A perfect team offers challenges for Mustangs

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Undefeated Cape Coral presents Lakewood Ranch coach Shawn Trent with a small dilemma for tonight’s Class 4A-Region 3 quarterfinals.

“I don’t think anybody wants to play an undefeated team in the playoffs,” Trent said. “It’s a lot easier to convince your team they can beat a team that’s 8-2.”

The Seahawks are 10-0, ranked fifth in Class 4A and feature a quartet of Division I-A prospects who have already committed — quarterback Jaylen Watkins (Florida), running back Spencer Boyd (Notre Dame), running back Jeremy Davis (Miami) and lineman Dan Koenig (Oklahoma State).

Most of the Seahawks play both ways, In fact, Watkins is headed to Florida to play cornerback.

The Mustangs (6-4) will have their hands full trying to stop the dual-threat Watkins, who has thrown for 996 yards and 13 touchdowns and run for 826 yards and 10 more scores.

The Mustangs, though, could catch a break if the knee injury suffered by Boyd during the regular-season finale keeps the senior out of the game. Boyd rushed for 516 yards and five touchdowns this season. The absence of Boyd will allow the Mustangs defense to focus on Davis, who rushed for 697 yards and 12 touchdowns on 63 carries.

“Their quarterback is a phenomenal athlete. They’re running back is a phenomenal athlete,” Trent said. “They can hurt you in a lot of ways.”

Cape Coral, which has out-scored its opponents 311-126 this season, is built on the big plays. In the Seahawks last game, Davis scored on an 85-yard run and returned an interception 72 yards for another touchdown.

The Mustangs will bring their balanced attack of quarterback Reggie Lindsey (1,310 passing yards and 11 touchdowns) and his favorite target, Octavious Washington (39 catches, 660 yards, seven touchdowns), and running back Taryn Laws (900 yards, seven touchdowns) to Cape Coral for the program’s first playoff game since the 2006 season.

Tonight’s winner meets the winner of tonight’s game between Cape Coral Ida Baker and Punta Gorda Charlotte.