Mustang QB ready for playoffs

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Lakewood Ranch High senior quarterback Jeren Kowalewski isn’t fazed by pressure.

Instead, the Mustangs signal caller treats every snap as if it were the first quarter. During the game, the score doesn’t matter. As long as there’s time on the clock, Kowalewski is confident he can lead the Mustangs to victory.

Kowalewski’s cool, calm and collected demeanor on the field has played an instrumental role in Lakewood’s 5-4 record (4-1 Class 6A-District 7) this season. The Mustangs have won three of their games and lost another by a touchdown or less.

This past Friday, Kowalewski was perhaps under the most pressure he’s been in all season, as Lakewood traveled to Seminole Osceola for its final district game of the season — a game that ultimately determined the Mustangs postseason fate.

In a must-win game for the Mustangs, Kowalewski scored on a 1-yard sneak to open the game and later threw a 5-yard touchdown to tight end Greg Funk to help lead Lakewood to a 35-28 victory over the Warriors. With the win, Lakewood will travel to Armwood in Seffner for a Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinal Nov. 18.

“It was pretty relieving,” Kowalewski said of getting into the playoffs. “We definitely felt we should be the district runner-up — if not the district champion. It felt (good) that we got the monkey off of our back.”

It’s been a whirlwind season for Kowalewski, who sat out most of last season after breaking three ribs and puncturing a lung in the second game of the season against Southeast. To say Kowalewski was disappointed would be a gross understatement. The then-junior was riding an emotional high after leading the Mustangs to their first victory over rival Braden River.

“It was really hard, especially because I had just gained the trust of the seniors last year,” Kowalewski said. “I felt like they were really starting to trust me because we beat Braden River.”

After spending all of last year on the sidelines, Kowalewski, who began playing football for the East Manatee Bulldogs when he was 5 years old, returned for spring ball. But it wasn’t until the team traveled to Appalachian State University over the summer that Kowalewski really began to take on a leadership role.

“He’s done a heck of a job,” coach Shawn Trent said. “When we went to Appalachian State, that’s the standpoint where he sort of got back into everything. We were pretty confident he was going to be our starting quarterback, but I think he really kind of took over the leadership role.”

In his first full varsity season, Kowalewski has thrown for more than 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns and also has rushed for 200 yards and five touchdowns. But more importantly, Kowalewski has led the Mustangs back to the postseason after they narrowly missed the playoffs last season.

“He’s done a good job,” Trent said. “He’s even exceeded our expectations because of missing the entire year last year. Especially at that position to come in and do the things that he’s done is pretty impressive. “
The quarterback position has come naturally to Kowalewski, who initially wanted to be a wide receiver like his childhood idol Randy Moss.

“My whole life I wanted to be a receiver, but nobody could throw like I could,” Kowalewski said.

Now, the natural pocket passer is focused on closing out the regular season versus Manatee on a winning note while preparing for the postseason.

“I started playing because I was going to get a trophy at the end of the year,” Kowalewski said. “I fell in love with it (though), and I never looked back.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].