With a quarterback making his first start of the season, the Sarasota High football team traveled to Manatee High on Friday night and came home with its first playoff victory in 18 seasons. 

The Sailors beat the Hurricanes 30-20 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4S regional quarterfinals. The team was steadied by its running game — junior Joe Ziegler and sophomore Takurian Smith each ran for a score — but was given a boost by junior quarterback Michael Bendever, who made his first start of the season. Head Coach Brody Wiseman said he turned to Bendever, who had been getting a share of first-team reps all season alongside sophomore Alexander Diaz, because he added a new dimension to the offense that had been missing: the deep ball.