By:  J. Daniel Pearson

In one of the most thrilling finishes of the season, the Osceola Kowboys stormed back with two late touchdowns  in the last 5 minutes of the game at Markus Paul Stadium on Henry Ramsey Field to shock Durant 20–15 and punch their ticket to the 7A Region Semifinals.

Trailing 15-6 late in the game, Osceola rallied for two touchdowns in the final 4:54 of the game for an improbable 20-15 come from behind playoff win over Durant.  The victory moves the Kowboys to 7-4 on the season and sets up Region 2, Class 6A semifinal game against Clermont’s South Lake (10-1); who also needed to rally for a 38-37 triple overtime win over Plant.

Down by 12 with time ticking away, Amaree Rutland led Osceola on 10-play, 65-yard drive that was capped by a Jeff Sinophat run with just 4:54 remaining.  Osceola had to overcome a sack, a holding penalty and a false start on the drive. Rutland and Sinophat would save Osceola’s season, hooking up back-to-back 12-yard passes – the second coming with on a fourth and eight play during that touchdown drive.

Still, Osceola would need help to win the game –with that assistance coming from a bizarre call by Cougars coach Claybo Varnum.  After the touchdown, Osceola elected to kick the ball deep and hope its defense could force a quick three-and-out.  That part worked to perfection forcing a fourth and two. Durant lined up in punt formation and kicker Ryan Porter tried to run for a first down after taking the deep snap.  He was smothered on his own 14-yard line as Osceola took over on downs.

“I would never criticize another coach’s call because if the play had worked they could of ran out the clock and he would be labeled a genius,” Pinellas said of the call.  “But in my mind, I thought there was no way they would try the fake.  Even with a halfway decent punt to midfield, we would have to go 50 or 60 yards in less than two minutes and with only one timeout.   Credit my assistant coaches, they were screaming to watch the fake.”

After the turnover on downs, a Durant offside and a eight-yard run by Alijah Jenkins gave Osceola a first and goal inside the five.  Rutland would score on a 1-yard plunge one play later for the go-ahead score.

A decent kickoff return to the 35, followed by a 15-yard personal foul horse collar penalty that negated an Osceola sack, fumble recovery and return for touchdown gave Durant one more shot from midfield.  But Ja’mario Bradford intercepted quarterback Sam Themar one play later to end the game.

Although they fumbled away the opening kickoff, Osceola would take a 6-0 lead on its second possession – driving 80 yards on nine plays.  Jeff Sinophat capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run and also had the key play on the drive with a 31-yard reception.

But Osceola would struggle offensively for the next two and one-half quarters.  Themar gave the Cougars a 7-6 lead early in the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Cannon.

Themar would then put Osceola behind the eight-ball with a 37-yard scoring pass to King Rivera with 10:48 remaining in the game.   “Give them some credit, they came in with  a solid game plan and executed it,” Pinellas said of Durant—who came into the contest with a near 3 to 1 rush to pass ratio (278-101) but ended up throwing the ball a season-high 30 times.  “He (Themar) is a good quarterback and Rivera is an exceptional athlete.  They knew our run defense was pretty good, so it made sense to get the ball out quickly and often to Rivera.”

Rivera caught 15 of Themar’s 30 attempts for 157-yards.

Although he paid compliments to Durant and its players, Pinellas was less than complimentary to the officials.  Two Osceola touchdowns were called back on penalties, and two other holding calls stopped potential scoring drives.  “We have I-Pads on the sideline and looked at those holding penalties,” Pinellas said.  “Putting it diplomatically, let’s just say I vehemently disagreed with all three of them.”

Both teams were hurt by the penalties.  Osceola was flagged seven times for 70 yards; while Durant was whistled 13 times for 61 yards.

In other county playoff action, Lake Nona eliminated St. Cloud, 29-0.