By: J. Daniel Pearson
The 2025 high school football season in Osceola County is packed with excitement, and while the historic Osceola–St. Cloud matchup has been played over 100 times and continues to stir pride among fans, it’s the Soldier City Classic between St. Cloud and Harmony that tops this year’s list of can’t-miss games, embodying tradition, passion, and community pride.
Our rankings:
#1 Soldier City Classic
Harmony at St. Cloud
Oct. 17 – 7 p.m.
When it comes to rivalries, this one has it all.
When Harmony opened a couple of decades ago, most of their first graduating class came from St. Cloud High – forming a natural bond between the two schools. Over the years, almost all Harmony-zoned kids grew up playing youth sports in St. Cloud—adding to the closeness of the student body.
Regardless of records, the game has easily become one of the most heavily attended games on the county’s high school football calendar. Add in an intense, close series (St. Cloud has won the last two games to take a narrow 11-9 lead in the all-time series); along with the fact these two schools usually go neck-and-neck for the OBC All-Sports and All-Academic trophies and you have the makings of a great rivalry.
“The athletes from both schools grew up playing in the same youth sports programs. Everyone is friends with everyone else – except for one night of the year,” St. Cloud Athletics Director Bryan Smart said. “We may have play Osceola 100 times, but this one just means more.”
The last three games have been routs, with St. Cloud outscoring Harmony by a combined 50-8 in 2023-24 and the Longhorns blasting the Bulldogs 44-0 in 2022; but there have also been many close games – including a 31-30 come-from-behind win that became an “instant classic” in county history.
#2 The Game
St. Cloud at Osceola
Sept. 5 – 7 p.m.
For historical reasons alone, this game is high on our list of can’t miss games in 2025. When Osceola last hosted on the 100th anniversary of the first game in 2023, hundreds of alumni that played in this game – some from the 1950s attended.
In terms of an actual rivalry, Osceola dominance in the series has taken a lot of the luster off the rivalry. The facts are as follows– St. Cloud last won on the field in 2010 (41-35), a win they would later forfeit due to suiting up ineligible players. Osceola has won the last 14 in a row on the field, and during that streak its average margin of victory has been 33.6 points. Overall, the Kowboys lead the all-time series 70-27-4.
And while some have even suggested the game has run its course and should be discontinued, St. Cloud coach Michael Short is adamant that it will never happen under his watch. “History and tradition still does and should mean something,” Short said of the fifth oldest series in Florida. “We haven’t been competitive in the series as of late, but we are not going anywhere. Besides, when we do win the next time – and I believe we will – how much fun and celebration will there be on this side of the canal?”
#3 Lake Mary at Osceola
Aug. 22 – 7 p.m.
Although ranked number three on our list of 10 games to watch, this one may be the best game of the year –as Osceola (12-3, 2025 6A State Champion Finalist) hosts Lake Mary (12-3, 2025 State 7A Finalist). Although the teams have graduated a lot of talent, both teams are expected to reload.
Last year at Lake Mary, the teams gave us a memorable defensive struggle before the Rams pulled away with 14, fourth quarter points. Regardless of the outcome, this is a game fans will want to watch for its big-time talent alone.
#4 Tohopekaliga at St. Cloud
Oct. 24 – 7:30 p.m.
FHSAA put these two teams in the same district a few years back, it ratcheted up the level of intensity to the game. Toho dominated the Bulldogs in 2022-23 but St. Cloud came up with a 29-8 must-win in 2024 that kept their playoff hopes alive. Some additional head scratching resulted when the FHSAA final regular season rankings placed the Tigers (5-5) ahead of the Bulldogs (5-5), despite the dominant St. Cloud win – sending Tohopekaliga to the post-season.
St. Cloud leads the brief all-time series 3-2 and when new districts are announced again there is no guarantee the two schools will remain district foes. Given the proximity of the two schools and a natural rivalry forming, however, this feels like a game that should be scheduled permanently.
A potential matchup between Toho record-setting quarterback Sabby Meassick and St. Cloud transfer Jerimiah Lattier could make this a game to remember and could also potentially decide the district champion.
#5 Battle of the Boulevard
Liberty at Poinciana
Oct. 24 – 7 p.m.
This is another long-time rivalry in the county that has been sort of lopsided as the Chargers won the first 14 games of the series – outscoring the Eagles 620-186 in the process. That all began to change in 2022, when Poinciana won for the first time (56-0) and have taken the last three games – including a 47-8 decision last year.
Despite Liberty’s long win streak in the series and the many lopsided scores including the last three, this game creates a lot of buzz in the Poinciana Community and is ranked #4 on our games to watch this season.
#6 Osceola at Jones
Sept. 19 – 7 p.m.
While trying to keep our top 10 games in county, we do have to take you on the road for Osceola at Jones, our sixth ranked game not to miss in 2025. 4A Jones is a perennial state power, making numerous Final Four appearances in the last two decades – including a 14-1 season in 2025 where they lost in the state title game to American Heritage.
That perfect regular season included a 34-28 loss to Osceola in overtime where the Kowboys shredded a good Jones defense with 324 yards rushing; only to see Jones counter with 488 passing yards against a really good Osceola secondary. It was the game of the year in the county.
As with the Lake Mary-Osceola game, this is one you are going to want to see if you enjoy big-time high school football.
#7 Lake Nona at St. Cloud
Sept. 26 – 7:30 p.m.
The district opener for both teams, this contest could go a long way in establishing the favorite in the district. In the 2024 game, St. Cloud held a 10-7 lead at the half before mistakes and turnovers led to a 23-10 Lake Nona win. It was a game that St. Cloud coach Mike Short was winnable and felt got away from his team.
Both teams will be operating with new quarterbacks this season, but both believe the returning talent and an influx of talented transfers could make this a close game as each tries to get a leg up in district play.
#8 Gateway at Celebration
Oct. 31 – 7 p.m.
Based on potential and expectations of both teams, this game grabs our interest and is ranked number 8 in Games To Watch in 2025. After back-to-back 1-9 seasons, first-year head coach Chris Blanton led the Storm to a 3-7 mark last season; which included three close losses. Likewise, Gateway has struggled in recent years, but veteran coach Marlin Roberts posted a 4-6 season last year with two, one-score losses.
Both teams return young talent that received extensive and valuable playing time last season – including three freshmen that started for the Panthers. A winning season could be on the line for the winner of this Week 11 finale.
#9 Harmony at Lake Nona
Oct. 24 – 7 p.m.
We go on the road again to nearby Lake Nona for the district matchup between the Lions and Longhorns. If Head Coach Don Simon, who returns to Harmony after a two-year stint as Tohopekaliga AD, can turn the Longhorns fortunes around in his first year back, this game could have as a massive impact on the district championship race.
Simon, St. Cloud coach Mike Short and Tohopekaliga coach Anthony Paradiso all believe the Lions are probably the pre-season favorite to win the district; but all three claim the four schools are close in talent and each has a chance to come out on top.
#10 Harmony at Poinciana
Aug. 29 – 7 p.m.
This game is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, for the first time ever, Poinciana went 5-0 against county schools including a big 26-5 win over the Longhorns. The Eagles are out to prove their 8-3 record in 2024 was not a fluke; while the Longhorns want to erase both the memory of that game and its uncharacteristic 3-7 season.
Both teams will be fielding a young roster and whoever wins this Week 2 matchup should gather a lot of momentum moving forward.
