Loss Brings Perspective for Hurricanes' Blakely

FORT LAUDERDALE -- In the short span from playing his last down as a Manatee High football player to answering questions about everything from his college future to why host St. Thomas Aquinas was so dominant in Friday night's 31-7 state-semifinal victory, Mike Blakely's four-year career came full circle.

Displaying the same reluctance he once felt about playing at the varsity level as a freshman, Blakely talked of being no different from any other Hurricane and being grateful for the opportunity to play the sport. College coaches, recruiting services, sports reporters and opposing players did not view things in the same perspective this season.

The Raiders (14-0) were intent on getting into the Manatee backfield and creating havoc. More often than not they were successful in a win over the previously undefeated Hurricanes, which served as a measure of redemption for last year's 28-20 loss in the Class 5A state semifinals at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium and sent head coach George Smith to his 13th state championship appearance.

Blakely was helped to the sideline with an injured left ankle with 7:43 left on Friday night. A right ankle injury had cost the 5-foot-9, 195-pound Blakely a couple games and limited him in a couple more this season.

He still finished with 1,149 yards and 18 touchdowns on 157 carries, plus 204 yards and one touchdown on 17 receptions. However, there was no reason to risk future success against an Aquinas defense that limited Blakely to 42 yards on 19 carries.

After watching the game's completion and the beginning of a raucous Aquinas celebration, Blakely made his way over to a Raider player and offered a congratulatory embrace despite the attempted interference of an official fearing the worst. He would then hear legendary head coach Joe Kinnan deliver a final postgame message to his senior class and pose for pictures with his fellow running backs and assistant coach Rod Frazier before facing journalists and their tape recorders.

With the realization that not everyone closes each chapter with a victory, the bittersweet conclusion represented a career that was more sweet than bitter. While his senior season was not what he expected, Blakely's career still included two region championships, the program's first perfect regular season in 20 years, a total of six losses and the chance to earn an athletic scholarship from the University of Florida.

"It hurt me a lot to lose this game, knowing that I'm not 100 percent," Blakely said. "No one knows what I could have done if I was 100 percent, but I showed up and gave it my best. With the injuries this year, it's been like a rollercoaster."

Just as it has been the case throughout the season, Blakely had his moments against Aquinas. He collected 36 yards on his first six carries and fueled the Hurricanes' only touchdown drive with a 27-yard pass to quarterback Cord Sandberg late in the second quarter.

"I'm happy with my season and my career at Manatee," Blakely said. "Just getting ready to take it to Gainesville in a couple of weeks."

Blakely has reaffirmed his verbal commitment to Florida in the two days that followed head coach Urban Meyer's second abrupt resignation announcement in the last year. Having spoken with Meyer about the decision, Blakely plans to sign a national letter of intent in February with Florida as long as the program's new head coach does not dismantle the current staff.

Although it remains to be determined if Blakely will become a Gator, he will always be a Hurricane.

"Every chance that I get to come down and support the guys, I'm probably going to be right there on the sideline screaming and coaching somebody," Blakely said.