Region 4A-3 quarterfinals
Lakewood Ranch (6-4) at Cape Coral (10-0)
What to watch for — Lakewood Ranch: The Mustangs and the Seahawks have had one common opponent this season — Baker. The Bulldogs defeated Lakewood Ranch 37-8 and lost to Cape Coral 25-0. “I think it will be an interesting matchup,” Baker coach Brian Conn said. “There are not too many teams that can match up with Cape’s athletes. But Lakewood Ranch is a physical team. I’ve got to think that Cape Coral will come away with the victory.” The Mustangs are led by QB Reggie Lindsey (90-of-182 for 1,278 yards and 11 TDs with eight INTs), RB Taryn Laws (202 carries for 912 yards) and WR Octavious Washington (39 catches for 642 yards and 7 TDs). Former University of Miami and NFL QB Ken Dorsey coaches the QBs. Cape Coral: The Seahawks had their first 10-0 season since 1993 and the second in program history. But coach Mike Goebbel has deleted the 10-rung ladder from his weekly talk and replaced it with a five-rung ladder — with only the first rung labeled “Lakewood Ranch.” Teams now stand five wins from a state championship. Goebbel said he did not want his players talking about a potential second-round playoff matchup against Charlotte, which defeated Cape Coral 44-0 in the spring game. “I don’t allow it,” Goebbel said. “I live week to week with blinders on. With this game and it’s importance, I don’t know how they could spend time thinking about anybody else.” Cape Coral senior RB Spencer Boyd has a knee injury, but Goebbel did not rule him out of action. If Boyd doesn’t play, the Seahawks will turn to senior Jeremy Davis (63 carries for 697 yards and 12 TDs) or junior Pevin Lewis. “He could probably start for every team we’ve played this year,” Goebbel said. “He’s a junior, and he got caught behind two pretty good guys. He’s got some speed, too.” Then there’s do-everything senior QB Jaylen Watkins, who has passed for 996 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 826 yards and 10 TDs.
The News-Press pick: Cape Coral 31, Lakewood Ranch 20

(more…)