By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Osceola High will roll into its regular season opener against Ocoee next week with plenty of momentum after a 34-14 victory over Freedom Thursday at Kowboys field.

Stafon McCray scored on two short touchdown plunges and added a two-point conversion, and the aggressive Kowboys defense produced four turnovers to lead the way.

“I never thought we’d hold them to 14 points,” OHS defensive coordinator Scott Spencer said. “They’re good, probably the best offense we’ll see this year.”

The Kowboys drove 69 yards on 11 running plays to take the lead on their first possession in the game on a drive punctuated by McCray’s 1-yard plunge. The PAT failed.

Freedom found itself behind 13-0 before it ran an offensive play after it fumbled the ensuing kickoff. R.J. Butler stripped return man Jeff Badet and Dashon Montgomery recovered at the Freedom 23. After five penalties against both teams over the next four plays, Kowboys running back Reggie Hall reversed field and sprinted around the corner in for a 10-yard touchdown run.

The Patriots turned things around when Hall was tackled in the end zone for a safety early in the second quarter, closing the gap to 13-2. The Patriots then drove 53 yards for a TD to close the gap to 13-8, and took the lead with 39 seconds to go in the half when quarterback Derik Abbott hit receiver Sean Rogers for a 40-yard TD play.

But, the Kowboys struck back before the intermission when Hall raced for a 37-yard gain to the Patriots 20, setting up an improbable touchdown pass from Deshawn Congreves to Devantae Small with 19 seconds left. Small, at the goal line, fought a pair of Freedom defenders for the ball. Small fell on his back on the goal line and somehow corralled the ball for the touchdown.

“I kicked it up with my foot, that was how I was able to get it,” he said.

McCray ran for a two-point conversion to make it 21-14 OHS.

The Kowboys defense produced a pair of interceptions in the third quarter, by linebacker Akim Francis and defensive back Hassan Childs.

Congreves, filling in for suspended starting quarterback Kieron Williams, set up Osceola’s next touchdown with a 16-yard pass to Daequan Harrison the Patriots’ 3. McCray scored on the next play make it 28-14 after Cristano Nogureras' PAT.

Both teams squandered scoring opportunities. Freedom had two TD passes called back by penalties, and Osceola fumbled into the end zone to kill a drive.

The second units played the fourth quarter, and the Kowboys added their final score on Ankiel Hamilton’s 2-yard TD run following a Freedom fumble.

“We’ve got a lot of things to work on,” Kowboys Coach Doug Nichols said. “We made way too many mistakes. We could have been up 28-0.”

But, Nichols also saw much to like, especially Osceola’s hard-hitting defense.

“We had a lot of babies last year, a lot of young guys who we had to play. Now, they’ve grown up. They’re bigger and faster. It makes a difference,” Nichols said.

Nichols said he isn't sure when Kieron Williams, a senior who started all 11 games last season, will return to the lineup.

“We’ll see,” he said.

If not, Congreves proved capable of leading the offense. He connected on 3-of-4 passes for 51 yards.

“I wasn’t nervous at all. I’m ready,” the junior quarterback said.