Kowboys fall, 20-7, in region playoffs

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Not much separated Lakeland from Osceola Friday at the Class 7A-2 regional semifinal playoff game at Bryant Stadium except for one thing: offensive balance.

The Dreadnaughts won, 20-7, using a mix of running (162 yards) and passing (127) plays, while the Kowboys, as usual, were groundhogs: 180 yards rushing, 18 passing.

While Lakeland quarterback Raheem Dumas was completing nine passes in a row to lead the Dreadnaughts to 20 second-quarter points, the Dreadnaughts were content to slow the Kowboys running game and take their chances with Osceola’s muted air attack. The Kowboys did try to mix it up, throwing 12 times, but only two were completions, making a total of 14 pass completions for the season. Lakeland’s Dumas had 13 completions against OHS Friday.

“We had our chances, but for one reason or another we just didn’t get it done,” Nichols said.

Three turnovers also contributed to the loss as Lakeland moved on to host Tampa Gaither Friday at the regional final.

“It’s going to sting a little, no question about it,” Kowboys Coach Doug Nichols said.

Osceola finished the season 10-2, while Lakeland, 12-0, maintains the No. 1 ranking in 7A.

After one quarter, OHS led, 7-0, on on Stafon McCray’s 33-yard TD run one play after Lakeland’s only turnover, a fumble recovered by Dashon Montgomery.

The Dreadnaughts scored on their next possession, moving 58 yards in just under six minutes thanks to Dumas converting a fourth-and-6 pass play at the OHS 26. That led to the tying TD on Forrest Cunningham’s 3-yard run. OHS allowed the Dreadnaughts to escape a second-and-27 situation thanks to four straight completions by Dumas (13-19-127, 2TDs).

After the Kowboys punted, Dumas ran 29 yards to set up his 18-yard strike to  Erick Andre for a 14-7 OHS lead.

With just under two minutes left in the half, the Kowboys tried to run out the clock and had the first down when a Kowboys fumble gave the Dreadnaughts possession at the OHS 30 with 15 seconds remaining.

Dumas hit receiver Riquan Southward, who committed to Ohio State Sunday, for 18 yards to the OHS 12. With six ticks on the clock, the Dreadnaughts declined to try a field goal and instead threw a fade route to Southward, who collected the ball in the end zone for a the game’s final points. The PAT failed, leaving it 20-7.

“We were just trying to run some clock, to get into the half at 14-7. We thought we were in pretty good shape,” Nichols said.

The Kowboys defense stopped the Dreadnaughts for most of the second half, but Osceola squandered a big play by running back Reggie Hall (9-100), who raced 49 yards to the Lakeland 27 early in the third quarter. That drive fizzled at the 28 after four plays lost a yard.

OHS had one more scoring opportunity when quarterback Kieron Williams found Daequan Harrison for 16 yards to the Dreadnaughts’ 39 early in the fourth quarter, but that drive ended with Osceola’s third turnover.

The Dreadnaughts were able to run two time-consuming drives in the fourth quarter to prevent the Kowboys from coming back. Lakeland also eliminated OHS from the playoffs in 2008 and 2009. The Kowboys beat Lakeland twice in 2007, once in the playoffs.

“Everybody knows what a great program they have here, and everybody knows that this is a tough place to play, no question about it. We’ve been here before and we knew what to expect, but I don’t care who you play, you can’t have three turnovers the way we did and and expect to win,” Nichols said.

Still, OHS enjoyed its best season since 2007 and won the district championship.

“Our seniors should be proud of what they’ve accomplished. Anytime you win 10 games, that’s a special season, I don’t care who you play,” Nichols said.

Palm Bay and East Ridge, two teams on Osceola’s regular season schedule, still are alive in the playoffs. Osceola beat East Ridge handily in week 5, 42-13, and lost at Palm Bay, 10-0, in week 3. Ocoee and Bishop Moore advanced to the playoffs and were eliminated. St. Cloud, the District 7A-6 runner-up to OHS, makes five playoff opponents on the Kowboys schedule. St. Cloud lost 26-21 at Lakeland two weeks ago, rallying from a 26-0 deficit in the second half.

The winner of the Lakeland-Gaither game will play the winner of Jacksonville First Coast-East Ridge in the state semifinals Dec. 9. That winner will play for the Class 7A state championship at the Citrus Bowl one week later.