LAKEWOOD RANCH — They broke huddle Thursday with one simple word.
“Playoffs.”
The playoffs at Lakewood Ranch. It wasn’t much of a thought last year, when the Mustangs were sloshing through a 1-9 campaign and went the first nine weeks without a win.
Yet coach Shawn Trent doesn’t view it as much of a turnaround, especially because Lakewood Ranch lost two of its best players — lineman Austin Reiter and receiver Octavious Washington — to early injuries last fall.
“Any team around here, you take two of their best players away, it’s going to devastate everything else they’re doing,” Trent said. “I think it’s somewhat of a misconception that we were really as bad as we were.”
Someone’s story will have a happy ending tonight at Harllee Stadium, where the Mustangs visit Palmetto with the final playoff spot in Class 4A-District 11 hanging in the balance.
Lakewood Ranch is looking to land in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and do so after a star-crossed ’08.
Palmetto may be shooting for its third straight postseason berth — but the Tigers lost 15 starters from last year’s district championship team and started this season 0-3, scoring one touchdown over the first three weeks.
Two weeks from today, one of these teams will be traveling for a Class 4A-Region 3 quarterfinal.
“With a lot of young kids, some of whom are first-year varsity players, you have to keep reminding them of that,” said Palmetto coach Raymond Woodie, “of starting off slow and progressing to where we are at now.”
Both teams’ resurgence can be credited to skill players.
Mustangs quarterback Reggie Lindsey, who took over the starting job midway through last year, is third among the area’s public school quarterbacks in passing yards (1,068) and has formed a formidable team with Washington, Lakewood Ranch’s senior receiver whose 34 receptions are second in the area.
Fueling Palmetto is Marquis Green, a converted cornerback who has rushed for 675 yards and has helped the Tigers (4-4, 1-1) average 29 points a game during their current three-game winning streak.
And quarterback Donald Campbell, who did his best work at wide receiver, has adjusted to life under center in the wake of quarterback Rian Kelly’s ankle injury.
“I think these kids kind of know now that every year, our goal is to do well and possibly get in post(season) play,” Woodie said. “But it’s tough. It’s a challenge to the kids. ... We’re definitely going to fight and do the best we can do.”
Trent credits his Mustangs (4-4, 1-1) for sticking with it in the wake of last season.
“I think it shows the determination and attitude on the part of our kids,” he said. “A lot of our kids could’ve bailed.”
Now both of these teams are looking to cap their turnarounds with the ultimate reward — a trip to the playoffs.
“I’m proud of my kids for working hard. If you work hard, you’ll be in a good position,” Woodie said. “We’ve still got a chance, and that’s all we ask for.”
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