WEEK 4 — HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Freshman Sabby Meassick is off to one of the greatest quarterback starts in Osceola County history, and he will attempt to keep that momentum going on Friday night when the Tohopekaliga Tigers (2-0) host the St. Cloud Bulldogs (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m.
Meassick has completed 42 of 54 attempts for 647 yards, 12 touchdowns without an interception, in leading the Tigers to a 49-0 and 48-0 wins over Liberty and Ambassador Christian Academy in his first two starts. His top targets have been seniors Nick Rawls (6-155-3 TD) and Dillan Harrell (11-1512) and junior Julian Nasco (11-201-4), who played at St. Cloud last season.
While Meassick and the Tiger offense has rolled, its defense has played equally well in not allowing a point this season.
Coming off a 37-0 win over Liberty, St. Cloud will hope to slow down the Tiger offense. Against the Chargers, the Bulldogs overcame a sluggish first quarter start to dominate all three phases of the game. Quarterback Logan King red two touchdown passes and sophomore Terrance Griffin rushed for 77 yards and a couple more scores. Defensively, senior linebacker Noah Carr recorded nine tackles, including two for loss, to spur the shutout.
St. Cloud coach Mike Short says picking up first downs and trying to control the clock will be a goal this week.
“They like to play extremely fast, and so do we,” Short said. “But that said, we may be better off trying to just move the chains and control possession. When you have an explosive offense like they do, limiting the number of times they have the ball could be a key.”
Although his team will be taking a step up in competition this week, Tigers head coach Anthony Paradiso says his team will change little.
“Our goal is going to be the same every week, play hard and worry about our game plan and our execution. We just want to get better every play, every game, and every week.”
It is one of two intriguing games on tap for Friday night. In the other one, Osceola (1-1) returns to action with a crucial game against perennial state power Lakeland (20) at venerable Bryant Stadium. The Kowboys had a bye week after a heart-wrenching 28-27 overtime loss to two-time state champion Seminole on Sept. 2. It is one of seven 2021 playoff teams on the Kowboys’ schedule, considered one of the toughest in the state.
“It should be a really good test for us,” Osceola Coach Eric Pinellas said. “Playing really good teams in hostile environments may not be the best thing for a won-lost record but it certainly can prepare your team for the post-season.”
He added that the Kowboys spent “a good portion of the bye week working on its passing game.” After Chad Mascoe passed for 2,400 yards and 33 touchdowns in the last two years, Osceola’s quarterbacks Gunner Holland and David Buggs have completed nine passes this season for 91 yards and one score.
Celebration (0-3) will be seeking its rst win of the year when the Storm travels to Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (1-1). Jeremy Palmer’s squad lost a 37-8 at Haines City (2-0) Friday. Oneil Senatus had 85 yards of total offense and scored Celebration’s lone touchdown on a sweep.
“We had a few bright spots in the game,” Palmer said. “Foster Searcy had a great game on defense and our offensive line – consisting of all sophomores – continues to improve. We need to develop some consistency on offense and improve our pass defense.”
Poinciana used special teams and defense to improve to 2-1 on the season with a 34-14 win over LaBelle. Perry Garrett scored on a punt return and a 42-yard interception return to lead those units; while Donald Cummings returned a kickoff 88 yards for another touchdown and Jerry Raymond recovered a fumble for a score. Quarterback De’Kwan Bradley threw for 103 yards and rushed for 31 more – scoring the Eagles only offensive touchdown on a 13-yard run. “We were able to move the ball a little between the 20s, but we just could not get into any sustained rhythm,” Eagles Coach Randy Beeken said. “It was a tight game at halftime but we were able to come up with the big plays to break the game open in the third period.”
The win sets up an important home game with Winter Garden Horizon on Friday. The Hawks are 3-0 and have outscored its opposition 111-10 this year – including a 49-0 win over Colonial last week. “Horizon is perhaps the most talented team on our schedule this year,” Beeken said. “It will be a tremendous test.”
Liberty (0-3), who got a 102-yard rushing game from sophomore Jaylin Vaughan in the St. Cloud loss, will look for its first points of the season when it hosts Davenport (1-2).
Gateway (1-0) takes the field for the first time, since a win over Lake Buena Vista on Aug. 26, Friday against District 3S-8 opponent Auburndale (1-0). The Panthers’ game against Tohopekaliga was moved Sept. 2 due to field conditions, then wiped out Tuesday when a sever thunderstorm sat over Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.
Harmony (3-0), which won a thrilling 13-12 contest over Palm Bay, has a bye week.
