Mustangs hand Hardee first loss

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Any worry about a letdown game? No. Take out an undefeated team? No problem.

The Lakewood Ranch Mustangs avoided the “trap” game with a 35-22 victory in the regular season finale over Wauchula Hardee on Friday.

The hosts improved to 6-4 and knocked the Wildcats (8-1) from the unbeaten ranks.

They did it with a second-half scoring spree that left the Wauchula Hardee defense with its most points allowed this season, after trailing 14-7 at the half.

“Our two biggest things we talked about not giving up the big play on defense, and not killing ourselves on offense,” Mustangs coach Shawn Trent said. “And I told them at halftime, that’s exactly what we did the first half.”

Lakewood Ranch rebounded from those first two quarters, with a methodical, 10-play, 65-yard drive to begin the third period.

The last five plays came on runs with quarterback Reggie Lindsey sneaking in from 1-yard out.

Lindsey and workhorse tailback Taryn Laws pounded the ball again on Lakewood Ranch’s next possession.

Lindsey capped the drive with a three-yard plunge, and then found Jacob Goodwin for a two-point conversion to give the Mustangs a 7-point cushion.

Then it was the defense’s turn.

The Wildcats were moving near midfield on their second possession in the second half to open fourth quarter play. The Mustangs stuffed Antjuan Jones on 3rd-and-1 for no gain to force an important fourth down decision.

Wauchula Hardee elected to go for it. That’s when senior Austin Reiter wrapped up quarterback Ezayi Youyoute and the Mustangs quickly converted on the turnover on downs.

Lindsey found Damen Gilbert on a 52-yard touchdown pass that deflected off teammate Daniel Clifford.

Laws, who churned out a 150-yard performance in a must-win at Palmetto the week before, ended the Mustangs second-half scoring barrage with a 16-yard score.

“We pretty much put them outside their comfort zone, which is a 4-4 and brought them into a 4-3…and we took advantage of that,” said Laws, who finished with 109 rushing yards.

Lakewood Ranch scored on four consecutive possessions in the second half against the Class 2A-District 5 champions.

The Mustangs will head to District 12 champion, Cape Coral, for a Class 4A regional quarterfinal game next Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.