined.html?sp=/99/217/#storylink=cpy

Game of the Week HTPREPS

Manatee HURRICANES

At

Riverview RAMS

7:30 p.m., Thursday, Ram Bowl, Sarasota

Directions: From Bradenton, take U.S. 41 south (or 301 to 41) to Proctor Road and make a left. Go right at light at Lords Avenue to school parking. Stadium is behind school.

Breakdown

Last week, Manatee (4-1; 0-0) defeated rival Southeast, 39-26, Saturday in a game postponed from Friday night because of inclement weather. Riverview (2-2; 0-0) had the week off.

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Prep football | Week 6 preview capsules

Manatee (4-1, 0-0 Class 8A-District 7) at Riverview (2-2, 0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

On the air: 930-AM, WLSS

Online: manateefootball.com

The scoop: After throwing for 180 yards and three TDs Saturday at Southeast, Sloan Drummonds has been named Manatee's starting quarterback. ... The Hurricanes have not lost a district game since 2008 in Venice and have not lost to the Rams since 2005. ... Manatee boasts the area's top running back in Johnnie Lang (765 yards) and receiver in Kelvin McKnight (16 catches), and Lang leads the area in scoring (54 points). ... Manatee is ranked 71st nationally by nationalhsfootball.com and ninth in the state in Class 8A by Associated Press. ... Manatee has won 50 straight regular-season games against Florida schools. ... The Rams are coming off a bye week. They defeated Lehigh 42-34 on Sept. 19 after trailing 20-0 less than six minutes before half. ... Karan Higdon ran for 210 yards in the win. Riverview's two losses have come to Booker and Veince, and they allowed 308 yards of rushing against the Indians. ... The Rams' other win came against Bayshore.

Prediction: Manatee 35, Riverview 7

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Prep football | Short week doesn't scare Manatee Hurricanes

BRADENTON -- Playing a varsity football game on a Thursday provides enough of a twist.

But then factor in playing a game on a Thursday four days after playing your biggest rival on a humid Saturday morning.

Or that your opponent is coming off a bye.

Or that the game is on the road ... against a longtime foe ... and serves as each team's district opener.

Bizarre enough for you?

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