Brass Bugle, Bragging Rights, and Playoff Dreams on the Line as St. Cloud and Harmony Clash in 22nd Soldier City Classic

By: J. Daniel Pearson

As the 2026 regular season winds down, St. Cloud and Harmony take center stage this week as they battle for the Brass Bugle trophy in the 22^nd edition of the Soldier City Classic. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at “The Ranch.”

The game, a district contest, does have added significance for St. Cloud.

With a convincing 38-7 win over Tohopekaliga last Friday, the Bulldogs moved to 5-3 on the season and remain in contention for an at-large playoff berth. Harmony manhandled Celebration last week for their second victory of the season and would like nothing better than to spoil the Bulldogs playoff chances.

“We’ve not had the season that we had hoped for in year one and on paper, we’re the decided underdogs,” Tyler Anderson, who is in the first year of his second stint as Longhorns head coach, said. “But rivalry games are different and this is our biggest rival. Our kids will be ready to battle.”

Whether they have enough firepower to pull the upset, remains the question.

Despite losing star DB/WR Jayden Taylor-Irons to injury for the season, St. Cloud expects starting running back Michael Cuyler to return from injury. Its defense played extremely well against Tohopekaliga last week, limiting the Tigers offense to just 17 first-half yards.

Harmony has had its troubles on offense this year. They scored a 27-0 win over Celebration (game called just prior to halftime because of a severe lightning storm), but the Longhorns are averaging just 4.9 points per game in their six losses.

Although St. Cloud has gotten the better of the intense rivalry of late (three straight wins and six of the last seven) and a young Harmony team has struggled this year, don’t talk to Bulldogs coach Mike Short about being a favorite.

“The cliché that you can throw the records out the window may be over-used, but it’s absolutely true when it comes to this game,” Short said. “Regardless of the talent level in any given year, the intensity level of this rivalry is off the charts. Harmony may not have had the season they wanted, but we know we are going to get their best this week. The intensity level of this game is always off the charts.”

The all-time series record was tied 9-9 after the Longhorns last win (44-0) in 2022, but three straight Bulldog victories – including a 14-7 decision last year – has pushed the series record in St. Cloud’s favor, 12-9.

Close games, electric moments and intense battles have been a trademark of the series.

Eight times previously, a single score determined the game’s outcome, including a 31-30 St. Cloud win in 2021 that became one of the most talked about contests in Osceola County football history. The Bulldogs came into that game with a 2-6 record and were averaging just over six points a game; while the Longhorns were 5-3 and in playoff contention.

St. Cloud jumped out to a 24-7 lead late in the first half, only to see Harmony stage a comeback. A Tyler Emans’ touchdown with under two minutes to go but the margin to one, but a botched extra point kept the Bulldogs ahead. After failing to recover an on-sides kick, the Longhorns defense forced a three-and-out but a 54-yard punt by Anthony Castellucci pinned Harmony back at its own 10 with 15 seconds to go to insure the win.

Adding to the intrigue of this year’s game is the return of Anderson as Harmony’s head coach. Anderson started the Harmony program in 2005 (they did not play the Bulldogs in that inaugural season) and went on to post a 3-0 record against St. Cloud including a 68-7 win in 2006 and a 49-0 victory during a 10-3 season in 2007.

“There are many factors that go into making a great rivalry,” former St. Cloud coach and current Athletics Director Bryan Smart said. “And the Soldier City Classic has them all.” When Harmony opened, it siphoned off most of its students from St. Cloud. Through the years, the players on both sides grew up playing youth sports with and against each other. Even if you are having a bad season, a win in this game makes the year a whole lot more tolerable,” Smart added.

All eight other public county schools are in action this week.

The Poinciana Eagles (5-3, 3-1) were hoping that their upcoming Friday night game with George Jenkins (6-2,3-1) would have been for its first district championship in school history, But those hopes were dashed on Monday when the Eagles dropped a hard-fought 22-13 decision to Haines City (5-3, 4-0); putting the Hornets in first control of the district race.

Still, Taron Mallard’s team has a lot to play for. A victory over Jenkins would guarantee a winning record and would clinch second place in the district. It would also keep alive the school’s hopes for seven win season – which was achieved just two other times in the school’s history.

Surprisingly, Osceola (3-6 overall, 1-4 and fifth place in 5A, District 6) is still in playoff contention as it ends its regular season by traveling to Bartow (5-3. 2-2). Despite a 20-17 loss to Sebring last week, the Kowboys are still ranked fourth in their region and a win over Bartow would almost guarantee Osceola one of the four “at-large” playoff bids available in Region 2.

The winners of each district is guaranteed one of the four playoff spots, with the other four spots determined by the school’s ranking in MaxPreps. Osceola is ranked behind #2 Sebring and #1 Lakeland in its district and only behind District 5 leader Oviedo.

In other action, Tohopekaliga (4-4, 1-2) hosts Lake Nona (7-1, 3-0) in the 6A, District 5 final for both teams. The Lions, with wins over Harmony, St. Cloud, and Gateway, have already clinched the district title. Meanwhile, the Gateway Panthers (6-2, 2-2) have a chance to finish with eight regular season wins as they travel to Cypress Creek (2-6) this week and host Celebration next Friday in a pair of non-district contests. Rounding out the county schedule, the Storm (1-7, 0-2) plays at Horizon (2-5, 0-2) in a 6A, District 7 game; while Liberty (1-7. 1-1) hosts 3A, District 7 leader Tenoroc (5-3, 2-0) at 7 p.m.

SOLDIER CITY CLASSIC HISTORY

St. Cloud Leads Harmony, 12-9

2025: St. Cloud, 14-7

2024: St. Cloud, 29-8

2023: St. Cloud, 21-0

2022: Harmony, 44-0

2021: St. Cloud, 31-30

2020: St. Cloud, 21-17

2019: St. Cloud, 48-7

2018: Harmony, 56-9

2017: Harmony, 35-33

2016: St. Cloud, 39-8