Bulldogs DB led county in picks

By Ken Jackson

Sports Writer

You’ve spent the last three years hearing about a high-power, up-tempo St. Cloud offense, led by quarterbacks E.J. White and Phillip Steinmetz.

But, to go undefeated on the field through your county, against rivals like Osceola and Harmony, you need a good leader for the defense, too.

Enter safety Melvin Manning.

The senior and three-year varsity starter made shutdown plays all season long that turned the tide of some games.

For instance, in the second half of the game at Martin County, the Bulldogs were down, 21-0, but Manning forced one fumble, recovered another and intercepted a pass as St. Cloud rallied to win, 30-21.

“We just came out flat,” Manning said. “As a veteran I just played, and the guys saw the look in my eye and as a team we stepped it up.”

Against Evans, Manning intercepted a Trojans pass with the Bulldogs trailing 6-0 early in the game, then picked off another when Evans trailed 20-18 and were driving in the second half. St. Cloud won, 27-18.

Manning said that Evans game, which came the week after Coach Bill Buldini was reinstated after missing a game due to a rules violation, was important for the Bulldogs to get their swagger back.

“I remember that week in practice was crazy,” he said. “Once we knew Coach was back, the ball got rolling and nothing was going to stop it. We all wanted to make plays that game.”

Showing his versatility, he also returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown against Poinciana in a 40-6 win.

The final tally for the year was 86 tackles (34 solo), a county-high six interceptions, four caused and two recovered fumbles and a touchdown.

But, look behind the stats and you see why he’s the Osceola News-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year.

Buldini, a guy who appreciates defense himself after running Osceola’s defense for two seasons, said Manning was asked to shoulder extra responsibilities as a senior, and excelled.

“We asked more of him than he had to do last year. We gave him multiple coverages, but he was a run-support player too,” Buldini said. “He recognized formations and was the quarterback of the secondary; he did a wonderful job.”

The coach said Manning was a defensive leader in many ways.

“He was a big-play guy all year. He was all over the field, especially in the Osceola and Harmony games, and down at Martin County, he was probably the only kid who showed up for four quarters. He was a real leader at halftime.

“But I’m more proud of his growth as a person this year than as an athlete. He was a solid player his whole time here, but this year he turned himself into a positive team leader.”

As one of few returning defensive players from 2009, Manning said he knew his role would change, and become very important.

“The last two years I knew I could lean on guys like Ray (Scavone), Jose (DeVito), Tyler (Vaughan) and Keith (Mason),” he said. “This year our secondary was young, so I knew when the ball was in the air I had to get to it.”

Manning said his senior year, marred by two forfeited wins for using an ineligible player that kept the Bulldogs out of a bowl game, was a lesson in mental toughness because of what happened, and what didn’t.

“After going to the playoffs the last two years, we all thought we’d have a great year,” he said. “We just did our best to stay together.”

Manning showed glimpses last year, under Coach Mark Jackson, of big-play potential. He intercepted three passes, none bigger than one against Harmony, when he stepped in front of a Jared Beekman pass near midfield with 1:40 left in the game that effectively clinched a 28-21 Bulldogs victory that earned St. Cloud a playoff berth.

“That game made me realize how much I’d improved,” he said. “I came into this year knowing the field and having the confidence. I knew I’d have to be the guy to make plays and be a leader.”