By: J. Daniel Pearson
Come playoff time for the last decade-plus, the Osceola Kowboys rallying cry has been “One More Monday.” It meant that with each playoff win, Osceola would have another week to play football starting with the Monday practice.
While the Kowboys (7-4) got their wish on “Another Monday” with Friday’s thrilling 20-15 come-from-behind win over Durant, if they want see “Another Monday” a formidable obstacle will stand in their way when they face 10-1 South Lake in a 6A, Region 2 semifinal on Friday night.
“We always play a tough schedule year-in and year-out so Friday will be nothing new for us,” Coach Eric Pinellas said. “But they are a very solid ball club on offense, defense and special teams. We continue to be a really banged up football team so we will need to play pretty much mistake free football against them.”
The Eagles, which advanced to the game with a nail-biting 38-37 triple overtime win over Plant on Friday are a balanced team, gaining 51.7% of their total offense via the run and 48.3% from the pass.
Pulling the strings is junior quarterback Tre Kelly, who has completed 60.4% of his passes this season for 2141 yards, 22 touchdowns and just four picks. He has two big targets in 6’-2” Keydrick Powell (60 receptions, 1088 yards and 9 touchdowns) and 6’-6” Keydrick Powell (25-284-9). That big target has been extremely effective near the goal line.
South Lake also runs the ball extremely well, with Malik Holman their main weapon. Holman is a powerful back who runs low to the ground and has amassed 1476 yards and nine touchdowns; while averaging 9.4 yards a carry. QB Kelly is a huge threat on the goal line with a team-leading 13 rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, the Eagles have few holes.
Its defensive line, led by stand-up end Jesse Baker (89 tackles, 32 TFL, 19 quarterback sacks), has applied tremendous pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season. Linebackers Chase Coello and Tyson Williams are active linebackers, who have a combined 234 total tackles – including 32 for loss. It secondary has been opportunistic. Led by Ahvioume Scott’s five interceptions, the secondary has 18 picks this season.
South Lake’s special teams, are in short “special.” Powell has averaged an astonishing 40 yards per kickoff return; while Tyger Darden returns punts at a 16.9 yards per attempt clip. Pinellas calls South Lake kicker Chris McKenna “the best I have seen in the area this year.” McKenna has scored 70 points this season, hitting 43 of 44 extra points and 9 of 12 field goals with a long of 47. He averages a hefty 43.4 yards per punt and has driven 40 of 72 kickoffs out of endzone.
An already banged Kowboys up team that has saw 12 starters or key reserves injured or lost for the season, got more bad news when offensive guard Jaeden Bellamy and linebacker Nathaniel Barnett were hurt against Durant. Both will miss Friday’s game.
Pinellas did get some good news when he learned running back Jaxson Hardnett has been cleared to play this week. A big part of the Kowboys offense early in the season, Hardnett has missed the last four games with a severely sprained ankle.
Based on rankings, records and the health of its players, Osceola will go into the game as significant underdogs to the Eagles. Still Eagles coach Brad Lord is taking nothing for granted. “Osceola is well coached and a playoff juggernaut. They are very talented and physical. We are very honored to play such an established program that is a perennial championship contender. “
Pinellas countered by saying his team would have to play “mistake free football” to come out on top. “It’s time of the year when everyone is hurt but we still have to lay it on the line,” he says. “The only important thing is that when our players wake up on Saturday morning, I want them to be able to say, we left in on the field and gave everything we have. If we can do that, we can live with the result.”
Kickoff is 7 p.m. The winner faces the victor of the Viera (7-4) at Armwood (11-0) game in a regional final.
