Manatee's destiny is in Carnes' hands

Friday night's Class 5A state championship meeting with the Plant Panthers is more than just a game for Manatee High senior quarterback Brion Carnes.

It's his destiny.

He was an eighth-grader in 2005, watching from the stands, as the Hurricanes lost at home in the state semifinals.

Afterward, he approached disappointed Manatee coach Joe Kinnan.

"Coach," he said, "I promise you I'm going to get you another state championship."

Friday night at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando - when the Hurricanes (13-1) meet the Panthers (12-1)- Carnes will start his 51st game as Manatee's quarterback, capping a brilliant career. He says it's his time. And he knows it's also time to make good on that promise.

Carnes, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder who has given an oral commitment to the University of South Florida, already has earned the full respect of Plant coach Robert Weiner.

"He manages the game tremendously," said Weiner, who got a first-hand look at Carnes when Manatee defeated Plant 49-33 in an Aug. 28 exhibition game. "He can hurt you very much if you're selling out to get pressure on him and you don't get him. If he just slides out of the pocket, even for a brief second, he throws it well on the run. He has a really strong arm and can fit the ball into places.

"He hurts you with his arm and his feet. He's a dual threat, for sure."

Carnes has completed 59.7 percent of his passes this season for 2,245 yards, 24 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. He has rushed for 441 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Carnes, Manatee's all-time passing leader, is often compared to past Hurricanes greats such as Tommie Frazier (his cousin) or Willie Taggart. He has even been described as the high school version of Vince Young for his ability to glide in the pocket, shed tacklers and deliver on-the-money passes with a flick of his wrist.

"Those are compliments, but to be honest, I just want to make a name for myself," said Carnes, whose first name is pronounced Bree-ahn.

That can be assured Friday night.

Manatee is shooting for its fifth state championship under Kinnan, who won in 1983, 1985, 1989 and 1992.

Carnes wants to equal the accomplishment of his father, Lorenzo, a running back on Manatee's 1985 state title team.

"Brion is a legacy player, as is Ace Sanders (the senior wide receiver, four-year starter and son of Tracy Sanders, the quarterback on Manatee's 1983 state-title team)," Kinnan said. "The leadership of those guys has really picked up, along with their athletic ability.

"Brion is everything you want in a quarterback. He has so many accomplishments and so much experience. He's looking for one more thing. All of us are."

The state championship.

Carnes knows he must put aside Friday's landmark 28-20 victory against Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, the nation's No. 1-ranked team, in the state semifinals.

"It was fun playing my last game out here at Joe Kinnan Field," Carnes said. "Beating the No. 1 team in the nation means a lot. I'll always have that memory.

"But we've got to win one more. I knew I had to stay patient. My mom always told me, 'Brion, your time will come.' I've been patient for four years. Now it's our time, our time."

Sounds like a promise.