Faith: Manatee High football player attends church before school every morning

MANATEE

Imagine waking up at 5:30 a.m. every weekday, going through a 12-hour work day and returning home to finish even more work.

Most adults would find that schedule daunting, but 17-year-old Octavious James doesn't just get through it, he actually enjoys it. It's important to my life, to my future and to my character. And it makes me feel good," James said. "I get up every morning, I go to church and I start my day off right."

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Prep football | Heavy rain, lightning cause four postponements

Manatee at Southeast (rescheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday), Palmetto at Bayshore (no makeup date yet), Braden River at Booker (no makeup date yet) and Punta Gorda Charlotte at Lakewood Ranch (canceled) were lost to weather.

Prep Football Preview Capsule Week 5

Manatee Vs. Southeast

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Prep Rally | Former Southeast star Charles Chestnut wants Seminoles to get swagger back, beat Manatee

As a personal trainer, Charles Chestnut doesn't take much stock in where you got your diploma.

"Any kid who wants to try can get to college," he said of his clients, "or anyone who wants to get in shape."

But when his day job ends and he makes his way back to John Kiker Memorial Stadium, where Chestnut works with the Seminoles receivers as a volunteer assistant coach, the true colors come out.

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Manatee High 'wrecking ball' Kwanzi Jackson carries 10 sacks into showdown with Southeast

BRADENTON -- Spend a Friday night watching Kwanzi Jackson play football, and you'll find plenty to like.

His speed off the end.

His tenacious pursuit of a quarterback.

His strength.

Yet perhaps Jackson's greatest attribute is patience.

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Southeast players ready to compete against Manatee despite long odds

BRADENTON -- When Brian McKnight looks at the Southeast-Manatee football rivalry, it's what he doesn't see that explains the Hurricanes' recent domination.

"We don't have those big linemen anymore. We've had great tailbacks, great cornerbacks and wide receivers, but we've struggled getting five big offensive linemen and four defensive linemen," McKnight said.

The Seminoles' longtime defensive coordinator, McKnight is dialed into this rivalry. He played on the first Southeast team to beat Manatee (21-7) in 1985.

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