OHS will play yet another unbeaten

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Osceola hosts Winter Park Friday at 7:30 p.m. for a game that has no playoff implications, but at the same time may go a long way in determining the Kowboys’ future success.

For the second week in a row, and for the third time this season, Osceola (5-3, 1-1) will play an unbeaten opponent ranked among the top five in the state.

The Wildcats (7-0) are No. 4 in the Class 6A state poll.

“They’ve had a lot of success throwing the ball around. They’ve got a good quarterback (Sam Richardson) and a couple of pretty quick backs that can make plays,” Osceola Coach Doug Nichols said.

The Kowboys are coming off a 43-13 loss to unbeaten Lakeland (7-0), No. 3 in Class 5A, that doesn’t indicate how close the game was through two quarters.

Osceola trailed 14-13 at halftime and out-gained the Dreadnaughts by 40 yards before Lakeland scored four unanswered touchdowns in the second half, keyed by running back Steward Butler, who gained 196 yards and scored three times.

The Kowboys moved the ball throughout the first half as running back Frank Thomas rushed for 133 yards and Reggie Hall, who gained 57 yards, put together several big plays including a 16-yard touchdown run. The Kowboys finished with 319 total yards.

“Frank ran hard, and Reggie is getting better by the game,” Nichols said. “When you get guys up front (the offensive line) who are doing their jobs, that’s possible.”

What Nichols wants to see from his team Friday is an indication that it can play through the disappointment that the second half of last week’s game brought.

“We can’t assume that we’re in the playoffs. If (Lakeland George) Jenkins beats Lakeland, we could find ourselves sitting at home,” Nichols said.

The 5A District 4 championship could be decided Nov. 5 if Lakeland, as expected, beats George Jenkins. Since OHS beat Jenkins three weeks ago, Lakeland would clinch the district championship and the Kowboys would be the runners-up and would go on the road for a playoff game Nov. 19.

Should Jenkins upset Lakeland, the three district teams would meet for a tie-breaker.

Nichols pointed to big plays that Lakeland made, such as quarterback Tim Evans’ throw from his end zone on the second play of the game that not only eluded a sack but set in motion a Dreadnaught scoring drive.

“You never want to point to the second or third play of the game as a turning point, but that did kind of set the tone for the game,” Nichols said.

Osceola also left a couple of scoring opportunities on the field, Nichols said, that could have given the Kowboys a halftime lead.

Regardless, he said, the point he made repeatedly to his team after the Lakeland game was that it must snap back from adversity, such as Butler’s 67-yard run on the first play of the second half that led to Lakeland’s third touchdown and a 21-13 lead.

“If we had made the big play instead of Lakeland, who knows?” Nichols said. “The thing is, those are the things that you have to overcome. That’s what winning programs do. It’ll be interesting to see how our guys react Friday against another real good team.”

Friday’s game is Senior Night.

The Kowboys wrap up the regular season Nov. 5 at Madison County, also unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in Class 2A. Earlier in the season, the Kowboys lost to Dr. Phillips, ranked No. 2 in Class 6A.

Should the Kowboys qualify for the regional playoffs as the runner-up, as they have the past two seasons, Osceola would go to the District 3 champion – probably Hagerty or Winter Springs – for the regional.