Tigers dash Mustangs' playoff hopes

LAKEWOOD RANCH — A season ago, the Mustangs scored in the final seconds to stun Palmetto and earn a spot in the playoffs.

Fast-forward to this season and the Lakewood Ranch football team faced a similar set of circumstances. Once again, the Mustangs found themselves trailing to Palmetto and needing a victory over the Tigers to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Only this season, there would be no last-second heroics or a come-from-behind victory. Instead, the Mustangs found themselves on the outside looking in as Palmetto scored 21 unanswered points to defeat Lakewood 28-14 in the final Class 4A-District 11 game of the season for the two teams.

“We didn’t make the big plays when we had the opportunity to make big plays,” Lakewood coach Shawn Trent said. “Against a team that’s got the athletes that Palmetto has — they make everything count.”

It wasn’t the ending for which the Mustangs had hoped, but after having to continually shuffle players on and off the field throughout the season because of injuries, Trent said he was pleased with the way his players responded to adversity.

“It’s been a rough year, but we’ve had a lot of adversity,” Trent said. “The kids stepped up when we needed them to step up for the most part.”

Trailing 7-0 in the third quarter, Lakewood quarterback Zack Larson connected with Seth Browning on a 3-yard pass. Browning tagged on the extra point to even the score.

Later in the third quarter, the Mustangs took a 14-7 lead when Larson punched the ball in from a yard out with 3:39 remaining in the period.

But less than a minute later, momentum swung back into Palmetto’s favor. On the Tigers’ next possession, Melvin Burston heaved a long pass into the arms of a Lakewood defender — only the Mustangs were unable to haul it in.

Instead, the ball bounced off the defender and into the arms of Palmetto’s E.J. Burston, who returned the ball 77 yards for a touchdown.

“Against a team like this you’ve got to make the plays when you have the opportunity to make plays,” Trent said. “They gave us opportunities and we just didn’t get it done.”

The Mustangs attempted a fake punt on their next possession, but the play failed. Palmetto scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a 28-yard touchdown run with 2:46 remaining in the game to seal the victory.

Senior tailback Taryn Laws led the way for the Mustangs, racking up 130 yards on the ground. Larson completed 7-of-19 passes for 139 yards and an interception.

Senior Reggie Lindsey saw limited action for the Mustangs after having spent the past eight weeks out with a broken wrist. Lindsey sparked Lakewood in the second quarter, rushing for 35 yards and leading the Mustangs to the Palmetto 12-yard line. But Lakewood was unable to convert on 4th-and-goal from the one.

Lakewood will close out its season at 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Wauchula Hardee.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].