Osceola will have to wait for that second state football championship as the Kowboys fell to undefeated West Boca, 26-7, Friday afternoon in the FHSAA Class 6A State Championship game at Pitbull Stadium on the Florida International University campus.
The Kowboys (12-3) got off to a rough start in the game. After a quick three-and-out, the Bulls took over on their own 40. On their second play from scrimmage, Kyle Andrews slipped behind the Osceola secondary and QB Mason Mallory dropped a perfect pass on him for a 60-yard score and a 7-0 lead, Trouble would ensure on Osceola’s next possession, as Henry Wolff’s punt was blocked and West Boca took over on the seven. Still, the Osceola defense was able to hold them out of the end zone. John Fanfare’s 23-yard field goal pushed the lead to 10-0.
Although it fell behind by two scores in the first seven minutes of the game, the Kowboys would still make a game of it.
The defense came up with three defensive stops and with time winding down in the second quarter, Camren West would direct a nine-play, 64-yard touchdown drive to cut the lead to 10-7. West came up with the key play, keeping the ball on a read-option, breaking a tackle at the line and racing 48 yards down to the Boca 20. Osceola pounded the ball inside on seven straight plays, with Taevion Swint eventually carrying it over for the score.
Osceola would have a chance to tie it before halftime.
After a Ja’Mario Bradford interception, Swint picked up 22 yards for one first down and Elijah Hickson ran for another. But the drive would stall on an Osceola holding penalty and Adrian Gonzalez’s 42-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide left and West Boca took the three-point lead into the locker room.
“We felt pretty good at the half,” Pinellas said. “Although we spotted them 10 on the long pass and the punt, we were only down by three and I certainly felt we had gained the momentum.”
A shanked punt changed that midway through the third quarter.
Taking over on the Osceola 33 following the punt, West Boca moved quickly down to the Osceola 1 , where they had a first goal. Still Osceola’s defense rose to the occasion. They stuffed a run, forced an incompletion and Elijah Melendez then sacked Trey Moran for a seven-yard loss. West Boca had to settle for a chip shot field goal and a 13-7 lead.
But the Kowboys’ offensive woes would continue. They failed to pick up a first down on its next possession and another short punt into the wind traveled just 27 yards. On the Bulls first play from scrimmage, Mallory placed a perfect pass on target to Hanniford. The Osceola defenders collided and Hanniford went 48 yards for a score. “Defensively, we were in pretty good position,” Pinellas said,. “But insterad of playing the ball we were playing the man. Their receiver high-pointed the ball and when he came down, both our defenders were on the ground.”
Fanfare missed the extra point, but Hanniford’s touchdown extended the lead to 19-7.
Osceola’s defense again gave the Kowboys a chance to get back into the game, but on their two ensuing drives stalled on huge quarterback sacks by Grant Edmond and Jamar Thompson.
The Kowboys still had one last chance to get back into the game, as Osceola’s punt pinned West Boca back inside its one five with under four minutes to go. Needing a quick stop, Osceola stuffed two runs but on a third and six. With Osceola in press coverage, Trey Moran rolled to his right and lofted a ball to Hanniford. The junior WR made the catch and the play went for 93 yards for a touchdown to salt the game away.
Statistically it was a tough loss for the Kowboys. 191 of West Boca’s 300 yards came on just three plays. Osceola ran for 200 yards, controlled possession time and had more first downs. Still, it was Osceola’s inability to sustain drives and the breakdown in the kicking game that cost them a chance at their second state championship. West Boca scored 13 points off the blocked kick and two short punts. West was 0 for six passing and was sacked four times in the loss.
“Frustrating game, frustrating loss, but I am so proud of this team, the effort they gave and the effort they gave us all year,” Pinellas said. “They came to work everyday and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for.,”
The loss marked the end of several outstanding high school careers, including Swint — who finished with 117 yards on 30 carries. The UCF commit finishes his senior season with 1900 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns in 14 games.
