By:  J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola

Another lackluster offensive performance, along with a defense that allowed too many big plays at inopportune moments, spelled out another loss for the Osceola Kowboys (2-4, 0-2) on Friday night as they dropped a district game to Lake Gibson (3-2, 1-1) at Markus Paul Stadium.

And while the Kowboys were able to run for a season-high 190 yards (excluding sack yardage), it was their inability to sustain drives that kept the game from being closer.  Osceola managed just one offensive touchdown in the game – that coming on a 15-play, 80-yard drive on their final possession of the game.

Prior to that, Osceola did manage to move the chains on some drives, but those would end on sacks and penalties.

“We ran the ball a little better tonight, but we were not really getting chunk plays.  When you are only gaining four yards a carry, you have to be close to perfect in order to drive 70 or 80 yards,” Osceola Coach Eric Pinellas said.  “We were far from perfect.”

Meanwhile, the inability of the Kowboys defense to get off the field on plays of third and long were a major factor in defeat.

Osceola’s defense had Lake Gibson on a third and 14 on its own 36 early in the game, only to give up a 46-yard pass play that led to a short touchdown run a 7-0 deficit.

After tying the score on a blocked that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, the Kowboys would trail 14-7 at the half – giving up a fourth and eight play for a 26-yard touchdown with just seven seconds left.

The trend continued on Lake Gibson’s first possession of the second half.

On a third and 11 play, Osceola’s secondary bit on a pump fake and quarterback Chris McFarlane burned the Kowboys on a 53-yard pass Jace Severit.  Four plays later on a third and goal from the 18, McFarlane would fire a touchdown strike to Stephen Bell.

In all, when getting the Braves in a third and eight or longer, Osceola would give up 150 yards of offense and two touchdowns on just four plays.

Lake Gibson put the game away early in the fourth when Osceola quarterback Jabari Coombs fumbled a snap, the Braves recovered and McFarlane fired a bullet to Lawrence Silas for a 31-yard score.

Pinellas replaced Coombs with Rivera at quarterback, who would then direct Osceola on its only offensive touchdown of the game.  In that drive, Pinellas inserted defensive linemen Jason Lewis (who blocked the punt on Osceola’s score) and Jordan McCrimon in the offensive backfield as blockers.  “To be honest, we were just drawing plays up in the dirt at that time, trying to get a spark.  Rivera (listed as a DB) only had one day of practice at quarterback, but I think you will see him there moving forward.

Osceola played without the services of five injured starters including Zylin Garrett (RB), Dory Thimote (DE), Jakai Pratt (OLB), Jaiden Kelley (OL), and Gavin Shelton (LB). The Kowboys return to action next Friday night with a non-district game against Dr. Phillips (3-2).

In other county football action this weekend, Lake Nona (5-1, 1-0) took control of the 6A, District 5 race with a convincing 43-8 win over St. Cloud (3-2, 0-1).  Poinciana (4-2, 2-0) remained undefeated in 6A, District 9 with a 21-20 upset road win at Winter Haven; while Celebration’s (0-5) struggles continued with a 56-3 loss to East Ridge.

On Thursday, Gateway went to 5-0 for the first time in school history with a 42-0 win over Nova Lakes; while Tohopekaliga went to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in district play with a 34-8 win over Harmony (Read about that game here:  Tigers Running Back AJ Wise Powers Tohopekaliga Past Harmony, 34-8, for Fourth Straight Win ).