Tampa Bay Tech dominates Venice (Fla.) in rout

Last year’s meeting between Tampa Bay Tech and Venice was a back-and-forth shootout, with the Indians outlasting the Titans in a 63-40 victory. This time around, the Titans turned the tables on the Indians, but making it more of a defensive duel in East Tampa.

Tampa Bay Tech stifled Venice’s offense, holding the unit to one score as the Titans opened up the 2025 season with a dominating 29-7 victory over the defending Class 7A state champions on Friday night.

For Venice, the 22-point loss was the biggest loss deficit the team has had since 2020 when they lost to St. Thomas Aquinas, 29-8, in a region final.

Tampa Bay Tech has been knocking on the door

Many avid high school football fans might be much more stunned than we are when it comes to this result because of Venice’s prowess as an annual state championship contending program. That’s not to dismiss that Tampa Bay Tech hasn’t been, either, but the Titans last reached the state semis/championship in 2021 and haven’t been back in the mix since.

Well, consider this a wakeup call to those around Class 5A that the Titans are back knocking on that proverbial door of contending for a state crown this fall. Looking at teams like Lakeland, whom Tampa Bay Tech came within less than a field goal of in a region final last year, and Niceville, Manatee both losing their openers, a chance to make a deep run back to states is there for head coach Jayson Roberts’ crew.

With plenty talent on the team, headed up by senior offensive lineman Canon Pickett (Miami commit), we can see the Titans making a run back to states and possibly the championship game.

After scoring 42 points last week, Venice’s offense goes silent

One of the more impressive performances of the preseason classics was Venice’s 42-12 thrashing of 2024 Class 2A state semifinalist Gadsden County last week.

Sometimes in that particular case, you can’t read into it too deep at all.

The Indians seemed to have figured out their quarterback situation, after head coach John Peacock had a competition ongoing between Alex Schafer and Sean Long. By all accounts, Venice wasn’t able to get much going throwing or running the ball against a talented Titans’ defense.

Not having a player like Tyree Manning, who was out according to the Venice Gondolier’s Evan Lepak, hurt Venice immensely on offense as the Indians found it as tough sledding without their four-star sophomore sensation out wide at receiver.

Where does Venice go from here?

Welp, there’s one thing that’s certain and it doesn’t get any easier moving forward for the Indians as the season progresses.

Now not having Manning definitely throws a little bit of pause here in jumping to conclusions like Venice won’t be able to compete for a state championship later on in the season as the Indians play in an open Class 7A classification.

Venice now has to go on another road trip and this time to Traz Powell Stadium to take on arguably Florida’s top team in Miami Northwestern. The Indians then have to play solid Bishop Verot and Port Charlotte teams before they even face IMG Academy national and The First Academy later on in the season.

Seeing their opponent from last year’s title game, Lake Mary, defeat Miami Norland on Friday night makes you wonder if the Rams inch ahead as the favorites in 7A.

It’s just Week 1, but it definitely was a reminder that every brings on new perspectives and Venice’s loss changes a lot of people’s when it comes down to who may claim Florida’s highest classification come mid-December.