By: J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola
Published: August 30, 2025
A special team’s gaffe, penalties, three quarterback sacks and a turnover were too much to overcome on Friday night as the Osceola Kowboys (1-1) dropped a 17-12 decision to the Lake Mary Rams (2-0) in a rematch of two state semifinalists from a year ago.
The Kowboys appeared to have the game well in hand, scoring two touchdowns on their first two possessions to take a 12-0 lead on a pair of Jeff Sinophat touchdown runs.
Osceola had an excellent opportunity to extend that lead on its next possession, when it had a first and 10 on the Rams 15. But they would turn the ball over on downs following a penalty, incompletion and bad snap from center on fourth down.
Up until that point, Osceola seemed to be in total charge, running 23 plays to Lake Mary’s six and outgaining them in total offense 184-3.
But the momentum would change quickly. Rams star QB Noah Grubbs directed a 15-play of his own and Tyler Taub’s booted a 20-yard field goal at the buzzer as Lake Mary cut the lead to 12-3 at the half.
“Statistically we may have dominated but I was not pleased with everything I saw in the first half,” Osceola coach Eric Pinellas said. “Too many mistakes, too many penalties, too many missed opportunities. We had a chance to go up 18 or 20-0 at the half and instead it was a nine-point game.”
In Pinellas was not happy with the first half, we really would not like the final two stanzas. A botched second half opening kickoff was returned 65 yards for a touchdown by Josh Robinson and suddenly it was a 12-10 game.
“The kick was supposed to go left and not sure, but I think it went off the side of the kicker’s foot to the right. We were defending left and he (Robinson) only had to break one tackle.”
Osceola kept the ball for six minutes on its first drive of the third period, but came up empty by turning the ball over on downs when quarterback Amaree Rutland was sacked. Lake Mary took over on its own 33 and needed five plays to take the lead. Terrence Dixon was the star of the drive, catching three passes from Grubbs – including a 17-yard touchdown. The Rams were also aided by a 15-yard excessive celebration penalty by the Kowboys following a sack.
The Kowboys would touch the ball just two more times in the game, with one drive ending on a sack/fumble Rutland and the final touch ending on two incomplete passes.
That final drive, which started on Osceola’s five-yard line with under five minutes to go, was particularly frustrating for Pinellas. “We were way too lackadaisical with the play calls, lining up and getting the snaps off. Part of that was the inexperience of the quarterback, but as head coach, those mistakes are on me. We need to be more cognizant of the clock.”
Osceola’s offense, which netted under 100 yards in the second half, was hampered when starters Sinophat and Alijah Jenkins left the game with injuries. Jenkins would return but the Sinophat did not.
The Kowboys will have to rebound in a hurry. They face another 2024 playoff team next week on the road – taking on Winter Haven. The Blue Devils are 2-0 and have outscored their opposition 81-0 to start the season.
In other action around the county, Tohopekaliga and St. Cloud each moved to 2-0 on the season as the Tigers won 42-0 at Lyman and the Bulldogs were impressive in a 41-0 win over Pine Ridge. Don Simon got his first win since returning to Harmony – beating Poinciana, 55-20. Astronaut was too much for Gateway, taking a 21-0 decision and Winter Springs moved to 2-0 with a 17-3 win over Celebration.
