Big Plays Cost Tohopekaliga in 44-22 Loss to Viera Under Friday Night Lights

By: J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola
Published 9/20/2025

It could be argued that other than a handful of big plays, Tohopekaliga played a fairly even match with the Viera. But those big players were more than devastating, as the Hawks doubled up on the Tigers, 44-22, on Friday night.

Two turnovers in the first quarter by the Tigers led to a quick 14-0 lead for the Hawks. After Tohopekaliga got a defensive stop and forced a missed field goal to open the game, Tigers quarterback Sabby Meassick was intercepted on this third play from scrimmage. Two plays later Eric Nelson found Shaun Hartman wide open down the middle of the field for a 39-yard score and a 7-0 lead.

After picking up two first downs, Meassick had Toho on the move but at a first-and-10 from the 50, but his next pass bounced off a receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Dimitri Jean, who raced 60 yards for a score.

A 21-yard pass from Meassick to Tre Punter cut the lead to 14-7.

After a 30-yard field goal by Dominick Maxwell made it 17-7, the Tigers missed a huge chance to cut the gap back to three when Meassick overthrew a wide-open Punter by just a yard on a play that would have went for a 70-yard touchdown. The Hawks got a stop on the drive and made a field goal at the buzzer to take a 20-7 lead at the half.

Tohopekaliga would gain some momentum in the third quarter, as Meassick capped an 80-yard touchdown march with his second scoring toss to Punter to cut the gap to 20-14. They then forced the Hawks into a fourth and five at midfield. But after trying to get Tohopekaliga to jump offsides, Nelson took the snap and handed to Duke Butler, who barreled over several Toho defenders for seven yards and a first down.

That single play appeared to kill all of the Tiger momentum.

Butler would get two more big runs before later scoring on a 15-yard run to make it 27-24. From there, the Hawk running game would wear the young Tigers down, as Butler would set up another touchdown with some hard running and finish with 163 yards on the ground.

From there, Maxwell tacked on another field goal and on the next series, William McClure ripped the ball out of a Tiger receiver’s hands and returned it 73 yards for another touchdown to make it a 44-14 deficit.

Meassick would add his third scoring pass to Tayshaun Dillard midway through the fourth quarter.

The Tigers must regroup in a hurry as they open district play on Thursday night against Harmony (3-2), who suffered a 26-10 set back to Lake Howell. In other county action, Jones took advantage of a couple of Osceola turnovers in the first half and held on for a 28-14 win; Poinciana recorded a 34-14 win over Haines City, Merritt Island took a close 24-21 win over St. Cloud, Space Coast beat Celebration, 21-7; Gateway came up short against Winter Springs, 28-20; and Freedom kept Liberty winless, 30-20 – as county schools recorded a tough 1-7 week.

SCORING SUMMARY

Viera 14 6 14 10—44

Tohopekaliga 0 7 7 8 –22

V: Shaun Hartman 39 pass from Eric Nelson (Dominick Maxwell kick)

V: Dimitri Jean 60 Interception Return (Maxwell kick)

T; Tre Punter 21 pass from Sabby Meassick (Alex Lozada kick)

V: Maxwell FG, 30

V: Maxwell FG, 23

T: Punter 19 pass from Meassick (Lozada kick)

V: Duke Butler 15 run (Maxwell kick)

V: Hartman 43 pass from Nelson (Maxwell kick)

V; Maxwell FG, 26