County football roundup: Osceola rolls Palm Harbor, hosts regional semifinal on Friday

Image
  • Osceola’s Jamison Jones (11) scores a rushing touchdown during the Kowboys 46-3 playoff win over Palm Harbor University (Photo courtesy of Jana Stultz/Osceola High School).
    Osceola’s Jamison Jones (11) scores a rushing touchdown during the Kowboys 46-3 playoff win over Palm Harbor University (Photo courtesy of Jana Stultz/Osceola High School).
Body

Osceola (6-2) earned a spot in the Class 8A, Region 4 semifinals with an impressive 46-3 road playoff win over Palm Harbor on Friday night.

The Kowboys will host Riverview Sarasota (9-1) Friday, Nov. 27, with the winner hosting the winner of Steinbrenner (4-2) vs. Newsome (6-2) game in the Regional Finals a week later.

In the playoff game, the Kowboys scored a touchdown on their second play of the game and then watched Palm Harbor go on a 13-play drive where they held the ball for all but one minute of the first quarter. Still, the Osceola defense stiffened, and allowed just a field goal and led 7-3.  From there, the Kowboys dominated the game – gaining almost 400 yards of total offense. 

Quarterback Chad Mascoe threw for two touchdowns and 108 yards on a three for five passing night; while Ja’Randy Swint rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries in the win. Osceola also got an interception from sophomore defensive back Bo Mascoe.   “After the first quarter, we pretty much controlled possession and dominated the game.  We had a nice balance of running and throwing the ball,” Head Coach Doug Nichols said.

Nichols added that he expects a challenge from Riverview Sarasota.

“They toss the ball around pretty good and they got a pretty good running back (Michael Hayes). He’s only a sophomore but he has decent size and speed.”

It will be Osceola’s first home game in a month, something Nichols hopes will give his team an advantage.  “We had to play at Lake Nona, which in rush hour traffic makes it a hour bus trip; then we played at Vero Beach and had the playoff trip to Palm Harbor – none of which were easy rides. It will be nice to get in front of our home fans this week,” Nichols said. “We’re a young team and I think playing at home helps energize us.”

 

Poinciana 27, Umatilla 8

The Eagles got their second straight win last Friday night, going to 3-6 on the season with a 27-8 road win over Umatilla. Poinciana dominated the game in all phases.  Jalen Jarrett rushed for one score, Andrew Peters scored on a 70-yard touchdown pass and Daniel Mendes-Cruz scored on a “pick-six” interception return to account for Poinciana’s three touchdowns.  Field goal kicker Rhys Marsh added two field goals for the Eagles.

“Really pleased with the way our kids responded.  After the big road win over Celebration, you always worry that their might be a letdown, especially when you are favored to win,” Beeken said.  “We went in with a game plan to control possession and we were able to execute that game plan.”

Poinciana returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Discovery in a season-ending game. It will be the only home game of the season for the Eagles, who will be dedicating a new playing field that night. 

 

Celebration 27, Gateway 16

Celebration (2-5) spotted Gateway (2-5) a 13-0 lead before coming back to win 27-16.

“It was a satisfying win for us given the circumstances,” Storm Head Coach Jay Sobke said. “Between injuries and the virus, we have been playing with a patchwork offensive and defensive line for the entire season. This was only the third time this year where we sort of had a complete team together. I’m so proud of how resilient these kids have been given the adversity they have faced.”

Gateway, a team who has had their own issues with depth and injuries this season, got a pair of touchdown runs from Jakovi Bryant in the first quarter. In addition, he also had an 80-yard touchdown run called back for a holding penalty. Bryant, who was injured in the first series of season opener, had 124 yards rushing in the game has now scored 11 touchdowns in his last three games. The Panthers also got a big game from senior Elby Tieku, who caught 85 yards in passes and recorded eight solo tackles at linebacker.

Despite the hot start, the Panthers would not find the end zone for the rest of the game and could not contain Storm sophomore Oniel Senatus. In the contest, Senatus rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown, returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown as time was running out in the first half and also returned a kickoff 66 yards to set up another score. 

“He (Senatus) put on a show and was certainly the difference in the game,” Gateway Head Coach Marlin Roberts said. “When he intercepted that ball and took it back to the house right before half it sort of took the wind out of our sails.  He’s the real deal and is going to be a tremendous football player for them.”

In addition to Senatus, a couple of other sophomores performed well for the Storm. Quarterback Foster Searcy and running back Chip McCuiston each scored rushing touchdowns for Celebration.

“We’re really a young team and consistency has hurt us all year.  Still, we have seen a lot of encouraging signs from these young players.  They want to learn, they want to get better and they have no big egos,” Sobke noted.  “As this team matures, they should only get better.”

The Storm will conclude its season with a game against Harmony on Dec. 4, while Gateway is scheduled to play Liberty the same night. 

 

St. Cloud vs. Edgewater

Positive COVID-19 tests in the St. Cloud camp caused the Bulldogs to cancel its FHSAA Playoff game with Edgewater. The Bulldogs (6-3) have two regular season games remaining, as they are scheduled to travel to Tohopekaliga on Dec. 4, before traveling to Harmony on Dec. 12 for the Soldier City Classic.