ODA, Lynch will meet again

SARASOTA — The task for Out-of-Door Academy is simple: Stop Colton Lynch.

Lynch is the senior quarterback for Fort Myers Evangelical Christian and the cornerstone of the Sentinels’ offense. The dual-threat signal caller has accounted for 3,154 yards of total offense and 42 touchdowns this season.

The teams are member of Class 1B-District 6, and the Thunder corralled Lynch earlier in the season in a 39-28 win over Evangelical in a pivotal district contest, which helped propel ODA to the district title.

The Thunder (9-1) have the assignment of lassoing Lynch once again. ODA host the Sentinels at 7:30 p.m. at Sarasota High in the 1B-Region 3 finals.

“We’ve been practicing hard, playing a different defense that will give us all of the tools to stop this kid and this team again,” Thunder linebacker Jake Siciliano said. “We want to stop (Lynch) because he’s a big part of their offense, but now we want to stop the entire offense. He’s not our center focus anymore. We want to shut them down completely.”

If the Sentinels (9-2) have a weakness, it’s on defense. Evangelical is allowing 21 points a game, and that plays right into the hands of the Thunder. ODA is putting up 26.6 points a game and has topped 35 points five times. The Thunder are led by senior A.J. Strong, who has rushed for 1,490 yards and 22 TDs. Wide receiver Chris Ragone has hauled in 30 passes for 658 yards and eight TDs for the Thunder.

“I think our guys are up for the challenge,” ODA coach Brett Timmons said. “Normally, it’s the team that flinches first that loses the game. Hopefully, we don’t flinch.”

Bottom line: If the Thunder can stop Lynch, and the offense plays well, ODA has a good chance of advancing to the Class 1B state semifinals for the first time in school history.

“I can’t say it’s something we haven’t thought about,” Timmons said. “It would be an amazing accomplishment for this program, coaches and kids.”