By:  J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola

In a “must-win” game to keep their playoff hopes alive, St. Cloud junior quarterback directed five touchdown drives, including a 45-yard scoring strike to Zeus Howard, to lead the Bulldogs to a 38-7 district win over Tohopekaliga.

The performance earns the junior the Week 9 Osceola Air Player of the Week.

Lattier came out sharp in the game, directing a 7-play 51-yard scoring drive to give the Dogs a 7-0 lead.  He had to overcome two holding penalties in the drive and convert a 4th and 16 play with a 21-yard completion to Owen Sullivan.  His touchdown strike to Howard at the end of the first quarter gave St. Cloud a 21-0 lead.

After Toho cut the margin to 21-7 in the third period, Lattier would help secure the win by leading the Dogs on a time-consuming 8-play 51-yard scoring drive to put the game out of reach.  He kept the scoring drive alive by converting a first down with back-to-back completions after St. Cloud found themselves in a third and 15 situation.

And while some have suggested Lattier is having a down year after throwing for 2800 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore, head coach Mike Short is quick to defend his quarterback.  “His yards, TD passes may be down a little and his interceptions may be up a bit, but I did some research and if you look at him numbers through seven games this year, they are really close to where he was after seven last year and that has come against a tougher schedule. We have a chance for seven regular season wins again and Jeremiah is one of the main reasons for it.  He continues to play at a high level.”

For his part, Lattier says he has not played his best football this year, but says he will trade wins for stats anytime.  “For me, wins and team come first, so I don’t worry too much about statistics,” the junior noted.

Osceola Air Partners with Positively Osceola to Celebrate Local Student-Athletes

Positively Osceola is proud to welcome Osceola Air as the community partner of Positively Osceola’s Osceola Air Player of the Week, helping recognize outstanding high school football student-athletes from across Osceola County throughout the season.

A 100% locally owned and operated company, Osceola Air has deep roots in the community it serves. Founded by lifelong Osceola County resident Zak McMorrow launched in 2014, the St. Cloud-based company has grown from a small local HVAC business into a full-service home comfort company providing air conditioning, heating, plumbing, drain and indoor air quality services throughout Osceola County and surrounding Central Florida communities. Giving back to the communities it serves is also one of Osceola Air’s core values.

OSCEOLA AIR PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Week 1:  Jaden Taylor, St. Cloud

Week 2: Nydrell Thigpen, Gateway

Week 3:  Jason Lewis, Osceola

Week 4: Iran Gonzalez, St. Cloud

Week 5: Dylan Dingle, Gateway

Week 6:  AJ Wise, Tohopekaliga

Week 7:  Eli Manning, St. Cloud

Week 8:  Johnny Reyes, Gateway

Week 9:  Jeremiah Lattier, St. Cloud