2023 KOWBOY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

[Ray Icaza]

Saw that Coach Pinellas recently posted the football schedule for the upcoming season.  As mentioned in a previous thread it is identical to last year, so very stiff sledding again with 5 home games and 5 away games. 

 

May 17th .................Spring Game @ Edgewater HS

Aug 18th ..................KOC  vs Apopka HS

Aug 25th .................Osceola @ Treasure Coast HS

Sep 1st ....................Osceola @ Sanford Seminole HS 

Sep 8th ...................Jones HS @ Osceola

Sep 15th ...................Lakeland HS @ Osceola

Sep 22nd ..................Rockledge HS @ Osceola

Sep 29th ...................St. Cloud HS @ Osceola  *

Oct 6th ......................BYE Week

Oct 13th ....................Celebration HS @ Osceola *

Oct 20th ....................Osceola @ Mainland HS 

Oct 27th ....................Osceola @ Tohopekaliga HS *

Nov 3rd .....................Osceola @ West Orange HS 

* denotes District Games

 

[DarterBlue2]

2 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

Saw that Coach Pinellas recently posted the football schedule for the upcoming season.  As mentioned in a previous thread it is identical to last year, so very stiff sledding again with 5 home games and 5 away games. 

 

May 17th .................Spring Game @ Edgewater HS

Aug 18th ..................KOC  vs Apopka HS

Aug 25th .................Osceola @ Treasure Coast HS

Sep 1st ....................Osceola @ Sanford Seminole HS 

Sep 8th ...................Jones HS @ Osceola

Sep 15th ...................Lakeland HS @ Osceola

Sep 22nd ..................Rockledge HS @ Osceola

Sep 29th ...................St. Cloud HS @ Osceola  *

Oct 6th ......................BYE Week

Oct 13th ....................Celebration HS @ Osceola *

Oct 20th ....................Osceola @ Mainland HS 

Oct 27th ....................Osceola @ Tohopekaliga HS *

Nov 3rd .....................Osceola @ West Orange HS 

* denotes District Games

 

If it were not for the mandatory district games, Osceola would have a killer's row schedule. 

[Ray Icaza]

26 minutes ago, DarterBlue2 said:

If it were not for the mandatory district games, Osceola would have a killer's row schedule. 

I think the schedule reflects high expectations and just what you point out (weak 4 team district).

[KeemD321]

43 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

Saw that Coach Pinellas recently posted the football schedule for the upcoming season.  As mentioned in a previous thread it is identical to last year, so very stiff sledding again with 5 home games and 5 away games. 

 

May 17th .................Spring Game @ Edgewater HS

Aug 18th ..................KOC  vs Apopka HS

Aug 25th .................Osceola @ Treasure Coast HS

Sep 1st ....................Osceola @ Sanford Seminole HS 

Sep 8th ...................Jones HS @ Osceola

Sep 15th ...................Lakeland HS @ Osceola

Sep 22nd ..................Rockledge HS @ Osceola

Sep 29th ...................St. Cloud HS @ Osceola  *

Oct 6th ......................BYE Week

Oct 13th ....................Celebration HS @ Osceola *

Oct 20th ....................Osceola @ Mainland HS 

Oct 27th ....................Osceola @ Tohopekaliga HS *

Nov 3rd .....................Osceola @ West Orange HS 

* denotes District Games

 

Extremely solid schedule. First half of schedule is as tough as it comes for Central Florida and the state. The district games gives time to get recover for a deep run. West Orange being the finale gives a playoff atmosphere type of game.

[VeniceIndianFan]

On 4/19/2023 at 1:06 PM, DarterBlue2 said:

If it were not for the mandatory district games, Osceola would have a killer's row schedule. 

They still do. This is an awesome schedule that will determine how far they can go in a loaded 4S. The graduation of all 4 starters on their defensive line hurts, but as Ray pointed out they return basically the same offensive line, QB and a dangerous RB room once again. They return a lot of solid playmakers in the backfield as well. I see them going 8-2 with their losses coming to Lakeland, and either Jones or Sanford Seminole. Don't think Treasure Coast has it in them to beat Osceola in the season opener. 

Extremely tough schedule that will serve the Kowboys well.

