Prediction: Venice (Fla.) wins state championship No. 5

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way back down south to the Sunshine State to check on the 2024 Class 7A state champion Venice Indians. The Indians are coming off winning a state title look to get back playing one of the toughest schedules in the Sunshine State. Can head coach John Peacock’s crew pull off winning the program’s fifth state championship this fall?

Player Spotlight: EDGE Asharri Charles

Everything starts defensively for the Indians with the 4-star edge rusher as Charles anchors one side of the defensive line for Peacock. Charles, who is already committed to the University of Miami (FL) looks to cap his high school career with one more state championship under his belt. Paired with fellow defensive lineman Brock Hupp, Venice’s strength on defense is up at the line of scrimmage. Last season, Charles finished the season racking up 107 total tackles, 15.5 going for a loss, 13.5 sacks, six batted away passes and two forced fumbles. Expect another strong season from the future Miami Hurricane.

Others to watch: TE Colton Lynch, WR Tyree Manning Jr., RB Dorien Jones, DL Brock Hupp, OL Roman Mock, QB Sean Long, QB Alex Schafer

Season Prediction: 8-2

Last season seemed somewhat easy to predict for most folks when looking at the Venice Indians. The team was stacked with talent, especially when it came to the skill position. Having players like Winston Watkins Jr., Jamarice Wilder, Jayce Nixon and a host of others, made Friday nights move swimmingly towards victory. Now with all of those aforementioned players graduated, the roster isn’t quite as talented but the cupboard isn’t bare. The emergence of 6-foot-6 tight end Colton Lynch will be one to watch as the team decides between Alex Schafer and Sean Long at quarterback. We see Venice losing games during the regular season to Miami Northwestern, with or without Teddy Bridgewater, and IMG Academy when they come into town. In a Class 7A that seems totally up for grabs, its the Indians notching a fifth state championship.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 22 – at Tampa Bay Tech (Fla.) Titans – W
Venice starts off the season on the road and flexes their proverbial muscle with a 42-27 victory in Tampa.

Aug. 29 – at Miami Northwestern (Fla.) Bulls – L
Plenty of Miami Northwestern players remember the feeling of losing to Venice over at their place and they repay the Indians by handing them loss No. 1.

Sept. 5 – Bishop Verot (Fla.) Vikings – W
The regular season debut of the Indians’ $12-million renovated stadium is successful as they cruise by the Vikings.

Sept. 12 – Port Charlotte (Fla.) Pirates – W
Port Charlotte’s offense poses problem, but Venice has the answers as they pull off their third win of the season.

Sept. 19 – The First Academy (Fla.) Royals – W
This one goes down to the wire, but the Indians are tough to beat at home and come away with the victory.

Sept. 26 – Lehigh (Fla.) Lightning – W
Venice makes it a quick night when they Lehigh as the game ends with a running clock.

Oct. 3 – IMG Academy (Fla.) Ascenders – L
Here’s loss No. 2 on the season for the Indians as they are no match for the mighty Ascenders.

Oct. 10 – Sarasota Riverview (Fla.) Rams – W
Whenever the Indians and Rams meet, expect a lot of intensity in this rivalry game. Venice, however, blows by Sarasota Riverview in a rout.

Oct. 17 – Clearwater Central Catholic (Fla.) Marauders – W
A year ago, this game came down to the final possession, with the Indians pulling off the dub on the road. CCC visits this time around and Venice comes away with a seventh win.

Oct. 24 – at Sarasota (Fla.) Sailors – W
Up against a much improved Sarasota bunch, Venice still is able to win by multiple scores as they head into the Class 7A playoffs.