St. Cloud Bulldogs Dominate Lake Minneola Hawks 55-6, Cap Record-Setting Season at 8-2

By: J. Daniel Pearson

Heading into Friday night’s season finale, St. Cloud coach Mike Short said he had three goals for his team. Win, put on a show for the Bulldog fans that have supported the team all season long, and be far enough ahead to give his reserve seniors a chance to see meaningful snaps in the game.

Consider all three boxes checked.

The Bulldogs scored first and often, dominated in all three phases of game, and lit up the scoreboard for the fans, and was able to empty the bench in the second half during a 55-6 win over Lake Minneola.

In winning eight regular season games for the first time since 2008, the Bulldogs (8-2) also set several individual records as sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Lattier broke the school’s all-time single season passing record for yards; while Bryce Williams set a new standard with nine interceptions in a year.

“If you would have told me at the beginning of the season we would finish 8-2, win a district championship and go to the playoffs, I would have taken it in a heartbeat,” Short said. “This team and this group of seniors have worked so hard, they are a special group.”

St. Cloud got off to a fast start in the game, as they took the opening kickoff and needed just four plays to drive 53 yards with Lattier finding Stacy Taylor in the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown pass. On their third possession, the Dogs upped the lead to 14-0 on a Bryce Williams 29-yard pass from Lattier.

A turnover and 27-yard touchdown run by Cameron Dalton made it 20-0 and senior offensive lineman Shawn Eplin – playing fullback in short yardage situation – scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run.

Lake Minneola finally got on the board, but not against the St. Cloud defense. Williams had set up the Bulldogs up in scoring position when he returned a punt 64 yards down to the Hawks 7. But on the very next play, Draiden Love-Webb picked off a Lattier floater in the left corner of the end zone and raced 101 yards in the other direction for a touchdown.

It would be the lone highlight of the night for the Hawks.

Lattier would quickly tack on two more touchdown passes to Santiago Ochoa (28 yards) and Williams (7 yards) before intermission to push the lead to 41-6 at intermission and institute the running clock for the entire second half under the FHSAA mandated “Mercy Rule.”

For the game, Lattier was 18 of 21 for 278 yards and five touchdowns. Williams caught three for 56 and two scores, Ochoa had five receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for one; while Stacy Taylor caught four for 50 and a score.

The defense was almost as impressive. It forced three turnovers and held the Hawks to just 52 yards of total offense and registered eight tackles behind the line. About the only negative on the night were penalties, as St. Cloud was whistled for 15 infractions for 130 yards.

St. Cloud will have the week off before preparing for the first round of the FHSAA Class 7A Playoffs with a regional quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 14. If the current rankings hold, the fourth seeded Bulldogs would travel to third seeded Dr. Phillips (7-3). But the Panthers dropped a 28-17 decision to West Orange last week, and if the positions flip – St. Cloud would host the first-round game.

“No idea what will happen with the rankings,” Short added. “But we would love to have it at home, where we have been undefeated this year (6-0).”

In other action on Friday night, Osceola dropped a 28-18 decision to St. Petersburg’s Lakewood (9-1) to finish its regular season at 6-4. The Kowboys will see post-season action as 6A, District 5 champions. Tohopekaliga (5-5) finished at .500 with a thrilling 30-28 road win over Avon Park; as did Harmony (5-5) with a 37-27 win over Colonial. On Thursday, Gateway (5-5) defeated Celebration (1-9), 33-15; while Poinciana (3-7) dropped a 24-6 decision to Avon Park and Liberty (0-10) finished winless in a 42-20 loss to Lake Buena Vista.

Scoring Summary

Lake Minneola 0 6 0 0 –6

St. Cloud 14 20 7 14-55

First Quarter

SC: Stacy Taylor 15 pass from Jeremiah Lattier (Jermidave Velez-Santos Kick)

SC: Bryce Williams 29 Pass from Lattier (Velez-Santos kick)

Second Quarter

SC: Cameron Dalton 27 Run (Kick Failed)

SC: Shawn Eplin 1 run (Velez-Santos kick)

LM: Draiden Love-Webb 101 Interception return (Kick Failed)

SC: Santiago Ochoa 28 Pass from Lattier (Velez-Santos kick)

SC: Williams 7 pass from Lattier (Velez-Santos kick)