Lakewood Ranch High School's volleyball and football teams face Braden River in rivalry matchups on consecutive nights this week, with the Mustangs football squad carrying a 2-0 record into the showdown.

The volleyball team travels to Braden River on Thursday, Sept. 3, with the freshman game at 5 p.m., junior varsity at 6 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m. The varsity football game follows Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m., with a "white out/white lie" student theme in the stands.

The football matchup carries an extra prize. The "wheel," a large wooden ship's wheel, is an unofficial trophy awarded to the winner of the annual LRHS-Braden River football game.

Senior wide receiver and running back Ka'marion Jones made clear the Mustangs want it.

"I've been thinking about this rivalry game since last year, and I feel like we are an even better team than last year and more prepared to beat Braden River," Jones told the Mustangs Ahead student newspaper. "We want that wheel back."

Jones recorded 513 all-purpose yards as a junior in 2025 before a fractured collarbone ended his season after seven games, according to the Your Observer. He is back in the lineup for head coach Scott Paravicini's squad.

The Mustangs opened the season with a 27-14 win over Parrish Community, the first victory over Parrish in school history. They followed that with a 27-0 shutout of Davenport in Week 2, according to Pulse of Manatee. Senior running back Elidrick Berry had two touchdowns and more than 140 yards in the Parrish win. Senior quarterback Everett Russ connected with senior wide receiver Jace Muye for a score.

Braden River enters at 2-0 as well. The Pirates opened with a 34-7 rout of Pasco and edged Fivay 17-14 in Week 2. Quarterback Louisen Desinor threw for 1,614 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, and senior wide receivers Trevion Dixon and Anquan Polynice combined for 907 receiving yards last season.

On the volleyball side, LRHS player Elizabeth Pierce said the team is confident heading into the rivalry match, citing the squad's early-season performance and the energy she expects from the student section.

The winner of Friday's football game takes the wheel home.