By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
A season of promise begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. for Osceola High when the Kowboys visit Ocoee for a non-district contest.
The Kowboys lost their Kickoff Classic at Freedom, 17-14, last week, while Ocoee beat Orange City University, 24-7.
Quarterback Daequan Harrison threw for one touchdown to Hassan Childs and ran for another score as the Kowboys saw a fourth-quarter drive that reached the Knights 3 end with back-to-back penalties.
“We didn’t play bad, and after I watched the tape, I felt pretty good about the way we played,” Kowboys Coach Doug Nichols said.
Nichols played many of his JV players during the game, and he also gambled on a fourth-and-1 at the Kowboys 29.
“We did some things that you probably aren’t going to do normally, but before the game I talked about putting the kids in adverse situations to see how they would respond,” Nichols said. “We didn’t get the first down there, and they came out and hit a stop and go for a TD right away, so that was a swing right there. Normally, you’re going to punt there and play defense.”
Harrison rushed for about 90 yards and did a good job of leading the OHS offense, Nichols said.
Freshman Laderrien Wilson filled in at running back and rushed for over 80 yards for the Kowboys after senior Stafon McCray left in the first half with a stinger, Nichols said.
McCray will miss this week’s game, said Nichols.
“It’s a precaution. He probably could play, but you don’t want to risk it,” Nichols said.
The Kowboys pass defense gave up a pair of TD passes, but generally played well, Nichols said.
“Freedom is good. I don’t think they’re quite as explosive on offense as they were last year, but defensively, they’re probably better,” he said.
Ocoee was impressive in beating St. Cloud, 31-3, last spring and backed that up with its win against Orange City last week.
“They gave us fits last year (a 16-6 OHS win), it was only 2-0 at the half and they scored late and could have cut it to one score if they had gotten a two-point conversion,” Nichols said.
St. Cloud Coach Brad Lennox described Ocoee as “Osceola quick” after the spring game.
“They’re a good football team,” Lennox said.
Nichols agrees.
“They’ve done a nice job up there, they are turning that program around. They’re a lot better than they’ve been,” Nichols said. “It’s going to be a good test for our guys.”