By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

While the Osceola Kowboys didn’t accomplish much on the field at No. 2 Class 2A Madison County Friday in a 41-6 defeat, they did earn a playoff berth thanks to Lakeland’s win over George Jenkins.

The Kowboys travel to Oviedo Nov. 19 for the first round of the Class 5A regional playoffs. The Lions beat Winter Springs and Hagerty in a three-team tiebreaker Monday to clinch the 5A-3 championship. Hagerty beat Winter Springs for the runner-up spot.

Osceola beat Oviedo in  the playoffs last season.

The Kowboys rushed for 190 yards at Madison County, but three turnovers put Osceola in a hole. Quarterback Kieron Williams scored for OHS.

“They’ve got a great team up there. I’d say that their defense is probably the best we’ve seen. They’re talented,” Kowboys Coach Doug Nichols said. “

Osceola has an open date Friday.

Nichols went to Hagerty Monday to scout the three-team playoff.

The Lions, 7-2, beat Hagerty, with UF commitment quarterback Jeff Driskel, 13-0, to clinch the crown after edging Winter Springs, 6-0, earlier.

“It’ll be a good test for us,” Nichols said. “The good thing is, we don’t have to put the equipment away.”