Go to the end of this story to find the scores of all 101 previous Osceola-St. Cloud games.
On Friday night, the St. Cloud Bulldogs will meet the Osceola Kowboys in Kissimmee for the 100th anniversary and 102nd meeting between the two schools in the fifth-oldest rivalry in Florida.
It’s a series that has been dominated by Osceola both all-time (69-28-4) and of late. Osceola has won the last 14 games on the field and if you count a St. Cloud victory that was later forfeited to Osceola in 2010, the winning streak is 20.
The series has been so lopsided, and with St. Cloud-Harmony seemingly becoming a bigger (and more bitter) rivalry, that a few fans have suggested the series end,. That's something St. Cloud coach Mike Short says will never happen under his watch.
“No way, no how. High school football needs to be about tradition and cross-town rivalries. It is ridiculous to even talk about not playing,” he said.
“Besides,” he said with a smile. “When St. Cloud finally breaks this streak, there’s going to be an awesome party on this side of the canal and the game will be talked about for decades.”
It’s a game that means a lot in both cities—back to when they were just “towns”.
“This game still means a lot to the fans. It means a lot to the grandfathers, uncles, and dads who have played in it,” said Osceola Coach Eric Pinellas, who played in it in the ‘80s. “It also means a lot to our current players. They do not want to be on the team that breaks the current streak.”
So, can St. Cloud this year? Last year Osceola scored early and often in a 55-6 win. Loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, it was one of 12 wins that eventually saw the Kowboys advance all the way to the Class 6A state championship game. Through graduation and transfer, Osceola lost 21 starters or significant contributors from that team.
OHS comes into “The Game” with a 2-1 record, while a significantly-improved St. Cloud team is a perfect 3-0 for the first time in six years.
All three Kowboys games have come against 2024 playoff teams—including Lake Mary, a 7A state championship game finalist last year. Although Osceola, 17-12, they outgained the Rams 347-125 and essentially lost it on a kickoff return for touchdown.
“We simply did not finish our drives and it cost us,” Pinellas said. “We can be explosive, but we’re not necessarily a big play offense. When you go on those time-consuming 10 or 12 play drives it becomes vital that you put the ball in the end zone.”
The Kowboys did not need sustained drives in last year’s contest. On Osceola’s first play from scrimmage, Taevion Swint ran 85 yards for a score and Jeffrey Sinophat took one 44 yards to the house on the Kowboys’ third play of the game. Osceola scored the first seven times they touched the ball and led 49-6 at halftime.
“Obviously we cannot give up big plays like we have in the past. We need them to work for their points,” Short said. But we also need to find a way to score some points and take advantage of any opportunity that we are presented. They are also very good on special teams, especially their return game. We can’t give up big punt and kickoff returns.”
St. Cloud’s wins have come against Poinciana, Pine Ridge and Freedom—teams with a combined 1-8 record this season.
“We knew our defensive backs were going to be pretty good, but the real improvement has been in the box with our linebackers and defensive line –they have done a good job stopping the run and putting pressure on the quarterback,” Short said.
Osceola’s defense is still formidable and has only given up one offensive touchdown and one field goal in three games. In a 46-6 win over Winter Haven last week that went to a running clock at halftime, the Blue Devils only score came when its defense recovered an Osceola fumble in the end zone.
“It’s certainly not a game we will be taking lightly,” Pinellas said. “They are off to a nice 3-0 start and their defense looks much improved. They have excellent team speed and we will go in expecting their best game.”
Elsewhere, in a week that Tohopekaliga (2-1) and Celebration (0-3) hit their bye weeks, Harmony will go for its third straight win off a hard-fought 19-7 win over Sebastian River last week when it hosts Clewiston (1-2), a schedule change made when Bayside canceled their contractual game late last week.
“We didn’t find out about the cancellation to late last week,” Longhorn coach Don Simon said. “It sent us in scramble mode to find an opponent.”
Poinciana (1-2) will have its hands full on the road with a much-improved Evans (21) team that owns wins over Apopka and a major upset of 2024 4A state runner-up Jones last week.
Gateway (1-2) will attempt to even its record when it hosts Lake Region (1-2) on Friday night. The Panthers recorded a runningclock 36-0 shutout against Cypress Creek last week— scoring touchdowns via the run, pass, special teams (blocked field goal) and interception return.
Liberty (0-2) will seek its first win when it hosts Winter Springs (1-2) this week. Although winless, the Chargers continue to show progress under new coach Janko Beras, hanging tough last week against Oak Ridge before falling 32-26.
