Of the eight county squads, six play each other in three inter-county contests, Poinciana has its Homecoming game, and Tohopekaliga is in its bye week. Here’s a preview of Friday’s four games, all in Osceola County:
Liberty (0-3) at Osceola (2-1): If the Chargers are going to get their first win they’ll have to find a way to bottle up the Kowboys’ potent running attack — the stable of runners includes QB Davon Wells and backs DeWayne McGee, Ja’Randy Swint and Jamison Jones — and loosen up an offense that’s scored six points in two weeks, but QB John Smith is improving.
St. Cloud (3-0) at Celebration (1-2): Bulldogs coming off a shutout win over Tohopekaliga, and can use another big defensive effort. Storm QB Will Bohn threw a pair of touchdown passes in loss to Osceola last week, and will look to air it out again this week, meaning St. Cloud QB Garhett King will have to keep pace. The game features other weapons on both sides (SC RBs Ronny Ramos and Patrick Forsythe, and Romeo Medina and Koron Perrin coming from the slot, CHS RB Lee Smith and WR Anthony Gonzalez).
Harmony (0-3) at Gateway (0-3): The fact these two playoff teams from a year ago are both looking for their first wins in their fourth game speaks more about their tough schedules. So which team will get bigger plays from its offense, led by Longhorns QB Keaghan Black and Panthers RB Phillip Bangura?
Tenoroc (0-4) at Poinciana (1-2): The Titans, who have been outscored 105-6, are what you expect out of a Homecoming opponent for the Eagles, who come off their bye week. Poinciana will look to get big plays from a defense led by LB Quaylen Hill and put the offense in position to succeed, so that QB Justin Carpenter can fire passes to his targets Ligarrius Coachman, Treyvion Gunter and Anthony Holtham.
