Football Friday

Top Performers
Riverview running back Oshea Grant rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Cardinal Mooney wide receive Blair Perry caught touchdown passes of 20 and 14 yards on Cardinal Mooney’s first two possessions.

Riverview quarterback Dominic Caldwell completed 14 of 21 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns.

Perry finished with five catches for 74 yards.

Cardinal Mooney linebacker Sam Leonard tackled Najee Rhodes in the end zone for a safety in the first quarter. He also scored on a 49-yard run with less than a minute to play.

Game Changer
Justin Austin
Running back | Sarasota High

Austin carried the ball 21 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 81 yards.

OBSERVER GAME OF THE WEEK
Oct. 24 (7:30 p.m.)
Sarasota vs. Palmetto

Sarasota captured its first district victory of the season with a 15-point victory over North Port. The Sailors (1-1 Class 7A-District 10) will seek to keep their playoff hopes alive as they face a talented Palmetto squad that is coming off a 31-7 district victory over Lakewood Ranch. The Tigers are 2-0 in the district and can clinch a playoff berth with a win.

SCORE BOARD
Week 8 // Oct. 17

Cardinal Mooney 64
ODA 0

Sarasota 28
North Port 13

Palm Harbor University 42
Riverview 41

+ Cougars clinch playoff berth
The Cardinal Mooney High football team cruised to a 64-0 victory over rival The Out-of-Door Academy in its Class 3A-District 6 opener Oct. 17.

The Cougars scored touchdowns on eight of their 10 possessions and took a 43-0 lead at halftime. Quarterback Reese Vita threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns, including two to wide receiver Blair Perry.

Cardinal Mooney linebacker Sam Leonard recorded a safety and also scored on a 49-yard run in the final minute of the game.

“It was probably one of the best feelings of my life,” Leonard says of the touchdown. “I didn’t think I was going to make it that far.”

With the win, the Cougars clinched a berth in the playoffs. Cardinal Mooney will seek to defend its district title Oct. 31. versus Bishop Verot.