LAKELAND, Fla. — Powered by a strong rushing attack and an early 14-0 lead, the Osceola (Kissimmee) Kowboys took down 2016 Class 6A Finalist Lake Gibson on Thursday night at Virgil Ramage Stadium.
Virgil Ramage Stadium is the site. @KowboyJake and @LGBravesFB is on deck! pic.twitter.com/xsHoJRD1nH
— Will Turner (@WTurnerTB) August 24, 2017
Osceola (1-0) took only one play from scrimmage to put six points on the board as the Kowboys took advantage of a bad snap on a Lake Gibson punt. QB Braxton Jones fired over the middle to a wide-open Da’Nas Pinellas for a 25-yard touchdown grab.
On the ensuing drive, Lake Gibson (0-1) went three-and-out, and the trend of good field position for Osceola continued.
The Kowboys capitalized once again after getting the ball inside of Lake Gibson’s 45, as Jakobe Thomas powered his way in for an eight-yard score. Malcolm Davidson set up the drive with a tough 15-yard run that put the Braves on their heels.
It would turn out to be that kind of night for the Kowboys, one where short rushes kept the Lake Gibson defense on the field for extended periods of time, tiring them out, making it easy for a knockout blow at the end of a drive.
We really wanted to control the ball,” said Osceola head coach Doug Nichols. “What a lot of people don’t know is just how young we are up front on the offensive line. We played two freshmen, two sophomores, and one junior offensive lineman. To come and line up well against Dr. Phillips last week and then these guys was great to see.”
Albeit young, the Kowboy offensive line helped pave the way for over 200-rushing yards against a tough Lake Gibson defense that didn’t have much of an answer to stopping it.
“The youth showed with some mistakes, but it’s only week one,” Nichols said.
Lake Gibson found its first points of the affair after Christian Smith broke free for a 72-yard run that set up a one-yard score by Travell Jones. Smith’s breakthrough was the longest play from scrimmage for the Braves on a night where Lake Gibson had trouble producing consistent offense.
Lake Gibson ATH Christian Smith had 117 total yards, including a 72-yard rush in the loss to Osceola on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/QvvrEHxbcU
— Will Turner (@WTurnerTB) August 25, 2017
Osceola had a chance to go up 21-7 before the half as a 38-yard rush by Davidson had Osceola driving towards the Braves’ end zone. That would be a mute point when Hunter Brozio recovered a Braxton Jones fumble deep in Lake Gibson territory.
Both the Braves and Kowboys were unsuccessful in scoring before the half, leaving the Braves in the game, only down by a score.
It would take just over a quarter to find the next score when Pinellas took a fourth-down play and turned it into a touchdown play to give the Kowboys some insurance.
Doug DeMyer’s group wouldn’t go down without a fight, however. On the next drive, Lake Gibson rattled off a quick, five-play drive before QB Travis Williams fired his first regular season touchdown for Lake Gibson, finding Charles Alexander in the end zone from ten-yards away.
Travis Williams finds @CharlesA_11 for a ten-yard TD strike. @LGBravesFB down 21-14. @FlaHSFootball pic.twitter.com/TJvvX3dyNg
— Will Turner (@WTurnerTB) August 25, 2017
The next Lake Gibson drive? Certainly not the same result. Jordan Redmond recorded a sack on Williams on second down. Mario Kendricks would then do the same thing on third, forcing a Lake Gibson punt.
Kendricks would then force a safety on the next Lake Gibson possession, which sealed the deal for the Kowboys.
“This whole week in practice we really focused on being able to contain him [Williams],” Redmond said. “It’s just a huge part of Osceola football because our coach really focuses on us to get after the ball and for us to be able to do that against them was a huge accomplishment.”
Thursday’s win marked the tenth win over a ranked opponent for Osceola since 2012, according to Florida high school football historian Richard Burton.
https://twitter.com/FLFBRecords/status/900907859487150080
“It’s a big win for us, it’s great to play tough teams like Lake Gibson and win against a top quality team,” Nichols said. “Last week we opened up against the 8A Finalist in Dr. Phillips, this week we played the 6A Finalist. We’ve got a very mature group and it’s going to be a great season.”
Williams finished 11-of-17 with 108 yards for Lake Gibson while Braxton Jones was 3-of-6 for 62 yards for the Koyboys. Pinellas finished with 36 yards rushing and Davidson contributed with 85 of his own.
Osceola ATH Da'Nas Pinellas contributed with a rushing and receiving touchdown in Thursday's win over Lake Gibson. #wtproductions pic.twitter.com/s63uBdq9Pd
— Will Turner (@WTurnerTB) August 25, 2017
Osceola will host St. Cloud next week who takes on Lake Wales on Friday. Lake Gibson will look to rebound against Irving Strickland’s Kathleen Red Devils, who host Ocala Vanguard this week.
