Mustangs nearly pull off upset

The Lakewood Ranch High football team scored 28 points in the second half and nearly pulled off an improbable upset of the No. 2 team in the nation before eventually falling to Seffner Armwood 35-31 in a Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinal tonight.

Trailing 21-3 at halftime following a 21-yard field goal by Zach Reda, Lakewood watched Armwood score on its opening possession to take a 28-3 lead. But rather than bowing down to the undefeated Hawks, the Mustangs slowly mounted a comeback.

Quarterback Jeren Kowalewski connected with Lenny Twenty for a 73-yard touchdown on Lakewood’s ensuing possession to cut Armwood’s lead to 28-10.

The Mustangs regained possession midway through the third quarter when Dwight Roberts intercepted an Armwood pass on the goal line. Eleven plays later Kowalewski punched the ball in from two yards out to pull Lakewood within 28-17.

After forcing the Hawks to punt to close out the third quarter, Lakewood found the end zone with 8:18 remaining in regulation, as Kowalewski connected with Brandon King for a 15-yard scored. A failed two-point conversion left the Mustangs trailing 28-23.

After a pair of kickoffs went out of bounds, Reda was forced to kick for a third time. Reda’s third kick bounced off the hands of an Armwood player and was recovered by the Mustangs.

Ten plays later, Lakewood running back McKenzie Hathaway rumbled for a 15-yard score, leaving the Armwood sideline stunned A two-point conversion from Kowalewski to Greg Funk gave the Mustangs a 31-28 lead marking the first time the Hawks had trailed all season.

Lakewood appeared on the verge of an upset when Armwood’s quarterback scrambled around in the backfield, avoiding a host of Mustang defenders and ran 65 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

For a complete story on tonight’s game, pick up the Nov. 24 issue of the East County Observer.