By: J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola
Published 10/4/2025
Quarterback Jeremiah Lattier accounted for three touchdowns as the St. Cloud Bulldogs shut out the visiting Gateway Panthers on Friday night.
“We were pretty efficient on offense and created five turnovers so it was a good night,” St. Cloud head coach Mike Short said. “Give Gateway a ton of credit, they fought hard and made us work for everything.”
Despite the final score, it was not an easy win for the Bulldogs.
The Panthers controlled the ball for most of the first quarter, driving deep in St. Cloud territory twice but coming up empty on the scoreboard – turning the ball over first on a fumble and second on downs.
St. Cloud would take advantage of the later, as Lattier fired a 14-yard scoring pass to Gunner Freeman to cap a 6-play, 82-yard drive to make it 7-0 at the 11:05 mark of the third quarter.
Gateway’s second turnover proved costly.
After reaching midfield, Nydrell Thigpen’s halfback option pass was intercepted by Jaden Irons at the St. Cloud 15. Lattier would then direct a time-consuming, 17-play, 85-yard drive capped off by a touchdown pass to Stacy Taylor on a fourth and 16 play from the 18. Lattier was masterful on the drive, converting four, fourth-down plays, including the scoring pass to Taylor with 40 seconds remaining in the half.
Lattier would put the game out of reach on St. Cloud’s first possession of the second half – capping off another lengthy drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. He would finish the game 18 of 26 for 257 yards. Taylor caught seven for 129 yards.
Although underdogs in the game, the Panthers certainly had their chances to keep the game close. Four times they were inside enemy territory, including two trips to the red zone, only to see drives end on four turnovers.
A fifth turnover came on a muffed punt in the fourth quarter led to St. Cloud’s final score – a five-yard pass from back-up quarterback Tyler Lambert to Bryce Williams.
“It’s been the same story all year, we move the ball but then fumble, throw a pick or get out of position and give up a big play on defense,” Marlin Roberts said. “We’re certainly getting the effort and it’s hard to get mad when we are playing so many freshmen and sophomores, but it is frustrating.”
Thigpen, who has been the Panthers best player all season, had a huge game. The sophomore compiled his seventh career 100-yard rushing game, gaining 158 yards on 24 totes. Much of his yardage came after contact. as St. Cloud was stacking the box on defense.
St. Cloud (5-2, 1-0) reaches its bye week before returning to action for a key district game against Tohopekaliga (3-3, 1-0) on Oct. 17. “We have the typical bumps and bruises every team has after seven games, so the rest will be good for us,” Short said.
Gateway (2-5) travels to Lake Placid (2-3) next week.
