Venice secured the eighth seed in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s first Open Division, joining the top eight teams in the state for a new playoff format announced on Friday, November 6. The Indians will compete in Pool A alongside the top-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas, fourth-seed Chaminade-Madonna, and fifth-seed Lakeland.
The Indians open their pool play at Chaminade-Madonna on November 13, then host St. Thomas Aquinas on November 20, before traveling to Lakeland on November 27. Venice faced Lakeland earlier this season and won on the road, setting up a rematch with a familiar opponent. St. Thomas Aquinas, meanwhile, is the top-ranked team in Florida and promises a challenging fixture for the Indians.
Venice finished the regular season with a 9-1 record. Their most notable victories include a season-opening win against Rabun Gap from Georgia and an early triumph over Lakeland. The Indians’ sole defeat came in Week 7, a narrow 20-17 loss to Jacksonville Raines, who are also among the eight teams qualifying for the Open Division bracket.
The Indians’ roster features several standout players. Dorien Jones, a three-star recruit committed to Florida International University, has rushed for 1,189 yards and scored 26 touchdowns on 145 carries. Ira Dale Jr. has contributed 525 yards and 12 touchdowns on 69 carries. Freshman quarterback Mason Polley has thrown for 1,131 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions, completing 57 percent of his passes.
Venice has dealt with injuries throughout the season. Four-star receiver Tyree Mannings Jr. has been sidelined since Week 3. Freshman wide receiver Mike Blakely has stepped up with six touchdowns and 633 yards, while junior Jayvian Hoffman has added 457 yards and three scores.
If teams tie during pool play, tiebreakers will be decided first by head-to-head results among the tied teams, then by points allowed in those matchups, followed by point differential within tied teams, and finally by overall point differential.
The Open Division schedule also includes other matchups among Florida’s elite. On the opening weekend, Miami Central faces Miami Columbus, while Jacksonville Raines takes on West Boca. The second week features St. Thomas Aquinas visiting Venice, Miami Columbus hosting Jacksonville Raines, Lakeland at Chaminade-Madonna, and Miami Central visiting West Boca. The final round sees Chaminade-Madonna at St. Thomas Aquinas, Venice at Lakeland, West Boca at Miami Columbus, and Jacksonville Raines at Miami Central.
Venice’s entry into the Open Division marks the first time the FHSAA has grouped the top eight teams in such a format, offering a new approach to determining the state champion by pitting the best squads against one another in a pool structure rather than traditional regional brackets.
The Indians face a demanding schedule in a pool that includes the state’s highest-ranked team and several other strong programs. Their early game at Chaminade-Madonna and the home clash with St. Thomas Aquinas will test their depth and resolve as they aim to advance beyond pool play in the inaugural Open Division.
According to Yahoo Sports.
