It’s been since the wild 2020 “season of COVID” that Osceola last played in an FHSAA state championship game. If the Kowboys (11-2) want to change that, they will have to get by the Buchholz Bobcats (10-3) on the road Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Citizen’s Field in Gainesville.
The winner gets a place in the Class 6A title game on Friday, Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m. at Pitbull Stadium, on the campus of Florida International University, opposite Friday’s winner between West Boca Raton (13-0) and Miami Southridge (12-2).
“No question, it going to be another challenge for our team,” Osceola coach Eric Pinellas said. “Buchholz is a sound football team all the way around. They like to throw the ball and they have two really good receivers. Their best player has split time between receiver and running back is a real threat at either position. Defensively, they are sound. They may not be as physical as Armwood but they play good fundamental football.”
Both teams are coming in on a roll. The Bobcats lost all three of their games on consecutive weekends to Manatee, Richmond Hill and Nease; but have won seven in a row since them. Osceola was 3-2 after dropping games to Lake Mary and Jones in September, but has ripped off eight wins in a row since then.
Buchholz’s offense is enters the contest with a 33.3 points per game average. Without question, containing WR/RB Justin Williams will be a big priority for the Kowboys. The 5-10, 180-pound speedster, who has had numerous D-1 offers, has 71 receptions for 1,232 yards and 10 touchdowns and has also rushed 86 times for 904 yards and 10 scores.
The other two receivers that have put up big numbers are D.J. Hicks (60 receptions, 936 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Keil McGriff (25-539-5), the son of former Florida Gators and Orlando Predators (AFL) standout Travis McGriff.
Pulling the trigger for the Bobcats is Trace Johnson, who has thrown for more than 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns this year with just nine interceptions. All four offensive standouts are juniors.
Defensively, Buchholz is allowing 20.2 points per game. Their top defensive players include lineman Nick Clayton, safety R.J. Livingston and cornerback Chris Johnson.
Osceola will hope to counter the Buchholz defense will its ball control running game. Taevion Swint continues to have a sensational year, having rushed for 1,600 yards and 24 touchdowns. Swint's numbers are even more impressive when you consider that he averages 10.5 yards per rush on just over 11 carries per game.
His effectiveness comes from Osceola using fullback Elijah Hickson (134-636) to pound the ball up the middle and using Jeff Sinophat (97-835) on sweeps and counters to keep opposing defenses guessing. Junior quarterback Camren West and receiver Alijah Jenkins add a fourth and fifth threat to run the ball; while West (574 yards passing) has completed some big throws when necessary.
Defensively, Osceola is allowing just over 13 points per game and just 13 total points in their last two playoff wins. Although its defensive front seven has accounted for 32 quarterback sacks and 42 additional tackles-for-loss, Pinellas said his defensive backfield will need to keep playing well in order to get past the Bobcats.
“Earlier in the season our DBs were too aggressive in trying to help stop the run and we would get out of position,” Pinellas said. “In the second half of the season, we’ve played a lot better back there and will need to keep doing that.”
Pinellas says the keys to getting back to the state title are simple. “Run the ball, avoid turnovers and just keep playing the aggressive defense that got us here.”
Osceola is looking for its fifth state championship game appearance since 2007, when the Kowboys fell, 35-21 to St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 5A title game. It reached the Class 7A final in 2014, also losing to a loaded Aquinas team, the 8A final in 2015 (to Flanagan) and 2020 (Sanford Seminole).
The Kowboys' lone state title was the 1998 5A championship, when they beat Estero, 28-14.
