By: J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola
Published 10/25/2025
For a third straight year, the Brass Bugle Trophy will stay with the Bulldogs.
Jeremiah Lattier tossed a couple touchdown passes and a stingy defense limited Harmony to just 152 yards of total net offense as St. Cloud won the 21st edition of the Soldier City Classic, 14-7.
“We have a reputation of being an offensive team, but all year I have been telling anyone who would listen that our defense is pretty good too,” St. Cloud coach Mike Short said. “These rivalry games tend to get very emotional and Coach Simon (Harmony head coach Don Simon) does a great job with his option running game. They are a tough team to get ready for. Our defense made plays when they had to and certainly deserve a lot of credit for tonight’s win.”
That Bulldogs defense limited Harmony to an average of just 2.5 yards per play, came up with five quarterback sacks, five other tackles for loss, a blocked field goal and an interception.
That interception came from Bryce Williams, who also caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in being named game MVP. Gunner Freeman scored the other touchdown on a 26-yard pass play and running back Cameron Dalton had a huge night on the ground, gaining 114 yards on 15 carries.
Still it was far from an easy game for the Bulldogs. Although the Freeman touchdown put St. Cloud up 7-0 at halftime, it was Harmony the better scoring opportunities.
Those started on the first play of the game, when Ethan Moyon returned the opening kickoff 70 yards – all the way down to the St. Cloud 25. But a completed pass to the goal line was negated by a procedure penalty and one play later, Brandon Buehler had his 38-yard field goal attempt blocked.
It was one of three field goal attempts the Longhorns would miss in the first half, as Buehler was wide right from 40 and had his half-ending 56-yard field come up short.
“We had our chances and simply could not capitalize,” Simon said. “In the first half, we left at least 16 points on the field. That first drive really hurt. We didn’t have a wide receiver lined up properly and that negated a first and goal on the one.”
Neither team moved the ball early in the second half, until St. Cloud’s third possession when the Bulldogs got favorable field position after a short Harmony punt. On the first play from scrimmage, Williams came in motion across the formation, took a short tap pass from Lattier and raced 43 yards untouched to make it 14-0.
The score would remain the same until late in the game when Buehler pinned St. Cloud inside their own five with a punt. The Harmony defense held and took over on the St. Cloud 24 following a short punt. After an incompletion, Moyon pulled in a pass in the left corner of the end zone to make 14-7 with two and half minutes to go.
Harmony would then have a chance to tie or take the lead when they successfully executed an on-sides kick and recovered on the St. Cloud 48 with less than three minutes remaining. But after a short completion by Hayes, the St. Cloud defense forced three straight incompletions. They took over on downs and eventually held on for the win.
With the victory, St. Cloud (7-2, 3-0) wins their fourth straight game and clinches the outright District 10,7A championship. They also take a 12-9-0 lead over Harmony in the Soldier City Classic series. The Bulldogs can get to eight regular season wins for the first time since 2008 with a win over Lake Minneola next week in the season finale.
The Longhorns were led offensively by running Nick Bertolani, who had 73 yards rushing on 18 carries. Damarion Moore added 33 yards on 12 carries, Hayes finished three for 17 for 88 yards and one score. Harmony, 4-5, can reach .500 with a win in their season-finale next week against Colonial (2-7).
Simon was happy with his team’s effort. “It was a hard-fought, physical game,” Simon said. “Our guys battled to the end and we had our chances. I really think our players are starting to get an understanding what it takes to win and that is step in the right direction.”
In other action around the county, Poinciana (3-6) won the Battle of the Boulevard against Liberty (0-9) by a 38-0 score. It was the Eagles fourth straight win in the rivalry after they had dropped the first 15 games of the series. Tohopekaliga (4-5, 1-2) fell to Lake Nona (6-3, 2-1) in another District 10, 7A game; while Celebration (1-8, 0-3) lost to District 9, 7A power Dr. Phillips, 57-0. An injury plagued Osceola team (6-3) lost a non-district game to Lake Wales by a 35-27 score.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Harmony 0 0 0 7—7
St. Cloud 0 7 7 0—14
SCORING SUMMARY
SC: Gunner Freeman 26 pass from Jeremiah Lattier (Jermidave Velez kick)
SC: Bryce Williams 43 pass from Lattier (Valez kick)
H: Ethan Moyon 24 pass from Landon Hayes (Brayden Buehler kick)
WEEK 11 SCHEDULE REGULAR SEASON ENDS
Osceola (6-3) at St. Petersburg Lakewood (8-1)
Gateway (4-5) at Celebration (1-8)
Colonial (2-7) at Harmony (4-5)
Lake Minneola (1-8) at St. Cloud (7-2)
Tohopekaliga (4-5) at Avon Park (6-3)
Liberty (0-9) at Lake Buena Vista (3-6)
