A recap of last week’s spring football games, played Thursday to beat Friday’s inclement weather:
Harmony dominated Clermont East Ridge 31-0. “We played about as complete a football game as we have in a long time,” Coach Don Simon said. “We had a real good spring camp but I would be lying if I said we didn’t have some question marks. Some of those questions got answered.”
Rising senior Tyler Emans rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns, and backfield mate Cooper Richards caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Ayden Parks, whose arm should feature more in the offense this fall.
“With Tyler and Cooper, our running game has been our bread and butter for the last couple of seasons but we know that in some games we are going to need to throw a little more,” Simon noted. “The offensive line came together and performed really well. For a first time in a game setting, they really didn’t make many mistakes.”
Defensively, Simon was more than pleased with the shutout, since the defense gave up 24.3 points per game last season.
“We decided to simplify things on that side of the ball,” Simon says. “Last year I think we gave them too much to think about and maybe froze them a little. This year it’s going to be more of make your read and get to the ball.”
After going winless in 2021, Poinciana had something to shout about, defeating host Gateway, 20-6. Eagles quarterback Jahmari Corbett threw touchdown passes to freshman Earnest Nunn (a 75-yarder on the first play of the game) and Perry Garrett, and Nunn ran for another long score out of the Wildcat.
“Things are going to be so much better this year,” PHS Coach Randy Beeken said, noting a number of players suspended last year and an “attitude adjustment” in this year’s squad. “We may be a lineman or two away, but this group is just refreshing to be around.”
The Panthers got its touchdown from quarterback Hector Perez, who was filling in for Eli Azize, who suffered an ankle injury in a scrimmage the week before the game.
“Hector’s been the quarterback since
Monday,” a frustrated GHS Coach Marlin Roberts said. “We’re going to see what we can do over the summer.
The play of sophomore lineman Chris Martin, a transfer, was a highlight for Gateway, Roberts said.
St. Cloud traveled to Freedom and dropped a 21-0 half to Orlando Christian Prep team, and scored a last minute touchdown and twopoint conversion to beat Freedom, 8-7.
“For an extremely young team, I was impressed with the effort we gave, particularly in the win over Freedom,” first-year Coach Mike Short said. “Our young offensive line protected well and Logan King – who is just going to be a sophomore – threw the ball really well. Defensively Noah Carr and Joseph Clukey got after it. They have been leading by example all spring and they are going to have to continue to do so in the fall.”
King threw the winning touchdown to Clukey in the Freedom half, and Jake Dabrowski caught the winning two-point conversion.
Celebration – under new coach Jeremy Palmer – dropped a 35-7 decision to George Jenkins but heralded tailback Oniel Senatus, who had a 47-yard touchdown run, provided bright spots.
“Between putting a staff together and other issues this spring has been an absolute whirlwind,” Palmer said. “But one thing that wasn’t an issue was the enthusiasm and hard work these kids put in all spring. We had a couple of earl y turnovers and made some mistakes in the spring game but it really was not indicative of how we played.”
Liberty coach Brett Munroe took a 25-man spring squad on the road to Lake Region and came away with a 6-3 win. Quarterback Jeremiah Pierre-Louis threw the winning touchdown for the Chargers, who moved the ball well but made some critical mistakes.
“Our defense played really well and we had the ball in the red zone three times but only came away with one touchdown,” Munroe said. “But to go on the road with limited numbers and come away with a win against a team that will be in our district next year was an achievement.”
The Chargers were inside the 10-yard line three times, but fumbled once and gave the ball up on downs a second time. “Our defense stepped up and played a pretty solid game,” Munroe noted.
Osceola defeated state power Edgewater (see story) on a last minute touchdown, 26-22. Rookie starting quarterback Gunner Holland showed a ton of composure in running the two-minute drill to near perfection to lead Osceola on a 14-play, 87-yard drive that was capped by a gamewinning 22-yard scoring pass to Isaiah Jean-Baptiste with 43 seconds remaining.
After reviewing the film, coach Eric Pinellas said his team accomplished exactly where he hoped for.
“Outstanding effort and hustle the entire game,” Pinellas said. “Other than a Hail Mary pass to end the first half, we took care of the football and we did what we had to do at the end of the game to get the win.”
See AroundOsceola.com for full coverage of all spring action.
