By:J, Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola
Published 11/6/2025
Sabby Meassick threw five touchdowns, two in the final four minutes of the first half, to lead the Tohopekaliga Tigers (6-5) to a 41-30 bowl win over Gateway (5-6) in the final game of the senior’s storied career.
Meassick, a four-year starter, finished his career with more than 13,400 career passing yards and 138 touchdowns, including 3500 yards and 37 touchdowns this season. He went 25-18 as a starter in leading the Tigers to four winning seasons, two bowl wins and a playoff appearance.
“It was a great way to finish the season and my high school career,” Meassick said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of being here and working hard with my teammates. I am going to miss everything about this place, but especially game days. The work you put in for Friday makes the experience so special.”
Meassick would put up big numbers in his last game. He completed 38 of 49 passes for 343 yards and no interceptions. Ironically, his five touchdown passes matched the five he threw against Liberty in the first game of his freshman season.
With the exception of a four-minute period where Tohopekaliga scored 14 unanswered points right before half, the Panthers were more than competitive with the Tigers.
In fact, Gateway struck first in the game – getting a defensive stop and then scoring on their first offensive play from scrimmage on a 45-yard halfback option pass from Nydrell Thigpen to Johnny Reyes II. They would later take almost nine minutes off the clock with a 13-play, 80-yard drive capped by a Thigpen touchdown run.
But Meassick countered each Panther touchdown with a pair of touchdown passes to Tre Punter as the teams battled to a 14-14 tie at the 4:10 mark of the second period.
Things would fall apart on the Panthers in those last four minutes. The Tigers defense forced two quick three-and-outs and Meassick took advantage with touchdown passes to AJ Wise (31 yards) and Xaevez Brown (25 yards). That final score came with just 10 seconds remaining and gave Toho a 27-14 halftime lead.
“Our inability to move the ball and a couple of breakdowns in our secondary in those final minutes of the half really cost us,” Panthers coach Marlin Roberts said. “Give Sabby some credit, he did a good job of getting rid of the ball fast.”
Tohopekaliga would essentially put the game away early in the third with two big plays. After the Panthers got excellent field position with a defensive stop, Zavion Jordan intercepted Gateway quarterback Aristotle Span Jr. on the 14. On the first play after the turnover, Brown blasted up the middle and ran 86 yards for a touchdown to make it a three-score game, 34-14.
Thigpen would add a 5-yard touchdown run and Reyes reached the end zone on a 45-yard run for the Panthers, but those scores were sandwiched between Meassick’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Hall as Toho maintained a two-score lead each time.
“A good way to end the season and a good football game all the way around,” Tohopekaliga coach Anthony Paradiso said. “Thanks for Gateway, Marlin and their administration for agreeing to make this game happen and Coach Roberts did a great job of getting his kids ready. I knew at the beginning of the season we were in almost a total rebuild mode and our goal was to get better each week. Given the tougher schedule we played, the year has been a success.”
