Poinciana gets by Winter Haven to go to 2-0 in 6A-9
St. Cloud linebacker Colton Sklarek did get to Nickerson on this play, forcing an incompletion. (Photo/Taylor McFee)
St. Cloud’s road to defending its District 6A-5 title took a tough hit Friday.
The Bulldogs found themselves in a hole early they couldn’t climb out of, falling 43-8 at Lake Nona.
St. Cloud (3-2, 0-1) will have to run the 6A-5 table, starting next Friday at Gateway (5-0, 1-0) and get some help.
The Lions (5-1, 1-0) led 21-0 four minutes into the second quarter thanks to an interception return for a touchdown, an onside kick recovery and the play of quarterback Elijah Nickerson, who threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 94 more and another score on a night the Lions rushed for 8.6 yards per carry.
Aside from a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jeremiah Lattier to tight end Owen Sullivan, little else went right for the Bulldogs.
St. Cloud Coach Mike Short praised a Lions team that looked different from the one it faced twice last year – a regular season victory that helped the Bulldogs to a district title and a loss in the first round of the playoffs.
“And they were really good last year, too,” he said. “We knew it’d be hard to run between the gaps against their front, but we put together what we felt like was a good gameplan, but the way the game started put a dent in that. Kudos to them for being the better team tonight. It’s our first loss in Florida; the schedule was built for the purpose to get better.”
Despite a tough night passing the ball (10-for-32, 96 yards), Short praised the work Lattier, who was not sacked despite all those dropbacks, did evading pressure in the pocket.
“I thought he played well for the pressure he was under all night, stepping up and extending plays,” Short said.
LAKE REGION 28, OSCEOLA 13
The loss, was Osceola’s third straight (2-4, 0-2). Lake Gibson improved 3-2, 1-1 in District 5A-6.
There were a few bright spots for Osceola. The Kowboys rushed for a season high 190 yards (excluding sack yardage); while holding their opponents under 200 total yards and blocking a punt for a score.
But Lake Gibson scored three touchdowns on drives that were kept alive when Osceola’s defense failed to get off the field after putting the Braves way behind the chains.
It happened on Lake Gibson’s first possession, when quarterback Caleb McFarlane found Stephen Bell wide open down the right sideline for a 46-yard gain on a third-and-15. That led to a short touchdown run by Raymond Diaz and a 7-0 lead.
It happened again right before half. After Lake Gibson drove the length of the field, Osceola’s defense stiffened to forced a fourth and 8 from the 26. McFarlane avoided strong rush by Jason Lewis and zipped a strike to the goal line that was hauled in by Bell for a 14-7 lead at the half.
Lake Gibson would up the lead to 21-7 on their first possession of the third quarter, again taking advantage of a major breakdowns in the Osceola secondary. On a third and 11 play from midfield, McFarlane got the Amir Davis to bite on a fake and then connected on a 53-yard pass to Jase Severit. Three plays later, MacFarlane hit Sebastian Cortes for a touchdown on a third and goal from the 18.
In all, Osceola allowed 143 yards on four plays of third and eight or longer.
Osceola scored early in the game when Jason Lewis blocked a punt and Josue Rivera recovered in the end zone, and scored its offensive touchdown game on its last possession. On that drive, Osceola coach Eric Pinellas moved Rivera to quarterback. He also inserted a combination of defensive linemen Lewis and Jordan McCrimmon with TE Elijah McKnight to serve as blocking backs.
Rivera moved the ball 80 yards on 15 plays – scoring on a two-yard run.
“To tell the truth, we just started drawing plays in the dirt,” Pinellas said. “I have a lot of respect for Lewis and McCrimmon, they wanted to play offense and help their team. Rivera practiced exactly one day at quarterback, but after tonight, I could see him getting the start in the future.”
Osceola played without five starters due to injury, including Zylin Garrett (RB), Dory Thimote (DE), Jakai Pratt (OLB), Jaiden Kelley (OL), and Gavin Shelton (LB).
The Kowboys return to action next Friday night with a non-district game against Dr. Phillips (3-2).
POINCIANA 21, WINTER HAVEN 20
But there was a county winner on Friday. The Eagles moved to 4-2 and a superior 2-0 spot in District 6A-9 with their win over the Blue Devils (3-2, 1-1). Coach Taron Mallard's team had to survive a 36-yard field goal attempt that went off the crossbar with two seconds left.
The Eagles have a bye week before hosting Davenport (1-4, 0-2) in District 6A-9 play
