Ranch's Lindsey appears back to normal

The Lakewood Ranch High football team didn’t win its spring game against Cape Coral Island Coast, but the Mustangs had some things to feel good about.

At the top of the list is their quarterback Reggie Lindsey. It was his first live game action since breaking his jaw in a baseball game a few months ago and there was concern about that would affect his play.

Lindsey took some tough hits, didn’t shy away from contact and appeared to back to his normal self on the football field. The biggest problem for the rising senior was Island Coast defensive end Aaron Lynch, who has been offered by nearly all the top notch programs in the country, including Florida.

The 6-6, 255 pound Lynch, hounded Lindsey all night, recording three sacks for 49 yards and forced the quarterback into a fumble in his own endzone that Island Coast recovered for a touchdown.

Island Coast has one of the top defensive fronts in the state and Lakewood Ranch head coach Shawn Trent knew it would be tough to run the ball against the Gators. It put a lot of extra pressure on Lindsey to make things. He had a few nice plays, but the big thing was that he did show any ill effects from his baseball injury.

The worst news for Lakewood Ranch was that defensive back Zach Larson separated his shoulder on the first play of the game and will be in a sling for about two months. It means he will miss a lot of the summer workouts and baseball he was planning to play.