SOUTH LAKE EAGLES 19 - OHS KOWBOYS 13

[Ray Icaza]

Again, an offense hard to watch as they had 3 possessions deep into Eagle territory in the second half and managed to come up empty every single time.  Props to South Lake defense, but it was mostly self-inflicted a bug we have suffered from all year long.   Credit to them making the plays they needed to make as reflected in their one long drive during the second half when they needed to convert a 4th and short on 2 or 3 occasions and managed to make the plays every single time.  Even going for it in their own territory, rolling the dice and making the play.  Their QB was the difference as he made great throws most of the night and picked up those crucial 4th down conversions running the ball himself.   They also managed to run the ball better than I expected they would against our defense despite having to fight for every yard with extra effort.   Congrats to Coach Lord and his entire staff especially Coach Beek who I was able to see during the pregame, exchange some kind words and a hug or two.  Good luck to your squad next week as they played like champions and deserved the victory. Heartbreak for our kids, especially those on the defensive side of the ball that played their buts off making plays, forcing fumbles and muffed punts all in a losing effort.  Till next year. 

[Beek]

Was great seeing you again. What a defensive game. As we talked before the game, I said we would have to beat you through the air as I felt that Osceola would control the ground game. Malik Holman was able to rush for 157 yards, probably the hardest fought yards of his career. But through the air is where the difference was with Tre Kelly passing for 233 yards. There was a lot of back and forth in this game. Both defenses made critical stops. We lost the turnover battle and were abysmal on special teams. Usually when you loose those areas you loose the game. I do not feel EP did or Osceola as well did,  But a most everyone looked past us and way under estimated who South Lake is. I dont have Osceola's stats to compare but I would guess total yards will be similar. As we all know Armwood is a different animal!

[Jambun82]

1 hour ago, Beek said:

Was great seeing you again. What a defensive game. As we talked before the game, I said we would have to beat you through the air as I felt that Osceola would control the ground game. Malik Holman was able to rush for 157 yards, probably the hardest fought yards of his career. But through the air is where the difference was with Tre Kelly passing for 233 yards. There was a lot of back and forth in this game. Both defenses made critical stops. We lost the turnover battle and were abysmal on special teams. Usually when you loose those areas you loose the game. I do not feel EP did or Osceola as well did,  But a most everyone looked past us and way under estimated who South Lake is. I dont have Osceola's stats to compare but I would guess total yards will be similar. As we all know Armwood is a different animal!

A defensive game? Very rare for the playoffs this season. This might be the highest scoring FHSAA High School Football in many years. There have been many games with a least 75 points scored between both teams so far.  

[Ray Icaza]

1 hour ago, Beek said:

Was great seeing you again. What a defensive game. As we talked before the game, I said we would have to beat you through the air as I felt that Osceola would control the ground game. Malik Holman was able to rush for 157 yards, probably the hardest fought yards of his career. But through the air is where the difference was with Tre Kelly passing for 233 yards. There was a lot of back and forth in this game. Both defenses made critical stops. We lost the turnover battle and were abysmal on special teams. Usually when you loose those areas you loose the game. I do not feel EP did or Osceola as well did,  But a most everyone looked past us and way under estimated who South Lake is. I dont have Osceola's stats to compare but I would guess total yards will be similar. As we all know Armwood is a different animal!

It was a game that could have gone either way for sure, however listening to Coach Pinellas leading up to the game he certainly felt this is how it would play out and never underestimated your squad.  Instead, I continually pointed out on this board that I felt if anything folks were over ranking us due to last year's results and we weren't that team yet most on this same site picked us to win.  I do believe the seeding system is flawed and felt for our Region we deserved the #2 seed but didn't do enough at seasons end to get it.  Not questioning the officiating, but you gotta admit the most electrifying play of the game was with under 2 minutes with you holding on to a 19-13 lead, the 35 yard run made by Alijah "Flash" Jenkins for a TD that was called back.   It was an unbelievable run starting as a jet sweep to the right sidelines before juking a couple of would-be tacklers, then cutting completely across the field spinning out of a couple more tacklers then headed towards the left endzone pilon.  Normally, you would see the flag thrown as he started the run to get the edge but it never came out until he had pretty much done everything I described and was clearly gonna score when the official back at the LOS threw it just before he broke the goal line.  That would have tied the game late and hung in the balance of the PAT for the win.  I didn't see the hold and have no instant replay to confirm at the same time saying it could very well have been the case. I do agree with you that Armwood is on a different level than either of us. 

