Gateway and Osceola football coaches Marlin Roberts and Eric Pinellas will head into summer workouts with their teams on positive notes after Friday’s spring football jamboree at Osceola High.
Both the Kowboys (7-0) and Panthers (14-0) shut out visiting Windermere in halves against the Wolverines, and in the nightcap Osceola downed Gateway, 14-0 in a half in the first time the teams had met since 2018, giving Osceola a shutout over four quarters.
The defense held Gateway to 30 offensive yards and got sacks from Jakai Pratt and tackles for loss by Jason Lewis and Colton Carter.
Gateway’s Nydrell Thigpen ran five times for 79 yards, including a 64-yarder, and two touchdowns against Windermere, but the Kowboys stifled him to the tune of 20 yards on nine carries.
Osceola got short touchdown runs from running backs Jamarie Williams and Javontay Barnett and quarterback Jabari Coombs, who led the varsity offense for the first time Friday. The Kowboys averaged just over five yards per carry across their two halves.
“We wanted to see the kids who we’re going to be depending on in the fall,” OHS Coach Eric Pinellas said. “We’re healthy going into the summer, which is important for us because that’s when we get better.”
Gateway’s Angel Escobar notched a sack against Osceola and Tavian Martinez-Walton and Dory Thimote had tackles for loss.
“We took a step up on defense, and Span is looking better each time out,” GHS Coach Marlin Roberts said. “If we can develop a little more depth, I think we’ll be able to hold our own.”
While Osceola has won annual district titles since 2011 (discounting the 2020 COVID year), the Kowboys will play in a District 5A-6 in 202627 that includes Lakeland and Auburndale. Meanwhile, Gateway (6A-5) jumps into district play for the first time in four years against St. Cloud, Tohopekaliga, Harmony and Lake Nona.