[nolebull813]

District is garbage. Those are the only guaranteed wins on the schedule. 7 toss ups. That’s a damn tough schedule 

[Ray Icaza]

23 hours ago, VeniceIndiansFootball said:

They still do. This is an awesome schedule that will determine how far they can go in a loaded 4S. The graduation of all 4 starters on their defensive line hurts, but as Ray pointed out they return basically the same offensive line, QB and a dangerous RB room once again. They return a lot of solid playmakers in the backfield as well. I see them going 8-2 with their losses coming to Lakeland, and either Jones or Sanford Seminole. Don't think Treasure Coast has it in them to beat Osceola in the season opener. 

Extremely tough schedule that will serve the Kowboys well.

The DL losses 3 players that had been starters since their sophomore season.  All three were all county and one is at Oklahoma with the other at UCF as early enrollees; the 3rd also had offers but not certain where he will end up going.  Joshua Alamo, a sophomore was the other starter and we had a couple of other sophomores that got significant playing time due to dislocated elbows on two of the seniors including in the playoffs.  We also had a very talented freshman class come in this year and though inexperienced should  develop.   One of those freshmen will bolster a LB group that returns intact with a couple of sophomores that have recently got offers from the likes of FL, UCF, Miami, Auburn, Kentucky, Colorado and others.  The junior (Jalen Bell) was selected 2nd team all-state (4S) and will soon get his share of offers.  Lose some awesome talent in the secondary but we have a knack of producing a long line of DB's that have gone on to the next level.   Offensively I think we will be even better than last year as we will again feature Taevion Swint (sophomore) at RB with a couple talented freshmen who will get their touches.  Taevion had narrowed his list of schools down to 8 (FL, UCF, Miami, FSU, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas and Rutgers) before recently choosing UCF.  We also have some explosive playmakers at WR/slot that are young with one having started the majority of the games this year as a freshman.  Many of the games on our schedule probably should be viewed as tossup games but the expectations are we win them all.  As always, time will tell.  GO KOWBOYS!!

[Ray Icaza]

1 hour ago, nolebull813 said:

District is garbage. Those are the only guaranteed wins on the schedule. 7 toss ups. That’s a damn tough schedule 

Toho and St. Cloud should be improved over the past season, but you are correct that they won't pose a serious threat to Osceola.  I agree with your assessment of the 7 others, but it is too early to determine which of them will "bolster" the roster enough in the off season to beat us.  Lakeland loses a lot of talent and we get them at home in the coming season and Sanford Seminole is always stout although they lost their HC.   But any of those other teams on the schedule can trip us up if we turn the ball over between 4-7 times like we did this past year in our only losses. 

[VeniceIndianFan]

22 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

The DL losses 3 players that had been starters since their sophomore season.  All three were all county and one is at Oklahoma with the other at UCF as early enrollees; the 3rd also had offers but not certain where he will end up going.  Joshua Alamo, a sophomore was the other starter and we had a couple of other sophomores that got significant playing time due to dislocated elbows on two of the seniors including in the playoffs.  We also had a very talented freshman class come in this year and though inexperienced should  develop.   One of those freshmen will bolster a LB group that returns intact with a couple of sophomores that have recently got offers from the likes of FL, UCF, Miami, Auburn, Kentucky, Colorado and others.  The junior (Jalen Bell) was selected 2nd team all-state (4S) and will soon get his share of offers.  Lose some awesome talent in the secondary but we have a knack of producing a long line of DB's that have gone on to the next level.   Offensively I think we will be even better than last year as we will again feature Taevion Swint (sophomore) at RB with a couple talented freshmen who will get their touches.  Taevion had narrowed his list of schools down to 8 (FL, UCF, Miami, FSU, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas and Rutgers) before recently choosing UCF.  We also have some explosive playmakers at WR/slot that are young with one having started the majority of the games this year as a freshman.  Many of the games on our schedule probably should be viewed as tossup games but the expectations are we win them all.  As always, time will tell.  GO KOWBOYS!!

Yes sir, go Kowboys! That is, until they play a certain green team from SW Florida in round 4 or 5 of the playoffs! 

[KeemD321]

44 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

Toho and St. Cloud should be improved over the past season, but you are correct that they won't pose a serious threat to Osceola.  I agree with your assessment of the 7 others, but it is too early to determine which of them will "bolster" the roster enough in the off season to beat us.  Lakeland loses a lot of talent and we get them at home in the coming season and Sanford Seminole is always stout although they lost their HC.   But any of those other teams on the schedule can trip us up if we turn the ball over between 4-7 times like we did this past year in our only losses. 

Rockledge lost a few players but also gained a few players as well as a new DB coach in Cocoa's previous DB coach. Who will have a solid DB group led by the #1 safety in the 24 class. So their defense should be pretty solid. But we will see how they fair after that beating they took last season.

