Heading into the 2022 season, everyone from Osceola High expected sophomore running back Taevion Swint to be a star. But probably no one thought that its heralded defense, led by four Division I commits, would end seeing a potential new star being born in junior Jalen Bell.
But on Friday night, both Swint and Bell came up huge in Osceola’s season-opening 14-5 win over Treasure Coast. Swint scored both Osceola touchdowns, while Bell tallied four tackles-for-loss, a pair of sacks and forced a fumble as the Kowboys defense held the Titans offense to just a field goal.
Bell, a slender athlete, lined up at safety, outside linebacker and edge rusher and played a key role in holding the Titans scoreless in the second half.
“He had a pretty good spring and frankly was giving our first-team offense a lot of trouble in practices,” OHS Coach Eric Pinellas said. “He came up to me after the spring game and said he was going to hit the weight room hard this summer and then he flat out told me I was going to have a hard time keeping him off the field this fall. He certainly delivered on that promise.”
While Bell was doing his thing on defense, Swint was doing just enough on offense to give Osceola the win. After the Titans grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 28-yard field goal, Swint took the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
After giving up a safety to cut the lead to 7-5, Osceola would score its only offensive touchdown of the game as they grinded out an 11-play, 62-yard touchdown drive capped by Swint’s 1-yard touchdown run. Elijah Melendez had the key play on the drive, breaking loose on a 24-yard run to set Osceola up in the red zone.
Osceola had a chance to break the game wide open at the start of the third quarter, as Swint’s 52-yard run gave Osceola a first and goal on the five. But one play later, Treasure Coast intercepted a David Buggs pass in the end zone to stop the threat.
After 82 yards of total offense on Treasure Coast’s first two possessions, Osceola’s gave up just 96 yards of total offense on seven possessions for the rest of the game. Still, Osceola had its own struggles on offense – gaining just 161 yards. Part of those offensive struggles were due to the fact that Treasure Coast’s two drives at the beginning of the game kept Osceola from running a play from scrimmage in the first quarter and part was some first game sloppy play.
“We really could have used that preseason game that was washed out last week,” Pinellas said. “You going to get some sloppy play in your first game. But we have three really good backs and have some playmakers on the outside. I know this offense will come around.”
Osceola will have to fix those mistakes in a hurry as they host perennial power Seminole next Friday. It is one of seven 2021 playoff teams the Kowboys will play this season. “They are big, explosive and talented,” Pinellas said. “We certainly will have to play better next week.”
