Kowboys Secure 14th Straight Victory in "The Game" with Dominant 56-6 Win Over St. Cloud Bulldogs

By: J. Daniel Pearson

In Latin it’s called maior, citius, fortius.

In English it’s bigger, faster, stronger and that was certainly an accurate description of Osceola’s football team Friday night, as they completely dismantled St. Cloud, 56-6, in the 101^st playing of the “The Game” – the fifth oldest rivalry in Florida high school football history.

It was the 14^th straight time (20^th if you count a 41-35 loss in 2010 that was later forfeited) that Osceola came out on top in the rivalry. The Kowboys have now won the last 14 by an average of 33.6 points and lead the all-time series, 70-27-4. This one got out of hand early.

Taevion Swint raced 85-yards for a touchdown on the game’s second play and after a quick three-and-out, the Kowboys needed just three more plays to make it 14-0 as Jeff Sinophat broke off a 44-yard run and Elijah Hickson followed with a 14-yard touchdown run.

Swint (2 carries -135 yards-2 scores) upped the lead to 21-0 on Osceola’s next possession, this time scoring from 49 yards out.

St. Cloud was able to slow the Osceola machine on its next possession as Logan King capped a six-play, 94-yard drive with a 34-yard scoring pass to Santiago Ochoa. But any hopes for Bulldogs comeback where quickly dashed with Jakari Watson returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.

Watson returned a punt for a touchdown on the next change of possessions, but the 65-yard return was called back for a hold. Still Camren West needed just two plays to get Osceola in the end zone again — hitting Alijah Jenkins on a stop-and-go pattern for 39 yards and a 35-6 lead.

Osceola started inserting its reserves, but still managed to up the lead to 49-6 at the half by tacking on two late second quarter touchdowns. With the mandatory running clock in place starting in the second half, the Kowboys managed one more touchdown by sophomore Javontay Burnett (13-69 yards) on their two possessions.

“Happy to get out here with a win and happy we avoided any injuries,” Osceola coach Eric Pinellas said. “I thought we ran the ball really well tonight, I thought our offensive line played well, and our special teams were great, but I was not happy with the number of penalties.”

The Kowboys finished the game with 298 yards rushing on 30 carries. Of those, 200 came in the first quarter on just six carries. Watson had 127 yards on two returns and kicker Adrian Gonzales was 8 for 8 on extra points and put all nine of his kickoffs out of the end zone. Defensively, Osceola came up with four sacks and a pair of turnovers. Osceola was called for 14 penalties for 140 yards in the game.

King finished the contest 13 for 28 for 213 and one score. Alex Springs (5-95), TJ Griffin (3-45) and Ochoa (2-34) were his leading receivers. ”Not a lot of positives tonight, but I am absolutely proud about how hard this team played and how they never gave up,” St. Cloud coach Mike Short said. “We will regroup and get ready to play a good Merritt Island team next week.”

In other action involving Osceola County schools, Poinciana (3-1) dropped its first game of the season to powerful Evans, 49-27. Gateway (2-2) won their second straight over Lake Region, 19-0; Harmony (1-3) beat Bayside (17-7) and Winter Springs defeated Liberty , 36-0.

Score by Quarters