High school football teams across Manatee County wrapped up October with several commanding victories on Friday, October 30, 2026. Braden River delivered a 70-point shutout, while Palmetto, Manatee, Bradenton Christian and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal also secured wins as the regular season concluded and postseason competition continued.
Braden River recorded the largest victory of the week, defeating Lake Buena Vista 70-0 at home. The Pirates improved to 8-1, while the Vipers finished 0-10. The shutout capped a strong regular season for Braden River, which enters November with momentum.
Palmetto continued its successful season with a 36-13 road victory over Bishop Verot in Fort Myers. The Tigers improved to 8-1, while Bishop Verot fell to 6-3. Palmetto joins Braden River among the county’s top-performing teams heading into postseason play.
Manatee High School defeated fellow Manatee County school Southeast High School 42-17 in a cross-town rivalry matchup at Southeast’s home field in Bradenton. The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 6-4 record, while the Seminoles ended at 2-8.
Bradenton Christian advanced in postseason competition with a 48-12 road victory over Countryside Christian. The Panthers improved to 8-3, while Countryside Christian fell to 6-3. The decisive win keeps Bradenton Christian in contention as the playoffs continue.
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal also secured a postseason victory, defeating Master’s Academy 34-6 at home. The Falcons improved to 7-4, while Master’s Academy dropped to 2-9. Saint Stephen’s joins Bradenton Christian among the local private-school programs advancing in postseason competition.
Bayshore came close to securing a victory but fell 26-21 to IMG Academy Junior National in Bradenton. The Bruins finished their season at 3-7, while IMG Academy Junior National improved to 4-4. The five-point margin made it the closest game among the county matchups reported this week.
Lakewood Ranch closed its regular season with a 35-13 home loss to Community School of Naples. The Mustangs finished 3-7, while the Seahawks improved to 4-5.
Parrish Community concluded a difficult season with a 36-0 road loss to Plant City. The Bulls finished 0-10, while Plant City improved to 8-2.
With the regular season complete for most programs, attention now turns to postseason competition. Braden River and Palmetto lead the county’s public-school teams with matching 8-1 records, while Bradenton Christian and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal have already recorded playoff victories.
The final week of October demonstrated the range of performances across Manatee County football, from dominant shutouts and rivalry victories to close contests and postseason success.