By Rick Pedone
Staff Writer

The Osceola Kowboys wrap up the regular season Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Boot Hill, not because they have lost their past two games, but because that is what No. 2 Class 2A Madison County has dubbed its football field.

“It’s a tough place to play. Some of the teams we’ve played would probably have a tough game up there,” Osceola Coach Doug Nichols said.

This marks the third straight week that the Kowboys, 5-4, play a state-ranked opponent.

Last Friday, three OHS turnovers led to three Winter Park touchdowns during the Wildcats’ 37-10 victory at Kowboys field.

Winter Park, 8-0, is No. 4 in Class 6A. The Kowboys lost to No. 3 Class 5A Lakeland two weeks ago, and early in the season fell to No. 2 Class 6A Dr. Phillips.

Osceola couldn’t stop Wildcats quarterback Sam Richardson, who passed for 234 yards and four touchdowns.

Nichols said regardless of the competition, it’s difficult to beat an opponent when you turn the ball over repeatedly.

“You can’t keep giving it away on turnovers, and then there were the penalties, too. We had a nice run (in the third quarter) that gets called back. We’re playing tough teams, but it doesn’t matter how good they are if you are going to give them the ball the way we did,” Nichols said.

The Kowboys drove 68 yards with the first possession of the game and cashed in on Cody Ausherman’s 20-yard field goal to make it 3-0, but the Wildcats countered with a 39-yard field goal from Andrew Erwin to tie the score at 3.

The Wildcats took a 10-3 lead after the Kowboys fumbled at their 19. Two plays later, Richardson hit  Austin Shelton from the 7-yard line.

Winter park took a 16-3 lead with 21 seconds left in the half following another OHS turnover when Richardson hit Dvario Montgomery from the 11.

The Kowboys’ highlight was Steffon McCray’s 50-yard TD run in the third quarter.

The Kowboys played without several starters due to discipline or injuries, Nichols said. Receiver Terrance Tatume, Osceola’s big-play threat on special teams, was out with an ankle injury.

“That takes away a guy to throw to plus a good blocker,” Nichols said.

Madison County, 9-0,   beat Lake Gibson, 26-7, last week.

“Most of those guys who played down here (a 17-16 overtime win for OHS last season) are back,” Nichols said.

The Kowboys’ playoff fate will be determined when Lakeland hosts George Jenkins Friday. If Lakeland wins, as expected, Osceola will be the 5A-4 runner-up and play at the 5A-3 champion Nov. 19. Winter Springs is the district leader.

If Jenkins wins, the three district foes would gather for a tie-breaker Monday. The Kowboys are off Nov. 12.