The 2026 high school football season kicked off Friday night with Manatee County teams taking the field in a full slate of non-district matchups, producing several decisive victories along with a pair of closely contested games.
Manatee High opened its season on the road with a 33-26 victory over Plant. The Hurricanes held off the Panthers in one of the closest games involving a Manatee County team during the opening week.
Braden River also started the season in impressive fashion. The Pirates hosted Pasco and rolled to a 34-7 victory, giving Braden River a strong start at home.
Bradenton Christian delivered one of the night’s most dominant performances. The Panthers shut out Orlando Christian Prep 53-0 at home, scoring the most points of any local team in Week 1.
IMG Academy was equally dominant in its season opener. The Ascenders traveled to face Lone Peak and came away with a 59-3 victory, the largest margin of victory among the Manatee County teams in action Thursday.
Lakewood Ranch also earned a road victory, defeating Parrish Community 27-14 in a matchup between two Manatee County programs. The Mustangs took the early-season bragging rights while the Bulls opened their season with a loss.
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal had a successful home opener, defeating Hudson 34-8.
Palmetto came up just short in one of the closest contests of the night. The Tigers traveled to Clearwater Central Catholic and fell 28-24, a four-point loss in their first game of the season.
Southeast also faced a competitive Week 1 matchup at home. The Seminoles fell to Wesley Chapel 34-28, finishing six points behind the Wildcats.
Bayshore faced a difficult road test against Sarasota. The Bruins fell 35-18 as Sarasota pulled away for the 17-point victory.
Overall, Manatee County teams posted several strong performances to begin the 2026 campaign. Manatee, Braden River, Bradenton Christian, IMG Academy, Lakewood Ranch and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal all collected Week 1 victories, while Palmetto, Southeast, Parrish Community and Bayshore will look to rebound as the season moves into Week 2.