Venice football makes first ever FHSAA Open Division as an eighth seed

Venice made the FHSAA's first Open Division, a bracket made up of the top eight teams in Florida, which was announced on Friday, November 6.The Indians are ranked eighth and will have a tough road as it shares a pool with No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 4 Chamiade-Madonna and No. 5 seed Lakeland.Venice will start Pool A play at Chamiade-Madonna on Nov. 13 before hosting the top seed Saint Thomas Aquinas on Nov. 20 before traveling to Lakeland, a team the Indians beat on the road earlier this season.Venice finished 9-1 in the regular season, picking up notable wins against Rabun Gap (Ga.) in Week 1 and Lakeland in Week 3 on the road. The Indians suffered their only loss against Jacksonville Raines in Week 7, losing 20-17. Raines is ranked eighth in Florida, and was one of the eight teams to make it alongside Saint Thomas Aquinas, Miami Columbus, West Boca, Chaminade-Madonna, Lakeland and Miami Central. The Indians been led by three-star Dorien Jones (FIU commit), who has rushed for 1,189 yards and 26 touchdowns on 145 carries. Running back Ira Dale Jr. has added 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 several injuries, including to four-star receiver Tyree Mannings Jr., who hasn’t played since Week 3. Freshman receiver Mike Blakely has recorded six touchdowns and 633 yards, while junior Jayvian Hoffman has 457 yards and three scores. If a tiebreaker is needed during pool play, the following criteria will be applied in order: head-to-head results among tied tams, points allowed during tied teams only, point differential among tied teams only and overall point differential from all games. Here's the full schedule: Friday, Nov. 13No. 8 Venice at No. 4 Chamiade-MadonnaNo. 5 Venice at No. 1 St. Thomas AquinasNo. 6 Miami Central at No. 2 Miami ColumbusNo. 7 Jacksonville Raines at No. 3 West BocaFriday, Nov. 20No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas at No. 8 VeniceNo. 2 Miami Columbus at No. 7 Jacksonville RainesNo. 5 Lakeland at No. 4 Chaminade Madonna No. 6 Miami Central at No. 3 West BocaFriday, Nov. 27 No. 4 Chaminade Madonna at No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas No. 8 Venice at No. 5 Lakeland No. 3 West Boca at No. 2 Miami Columbus No. 7 Jacksonville Raines at No. 6 Miami CentralThis article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Venice football makes first ever FHSAA Open Division as an eighth seed