By:  J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola

As the final third of the season begins, county teams hoping to stay in contention for the FHSAA State playoff spots will find themselves in big games on Friday night.

Coming off a well-timed bye week, Poinciana (4-2, 2-0) controls its own destiny in 6A, D9 when it hosts Davenport (1-5, 0-2).

Last week’s bye could not have come at a better time for the Eagles, according to head coach Taron Mallard.  “Normally you don’t like a bye week after a big win, but we were a really beat up football team,” he said.  “After the Winter Haven game our guys gave three cheers for the schedule makers because they knew they needed a few says off.”

The Winter Haven game was a common opponent for both teams, with the Eagles winning their matchup; while the Blue Devils took a 27-0 win over Davenport.  Still Mallard says his team will continue to take it one game at a time and is not looking past the Broncos.  “We don’t have the track record or pedigree to take any opponent lightly,” Mallard says.  “Our mindset is that every week that we need to focus and prepare for a dogfight.”

With Gateway’s loss to St. Cloud last week, the Panthers (5-1, 1-1) will host Tohopekaliga (4-2, 1-0) in a key 6A, District 5 matchup.  Already owning a victory over St. Cloud, Lake Nona (5-1, 1-0) has assumed the role of district favorite, but a Tiger win would keep them tied for the district lead.

Toho lost a 35-14 non-district decision to a talented New Smyrna (5-1) team on Friday,  Too many mistakes, including four interceptions, proved to be fatal for the Tigers in that game as NSB scored two touchdowns just seconds apart in both the first and third quarters.

Gateway’s loss to St. Cloud was equally frustrating (read game story here:  (Bulldogs Hold Off Gateway in Dramatic 28-21 District Showdown Thriller ) for head coach Marlin Roberts   “It was a tough loss but I was extremely proud of how hard we fought the whole game,” the veteran coach said after suffering its first loss of the season.  “We still have a lot to play for and we have a really young team, so it’s going to be important them to focus on the game coming up and not what happened last week.”

Although scheduled to play a non-district game against Windermere (4-2), St. Cloud head coach Michael Short says the game is critically important to his team.  According to MaxPreps, Windermere is ranked ahead of St. Cloud – so a Bulldog win would certainly boost their playoff resume.

“You never know how things are going to play out, but last week I felt we might have to win out if Lake Nona wins the district and I still feel that way.  Windermere (4-2) is coming off back-to-back 10-0 seasons and is off to another good start this year.  We are going to have our hands full.”

Led by quarterback Dean Moore (64.7%, 1200 yards, 16 TDs, 2 INT), Windermere is a pass-first offense but also features a really solid running back in Jabari Anderson (90.8 rush yards per game, 8 TD).  The Wolves average 34 points per game.

Osceola (2-5, 0-2) hosts Auburndale (4-2, 0-2) in a game where both teams will be looking for their first 5A, District 6 win.  Kowboys head coach Eric Pinellas said his defense played well enough to win in a 13-0 non-district setback to Dr. Phillips, but had two touchdowns called back by penalty and felt that three missed field goals and a couple of questionable calls were the deciding factor in the game.

Between offensive line issues, the team’s youth and an inordinate amount of injuries suffered to starters, the Kowboys have simply had trouble scoring points this year.  The team has tallied just 22 points in their last four games.

Harmony (1-5, 0-2) returns after its bye week to host district leader Lake Nona (5-1.1-0). Although the young Longhorns have struggled both offensively and defensively this year, DL Gerald Pifer (12 TFL, 2 QS), LB Jackson Munns (23 tackles. 7 TFL) and DB Rylan Rogers (4 PD, 1 INT) are enjoying solid seasons.

Celebration (1-5, 0-1) got its first win of the season, a 7-0 non-district victory Liberty (1-5, 1-0).  Both teams return to action this week in district play.  The Storm travel to Ocoee (3-3, 1-0) to take on the Knights in a 6A, D7 game; while the Chargers hit the road to face Mulberry (3-4, 1-1) in a 3A, D7 tilt.

Also returning to action this week after a bye is Nova Lakes.  The Rattlers (2-4) are playing an independent schedule for their first two years of competition and will travel to Oak Ridge (2-4).

Week 8 – October 9

All Games 7 p.m.

Auburndale at Osceola*

Windermere at St. Cloud

Tohopekaliga at Gateway*

Ocoee at Celebration*

Mulberry at Liberty*

Lake Nona at Harmony*

Nova Lakes at Oak Ridge

Davenport at Poinciana*