[Beek]

I know EP did not underestimate us. I dont want to get all of the "officials" stirred up for sure. I see 100% where you are coming from. But there was some questionable officiating  regarding turnovers in that game as well. A few horrible spots. You know the drill.  In my humble opinion. If high school had instant replay and a competent official reviewing the game real time some calls could have been reversed or even made that weren't. But we both have to live in the same world as the officials who draw our games. That being said, I 100% would not want the job of a high school official. 

[Ray Icaza]

10 minutes ago, Beek said:

I know EP did not underestimate us. I dont want to get all of the "officials" stirred up for sure. I see 100% where you are coming from. But there was some questionable officiating  regarding turnovers in that game as well. A few horrible spots. You know the drill.  In my humble opinion. If high school had instant replay and a competent official reviewing the game real time some calls could have been reversed or even made that weren't. But we both have to live in the same world as the officials who draw our games. That being said, I 100% would not want the job of a high school official. 

Agree, it wasn't my intent to critique the officiating for the game as much as to highlight that particular run which showed unbelievable effort and skill.  This diminutive player has been entertaining us with plays like that since his freshman year. 

[Jambun82]

11 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:

It was a game that could have gone either way for sure, however listening to Coach Pinellas leading up to the game he certainly felt this is how it would play out and never underestimated your squad.  Instead, I continually pointed out on this board that I felt if anything folks were over ranking us due to last year's results and we weren't that team yet most on this same site picked us to win.  I do believe the seeding system is flawed and felt for our Region we deserved the #2 seed but didn't do enough at seasons end to get it.  Not questioning the officiating, but you gotta admit the most electrifying play of the game was with under 2 minutes with you holding on to a 19-13 lead, the 35 yard run made by Alijah "Flash" Jenkins for a TD that was called back.   It was an unbelievable run starting as a jet sweep to the right sidelines before juking a couple of would-be tacklers, then cutting completely across the field spinning out of a couple more tacklers then headed towards the left endzone pilon.  Normally, you would see the flag thrown as he started the run to get the edge but it never came out until he had pretty much done everything I described and was clearly gonna score when the official back at the LOS threw it just before he broke the goal line.  That would have tied the game late and hung in the balance of the PAT for the win.  I didn't see the hold and have no instant replay to confirm at the same time saying it could very well have been the case. I do agree with you that Armwood is on a different level than either of us. 

Did you see where the penalty yardage was marked off from? 

[Jambun82]

11 hours ago, Beek said:

I know EP did not underestimate us. I dont want to get all of the "officials" stirred up for sure. I see 100% where you are coming from. But there was some questionable officiating  regarding turnovers in that game as well. A few horrible spots. You know the drill.  In my humble opinion. If high school had instant replay and a competent official reviewing the game real time some calls could have been reversed or even made that weren't. But we both have to live in the same world as the officials who draw our games. That being said, I 100% would not want the job of a high school official. 

Could you be a little more specific about your issues with the officiating please, Beek? 

[Ray Icaza]

31 minutes ago, Jambun82 said:

Did you see where the penalty yardage was marked off from? 

Not the exact spot, but it was closer to the LOS as opposed to down by the goal line after the score.   Definitely a costly penalty. 

[Jambun82]

12 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:

Not the exact spot, but it was closer to the LOS as opposed to down by the goal line after the score.   Definitely a costly penalty. 

Oh all right. I was just wondering if the holding foul was downfield late in the play being the reason for the late flag, but  maybe not. Sometimes a penalty will be called a little later in the play on a judgement call such as holding.  

[Ray Icaza]

5 hours ago, Jambun82 said:

Oh all right. I was just wondering if the holding foul was downfield late in the play being the reason for the late flag, but  maybe not. Sometimes a penalty will be called a little later in the play on a judgement call such as holding.  

As I previously stated, just because I didn't see the hold doesn't mean it didn't occur just found the timing of the flag being thrown peculiar as well.  The emphasis was on the effort by AJ, a small slot receiver filling in at RB giving it his all to help his team and creating a definite highlight reel. 

[Jambun82]

2 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:

As I previously stated, just because I didn't see the hold doesn't mean it didn't occur just found the timing of the flag being thrown peculiar as well.  The emphasis was on the effort by AJ, a small slot receiver filling in at RB giving it his all to help his team and creating a definite highlight reel. 

I see.