By:  J. Daniel Pearson

After sitting out a two-hour and 30 minute lightning delay, Osceola finally got its 2024 season underway Friday night with a convincing 21-7 win over Treasure Coast at Markus Paul Stadium.

It was a game Osceola dominated from start to finish, with only a fumble returned 93-yards for score marring an otherwise outstanding performance.  “For a first game, I would give it a solid ‘B’ or ‘B+’,” Osceola Head Coach Eric Pinellas said.  “We ran the ball well for the most part and our defense came out and made a statement.  Obviously, that fumble was a big play for them, but we didn’t give up anything defensively and that was really encouraging.”

Osceola wasted little time to forge a lead.  

Taking the opening kickoff, Osceola moved 80 yards on six plays – taking a 6-0 lead on Jeff Sinophant’s 47-yard touchdown run.  Osceola’s defense would then force a quick three and out and when Treasure Coast’s ensuing punt traveled just 10 yards it set Osceola up in plus territory.  On its third play of the series, Taevion Swint raced 36-yards for a score and a 14-0 lead.

Following a Jakari Watson interception, Swint scored again but the play was nullified by a holding penalty.  It was the first of several offensive errors that stalled a pair of drives as the half ended with Osceola up by two scores.

The Kowboys defense would keep Treasure Coast in check the entire game.  Osceola limited the Titans to just 18 total offensive yards on its three first-half possessions to set the tone for the entire game.  

After holding Treasure Coast to a single first down to open the second half, Osceola appeared headed for a three-score lead, but Swint took a hard hit and fumbled inside the 10.  Dazerick White picked up the loose ball and raced 93 yards for a score.  The Larry Austin conversion cut the lead Osceola lead to 14-7 with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter.

But Osceola’s ground-and-pound offense would then put the game away.  Starting from its own 20, the Kowboys moved 80 yards on 19 plays, with Swint capping the drive with a 2-yard run.  The drive lasted more than 12 minutes and took off the final minutes of third quarter and all but two minutes of the fourth quarter.

Treasure Coast got the ball back one more time, but could not move the ball as Osceola recorded two more sacks and forced a punt.  For the contest, the Titans gained just 31 total yards and one first down on five possessions.  Osceola gained 274 yards rushing on 35 carries. Sinophant had 111 yards on 11 carries; Swint chipped in 84 yards on 14 totes.

With the win, Osceola avenged a pair of losses to Treasure Coast last year and will take a 1-0 record into next week’s road game with powerhouse Lake Mary, a 49-20 winner over Cardinal Gibbons on Friday night.  Lake Mary is currently ranked 18th across all classifications in Florida, according to MaxPreps.

“It’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us,” Pinellas said.  “They got a Division-1 quarterback in Noah Grubbs and an outstanding offense.  We will need to run the ball effectively next week and limit his opportunities.”

Grubb, a Notre Dame commit, threw for 49 touchdowns last year in leading Lake Mary to a 10-2record as a sophomore.