Poinciana earns Wednesday bowl game at East River
Two hurricanes tried to jiggle the schedule; nonetheless, the high school football playoffs start Friday. For one county team it will be like sliding on a comfortable pair of well-worn shoes, while for another it will be like breaking in a new pair straight out of the box.
Osceola (8-2), the playoff battle-tested District 6A-5 champion, is the No. 2 regional seed and will host Viera (4-6). Tohopekaliga (6-4) learned Friday that it had qualified for the post-season for the first time ever (sort of). The No. 7 Tigers (6-4) travel to perennial playoff power Dr. Phillips (9-1). Both games kick at 7 p.m.
But first, While Poinciana wrapped up a 7-3 season with a 7-3 win over Auburndale last week, the Eagles played as an independent and could not earn a playoff berth. They did earn a bowl game spot on Wednesday at East River (6-4) at 6 p.m.
"We'd waited two weeks to play Auburndale," PHS Coach Taron Mallard said of the hurricane delay. "We moved the ball well, we just weren't sharp in the red zone."
Cameron Brown hit Ernest Nunn with the winning touchdown pass in the second half.
Mallard said the East River Falcons, also an independent team, present a "disciplined defense" and and offense that will "do some odd things".
"They're going to try to eliminate the deep ball, so we'll have to try to get a running game going and take what they give us," the coach said.
The Kowboys, making their 15th consecutive post-season appearance, have been no stranger to this, and with a win Friday will host the Durant-South Lake winner on Nov. 22.
Osceola routed the Hawks, 49-9, in a district contest on Oct. 15. Taevion Swint rushed for 139 yards and four touchdowns, and Elijah Hickson went over 100 yards rushing. But OHS Coach Eric Pinellas said his team is taking nothing for granted as it begins what hopes to be a deep postseason run.
“It is tough to beat the same team twice in one season,” Pinellas said. “I think our team will take that lesson to heart. The thing about the playoffs, you have to win this week if you want to play next week. When it comes to the playoffs, our motto is always, ‘One More Week.’”
The FHSAA pushed the playoffs back one week to allow all teams to make up hurricane-postponed games. By playing Viera and Apopka in the same week, Osceola completed its schedule on time and is essentially coming off a bye week, which Pinellas calls a plus.
“We were able to get some dinged up players some time off and heading into the playoffs, we’re as healthy as we have been all season long.”
Viera did have some success through the air on Oct. 15, as quarterback Eric Nelson completed 15 of 22 passes for 180 yards, including six to Jack Hancock for 98 yards.
“They definitely have some talented players,” Pinellas added. “Having them in the district and having played them once, both teams know what the other is about. Our goal will be the same as always, run the ball, dominate possession, and get out with a win.”
Tohopekaliga’s Friday night playoff match-up with the Panthers is technically not its first. The Tigers were part of the playoffs in the COVID-affected 2020 season, where any school could opt in to the bracket, and THS beat Winter Springs, 28-0 before losing to Wekiva.
This season was the first the Tigers qualified — and did it dramatically. Toho and St. Cloud went into last week both at 5-4. The Bulldogs lost to Ridge, 27-25, and the Tigers dominated East Ridge, 33-0, and jumped St. Cloud and Olympia in the FHSAA’s Region 2 computer rankings, despite St. Cloud beating Tohopekaliga heads-up in the regular season (31-24).
“This is the first time Tohopekaliga has earned its way into the playoffs,” Tigers coach Anthony Paradiso said. “It’s a testament to the effort these kids and our staff have given in the three years we’ve been here. Regardless of the outcome Friday, we have broken through another glass ceiling. Being a really young team, we have overachieved this season and I am so proud of the determination and effort these athletes have given us all season.”
The Tigers will have their hands full with the Orlando-power Panthers. Dr. Phillips averages more than 30 points per game while giving up just over 10. They have played one common opponent this year – they dominated Lake Nona (34-7) while the Tigers dropped a 17-0 decision in a game that featured numerous questionable calls that went against the Tigers.
Tohpekaliga’s best chance will rest on its ability on offense to move the ball against the rugged Panthers defense. The Tiger offensive line must find a way to give junior quarterback Sabby Meassick (2,600 yards, 20 TDs) time to get to ball to talented receivers in Tre Punter (70-911-5 TD), Emanuel Theagene (36-569-6 TD) and freshman Tony Brown (51-504-5 TD). Things could be a little easier if the Tigers establish a running game with junior Jaxson Hardnett (833 yards- 5 TDs).
The winner will play the Treasure Coast-Jupiter winner next week.
