The Lakewood Ranch Mustangs opened the 2026 football season with a 27-14 road win over Parrish Community on Friday, Aug. 21, giving fourth-year head coach Scott Paravicini’s program an early-season win in a matchup between two Manatee County schools.
The victory followed a 35-6 win over Moore Haven in the preseason Kickoff Classic. Lakewood Ranch went 4-6 last year and 1-3 in District 6A-11. This year’s senior class is the first to have played exclusively under Paravicini.
The win carries extra meaning. Paravicini has continued coaching through a stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis he received in late January. “I don’t want to be this mopey sick guy that’s not doing the same stuff that we’ve been doing,” he said in an Aug. 17 story that was shared on X on Aug. 19.
Hours before kickoff, his players and student staff made clear the energy runs deeper than the sideline. Varsity football players, cheerleaders and senior student athletic trainers dressed in Mustang-themed outfits for the program’s game-day spirit tradition, as reported by the student news outlet Mustangs Ahead.
Junior football player Juju Foli paired his jersey with khaki pants and Nike tennis shoes.
“I love Fridays because of the spirit I get to show for my football team,” Foli told Mustangs Ahead. “Overall, the outfits encourage school spirit.”
Fellow junior Llewellyn Williams went comfort-first: his Mustang jersey over Nike sweatpants and Air Force 1 sneakers.
Senior cheerleader Addison Brown and junior Riley Mielak wore their black LRHS uniforms with cowgirl boots and LRHS bows in their hair. Brown said she enjoys wearing the uniform during school because it doubles as an outfit decision made for her on a hot Florida morning.
Senior student athletic trainers Jordyn Seacat, Ava Smith and Sydney Seacat showed up in matching black LRHS trainer polos and straight denim jeans. The Seacat sisters completed the look with gray Adidas Sambas; Smith chose LRHS-colored Nike Dunks.
Senior running back Elidrick Berry, who rushed for 886 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, anchors the offense as the Mustangs look to build on the opening-week result. Schedule updates are available through the team’s X account, @MustangFootball.
