Week 9 of the high school football season in Sarasota and Manatee counties featured several big wins by local teams that cemented their status as playoff contenders.

Some, like Cardinal Mooney, Southeast and Sarasota Christian, were expected. Others, like Palmetto and Venice, were hard-fought wins that could have went either way. Parrish's win over Lennard may have been the best, as it came against an undefeated team in the district, and was a needed statement win for the Bulls.

There were several players in all of those games, and in others where local teams lost as well, who had performances worthy of recognition.

The Herald-Tribune honors those top performances each week by handing out game balls.

Here are the Week 9 standouts: Watch Florida HS football games live on NFHS Network

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