The 2020 high school football season in Osceola County may have been delayed amid the COVOD-19 pandemic, but on Friday’s season’s openers there was some explosive offense happening around the county.
It was a late start to the Varsity football season, but Coach Doug Nichols’ Kowboys came to play, and play, and play Friday night at Liberty High School, home of the Chargers.
Some noticeable adjustments, temperature screening for everyone that entered the game, and seats in the stands marked off for “no-sitting” to keep fans socially distanced.
Liberty won the toss and chose to receive, but that was it in the positive column for most of the night – definitely for the first quarter and the Kowboys said thank you three times within the first 5 min of the game.
Liberty lost control of the ball on its first drive allowing #55 John Walker, junior lineman to pick it up and run it in for 15 yards at the 12-second mark. Extra point attempt was a no-go making it 6-0 Kowboys, but 4 plays after an interception gave the Kowboys the ball on the Charger 24, #4 RB Roshaun Dudley ran for 32 yards for another quick 6, point after was good and out was 13-0 with 2 min off the clock.
Liberty continued to struggle when Osceola’s #6 Running Back Izaiah Jean-Batiste returned a punt 60 yards for a TD, and #23 Kowboys RB Malachi Rennie returned a kickoff 68 yards for a TD after the Kowboys added 2 on a safety from a bad snap on a Liberty punt attempt. For those at the game, the first quarter seemed to be endless for the Chargers who are 0-8 when facing Osceola.
In the second quarter Osceola’s #11 Jamo Jones ran for 15 yards to make it 4 running backs scoring in the game.
The Chargers made a big attempt late in the 4th quarter to end the shutout but the Kowboys defense said no on 4th down after Liberty QB John Smith attempted to float one for a TD to Chargers’ Wide Reciever #15 Mekhi Jnbaptiste, but Kowboys Defensive Back $24 Jermaine Jennings broke up the pass.
Kudos to the Chargers for fighting the entire game despite outmatched by the Cowboys.
That spelled the end of the game and the running clock, and the Kowboys got back on the bus with a win.
The Chargers will travel to Lakeland to take on George Jenkins while the 1-0 Kowboys will face Cypress Creek for the home opener.
In other games around the county:
St. Cloud wins big over Celebration at home 35-7
The St. Cloud High School #Bulldogs topped the Celebration High School #Storm 35-7 in the season opener. After Celebration tied it up in the first quarter, the Dawgs exploded for 21 points in the second quarter, building them a comfortable lead.
The Bulldogs special teams play was an outstanding, especially coming off an 11 month break. Our Positive Impact Player of the game, Pat Forsyth and Jack Rilling both took Storm punts back to the house for 6.
Treyvon Taylor stepped up big on defense with an interception late to help seal the deal for St. Cloud.
Celebration had some bright spots. Their pressure on STC QB Garhett King was good at some points. Josh Riddle came up with a nice chase down sack. We will see how both teams respond next week. St. Cloud travels to Gateway, and Celebration will host Freedom.
Poinciana visits Tenorac and takes home the win 27-12
Lake Minneola powers over Tohopekaliga 41-8
Olympia dominated visiting Gateway 44-8
Oviedo dominated at home over Harmony 56-21