"The Game" — The history
Osceola leads series 69-28-4*
1925—St. Cloud 6, Osceola 0
1926—Osceola 9, St. Cloud 0
1927—Osceola 13, St. Cloud 0
1927—Osceola 0, St. Cloud 0
1928—Osceola 19, St. Cloud 6
1929—Osceola 7, St. Cloud 0
1930—St. Cloud 6, Osceola 0
1931—Osceola 12, St. Cloud 0
1931—Osceola 18, St. Cloud 0
1932—St. Cloud 6, Osceola 0
1933—Osceola 0, St. Cloud 0
1934—Osceola 25, St. Cloud 6
1935—Osceola 6, St. Cloud 6
1936—St. Cloud 6, Osceola 0
1937—Osceola 13, St. Cloud 0
1938—St. Cloud 13, Osceola 7
1939—St. Cloud 13, Osceola 8
1940—Osceola 7, St. Cloud 0
1941—St. Cloud 13, Osceola 6
1942—No game, World War II
1943—St. Cloud 19, Osceola 6
1944—St. Cloud 19, Osceola 0
1945—Osceola 41, St. Cloud 7
1946—Osceola 0, St. Cloud 0
1947—Osceola 20, St. Cloud 12
1948—Osceola 27, St. Cloud 0
1949—St. Cloud 19, Osceola 0
1950—St. Cloud 14, Osceola 6
1951—St. Cloud 19, Osceola 0
1952—Osceola 32, St. Cloud 19
1953—Osceola 7, St. Cloud 6
1954—St. Cloud 19, Osceola 7
1955—Osceola 26, St. Cloud 14
1956—St. Cloud 20, Osceola 14
1957—Osceola 18, St. Cloud 12
1958—St. Cloud 14, Osceola 7
1959—Osceola 34, St. Cloud 14
1960—Osceola 20, St. Cloud 7
1961—Osceola 45, St. Cloud 0
1962—St. Cloud 7, Osceola 6
1963—Osceola 34, St. Cloud 20
1964—Osceola 28, St. Cloud 13
1965—Osceola 28, St. Cloud 0
1966—Osceola 40, St. Cloud 6
1967—Osceola 52, St. Cloud 6
1968—Osceola 27, St. Cloud 7
1969—Osceola 28, St. Cloud 16
1970—Osceola 56, St. Cloud 6
1971—Osceola 20, St. Cloud 8
1972—Osceola 12, St. Cloud 7
1973—Osceola 28, St. Cloud 21
1974—St. Cloud 19, Osceola 14
1975—Osceola 40, St. Cloud 12
1976—Osceola 27, St. Cloud 21
1977—Osceola 18, St. Cloud 6
1978—St. Cloud 32, Osceola 25
1979—Osceola 18, St. Cloud 15
1980—St. Cloud 48, Osceola 15
1981—Osceola 21, St. Cloud 0
1982—Osceola 28, St. Cloud 7
1983—Osceola 49, St. Cloud 12
1984—St. Cloud 12, Osceola 7
1985—Osceola 24, St. Cloud 0
1986—St. Cloud 24, Osceola 7
1987—Osceola 27, St. Cloud 0
1988—St. Cloud 31, Osceola 15
1989—Osceola 30, St. Cloud 13
1990—Osceola 33, St. Cloud 15
1991—Osceola 36, St. Cloud 15
1992—St. Cloud 13, Osceola 10
1993—Osceola 10, St. Cloud 6
1994—St. Cloud 9, Osceola 0
1995—St. Cloud 29, Osceola 28
1996—Osceola 32, St. Cloud 14
1997—Osceola 42, St. Cloud 28
1998—Osceola 34, St. Cloud 14
1999—Osceola 52, St. Cloud 10
2000—Osceola 55, St. Cloud 0
2001—Osceola 34, St. Cloud 21
2002—Osceola 51, St. Cloud 7
2003—Osceola 40, St. Cloud 34
2004—St. Cloud 27, Osceola 24
2005—St. Cloud 28, Osceola 24
2006—Osceola 72, St. Cloud 6
2007—Osceola 68, St. Cloud 7
2008—Osceola 45, St. Cloud 3
2009—Osceola 32, St. Cloud 20
2010—St. Cloud 41, St. Cloud 35* (St. Cloud forfeited victory due to an ineligible player)
2011—Osceola 42, St. Cloud 27
2012—Osceola 43, St. Cloud 0
2013—Osceola 41, St. Cloud 0
2014—Osceola 49, St. Cloud 17
2015—Osceola 55, St. Cloud 23
2016—Osceola 34, St. Cloud 18
2017—Osceola 47, St. Cloud 14
2018—Osceola 34, St. Cloud 14
2019—Osceola 43, St. Cloud 0
2020—Osceola 35, St. Cloud 13
2021—Osceola 56, St. Cloud 0
2022—Osceola 42, St. Cloud 3
2023—Osceola 49, St. Cloud 3
2024—Osceola 56, St. Cloud 6
2025—100th anniversary of first meeting
