Osceola falls, 26-7, in game closer than final score
Note: See Thursday's News-Gazette print edition for more photos.
The score will indicate a blowout. But in reality it was just three big plays and a couple of breakdowns in the Osceola punting game that resulted in West Boca Raton's 26-7 win over Osceola in the FHSAA Class 6A state championship football game Friday at Miami's Pitbull Stadium.
With the win, West Boca finishes the season undefeated with a perfect 15-0 record and its first state title, matching Osceola's Class 5A win in 1998. After nine straight wins, Osceola finishes the 2024 season 12-3.
"Tough loss and certainly not the way we wanted to finish," Osceola coach Eric Pinellas said. "At the end of the day, they made some big plays and we didn't."
Trailing just 10-7 at the half, the game began to slip away from the Kowboys midway through the third quarter. A short punt set up West Boca on the Osceola 33. Although the Kowboys defense held, a 31-yard field goal pushed the lead to 13-7.
Osceola's offense then when three-and-out, and following another short punt, West Boca came up with the key play of the game. On first down from the Osceola 48, Mark Hanniford ran a stop and go route down the right sideline. QB Mason Mallory delivered a perfect ball between two Osceola defenders that Hanniford gathered in and went the distance for the score.
"We had pretty good coverage on that play," Pinellas said. "The difference was our defenders played the man and their receiver high-pointed the ball. He won the jump ball, our defenders collided and it became an easy touchdown."
Osceola simply could not get its offense on track after that. Two drives were halted by big sacks, the second of which resulted in an Osceola punt that was downed inside the West Boca 5 with 3:46 remaining.
Needing a three-and-out for any chance of a comeback, Osceolas's defense stuffed two runs but on a third and six from the seven and the Kowboys in press coverage, Hanniford again slipped behind the defense and caught a Trey Moran pass in stride for a 93-yard touchdown pass.
Osceola started the game from in a hole as well. After winning the coin toss, the Kowboys went three and out on their first series. On West Boca's second play from scrimmage, Kyle Andrews slipped behind the Osceola secondary and Mallory hit him in stride for a 60-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.
Osceola picked up one first down on its next possession but a sack stalled the drive, the ensuing punt was blocked and the Bulls were in business on the Osceola 7. But the Kowboys defense bowed up and forced a John Frafan 31-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.
Osceola would get on the board late in the second period, driving the ball 64 yards on nine plays to cut the lead to 10-7. A 48-yard run by quarterback Camren West on a read-option play set up the score, a Taevion Swint 1-yard run.
The Kowboys had the chance to tie it late the quarter a Ja'Mario Bradford interception. The Kowboys picked up a couple of first downs, including one on a Swint 22-yard run, but the drive stalled and Adrian Gonzalez's 42-yard field goal sailed wide left.
The loss could be summed up in just a few stats. A blocked punt and a shanked punt led to 10 points for West Boca and their three touchdowns came on plays of 60, 48 and 93 yards. Osceola had more first downs, dominated time of possession, and had 200 yards rushing. But the offense had trouble sustaining drives and West was 0-for-6 passing and was sacked four times.
Osceola is now 1-6 all time in state championship games, with five of those coming in the last 18 years.