[Ray Icaza]

17 hours ago, KeemD321 said:

Rockledge lost a few players but also gained a few players as well as a new DB coach in Cocoa's previous DB coach. Who will have a solid DB group led by the #1 safety in the 24 class. So their defense should be pretty solid. But we will see how they fair after that beating they took last season.

Raiders are always a challenge as they typically bring a lot of overall speed.  Last year they seemed to lack overall size to compete with top teams that could match their speed but bully them in the trenches.  Have they added that piece?

[KeemD321]

13 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:

Raiders are always a challenge as they typically bring a lot of overall speed.  Last year they seemed to lack overall size to compete with top teams that could match their speed but bully them in the trenches.  Have they added that piece?

From what I saw they may still have that issue and they lose their top OLineman to graduation. He's heading to UF

[Ray Icaza]

Was really looking forward to practice today but unfortunately cut short due to lightning in the area. The numbers that turned out are an excellent sign so hopefully tomorrow. 

[DarterBlue2]

1 hour ago, Ray Icaza said:

Was really looking forward to practice today but unfortunately cut short due to lightning in the area. The numbers that turned out are an excellent sign so hopefully tomorrow. 

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully, the weather improves the rest of the week. Glad the numbers are good. I am sure that there will be several diamonds in the rough among the kids that turned up. 

[Ray Icaza]

3 hours ago, DarterBlue2 said:

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully, the weather improves the rest of the week. Glad the numbers are good. I am sure that there will be several diamonds in the rough among the kids that turned up. 

Mostly was looking forward to see the development in the offseason of 3 OL-men that are freshmen and played both JV plus some looks at the varsity level this past season as backups.  All 3 are in the 6'4"-6'6" and 280-300 lbs. range.   Can any of them overtake one of the 4 starters from last year as one will definitely have a chance to earn the left tackle spot next year as a sophomore with the departure of McCrimon.  They are pretty deep there so should lend itself to great competition. 

[Ray Icaza]

On 4/24/2023 at 7:18 PM, DarterBlue2 said:

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully, the weather improves the rest of the week. Glad the numbers are good. I am sure that there will be several diamonds in the rough among the kids that turned up. 

Since losing our #2 RB to Poinciana in the offseason, I have thought about your "Diamonds in the Rough" comment.  We had a freshman last year (Jeffrey Sinophant) that gained about 300 yards in limited varsity time relieving Taevion, but he did average over 8 yards per carry.   So he is solid but looking at our schedule, we definitely would be needing more quality depth at the position.  Fortunately, there is another 9th grader (Zion Matthews) that fits your description that will push for playing time seeing what he did during the spring season as he seems very motivated in preparation for his sophomore year.  Also, we had another RB that transferred in from OCP that previously played on our youth league teams by the name of Elijah Hickson (rising junior) who has looked extremely good as he did participate during spring drills/game.  Obviously, I don't anticipate any of them surpassing Taevion but the competition will be stiff for that #2 spot with them all pushing each other to work harder.   Knowing we lean on the run much as APK does, you need to not only have quality but numbers.

[Ray Icaza]

Now that we have reached the midway point for the Summer Workouts, although Coaches are seldom satisfied I would think they would be pleased by both the participation rate and the effort.   In addition, we have had a lot of kids participating in different camps throughout the summer to get better as well as get exposure.  This includes both OL and DL, LB and DB plus other skill positions with many picking up offers along the way as well as recognition.  They are putting in the work to navigate this tough schedule recognizing there aren't many easy wins on the list and extra effort NOW gives us the best shot.  GO KOWBOYS!!

[FBGUY1989]

Good schedule.

[THIS_IS_DILLARD]

1 hour ago, Ray Icaza said:

Now that we have reached the midway point for the Summer Workouts, although Coaches are seldom satisfied I would think they would be pleased by both the participation rate and the effort.   In addition, we have had a lot of kids participating in different camps throughout the summer to get better as well as get exposure.  This includes both OL and DL, LB and DB plus other skill positions with many picking up offers along the way as well as recognition.  They are putting in the work to navigate this tough schedule recognizing there aren't many easy wins on the list and extra effort NOW gives us the best shot.  GO KOWBOYS!!

Good luck on the season bro 

[Ray Icaza]

3 hours ago, THIS_IS_DILLARD said:

Good luck on the season bro 

Thanks for the kind words and same to you.  Hopefully the hard work will payoff and minimize the reliance on "LUCK' to determine good outcomes.