Lakewood Ranch struggles on both sides of ball in loss to Riverview

The up-tempo, no-huddle offense clicked, while the offensive and defensive lines were overpowering.

The problem for Lakewood Ranch High was those things belonged to Sarasota Riverview.

The Rams struck quick and often in the first half en route to a 41-6 victory over the Mustangs in Friday’s preseason Kickoff Classic.

“That’s my responsibility, I coach the O-line,” Lakewood Ranch head coach Mick Koczersut said. “We’ve got to get better.”

Lakewood Ranch’s offense was slowed to minus-19 total yards in the first half, while Booker High transfer quarterback Arthur Brantley IV and running back Ali Boyce provided the early offensive fireworks for the Rams.

The Mustangs’ bright spot came in the second half after Riverview pulled its starters.

Lakewood Ranch backup quarterback George Davis threw a 34-yard touchdown pass that was corralled off a tip for the Mustangs’ lone points.

That score came with 5:05 remaining in the game and generated the biggest cheer of the night from the Mustangs’ side of Lakewood Ranch’s home stadium.

“It gave us some incentive,” Koczersut said. “Makes us feel a little better on how the night went.”

The Rams set a running clock in motion with a 70-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter off a botched snap on a punt attempt.

Long before that, though, Riverview controlled the game’s flow.

The Rams defense set the tone with the first of 10 straight three-and-outs, before giving way to the offense’s first possession in the first quarter.

Boyce ran for 17 yards, then Brantley ran for 31 yards to cap a two-play opening drive.

The subsequent offensive series also yielded a two-play drive that saw Boyce rumble 24 yards for a touchdown.

Riverview, a team that figures to contend in Class 8A-District 6 this season with Manatee High, scored on five of its six first-half possessions.

“We started fast and that’s, ideally, the way you want to start,” Riverview head coach Josh Smithers said.

Meanwhile, the Rams stymied the Mustangs with brute force, dictating things in the trenches.

Lakewood Ranch was beaten at the point of attack several times, though Koczersut said Friday’s game was used as a way to try things that should be successful later this fall.

For Smithers, he used the game the same way to avoid making last season’s mistake of not having a backup in place should an injury occur.

The Rams lost their starting quarterback during last year’s playoffs and didn’t have a backup ready.

So once the second half began with Riverview holding a 34-0 lead, the Rams utilized backups to get the necessary reps in.

“You’re looking for execution,” Smithers said. “You want to know our guys are blocking the right guys, are we hitting the holes the right way, is the quarterback leading the right side of the field, is he throwing the ball well? Those are all things that, for the preseason, win or lose you’ve got to do.”

The Mustangs finished with 36 total yards of offense, generating their initial first down with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. That came on a Riverview personal foul penalty for roughing the passer.

Lakewood Ranch running back Mason Fischer added a 15-yard run two plays later for another first down and the longest play to that point for the Mustangs’ offense.

An interception halted that drive.

Giovanni Silvestri suffered a sprained neck and needed an ambulance to exit the field during the first quarter. He returned later, and Koczersut said he’s fine.

The game started 26 minutes late due to lightning in the area.

This story was originally published August 19, 2017 at 12:12 AM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch struggles on both sides of ball in loss to Riverview."