2024 Osceola County
High School Football Preview
OSCEOLA KOWBOYS
POINCIANA EAGLES
Friday Night Returns to Osceola!
BY: Heather Kahoun, Osceola School Board Chair
Every Friday night, our stadiums come alive with a spirit that embodies the very heart of our community. Families, student-athletes, coaches, volunteers, and fans come togethers, creating a tapestry of unity that reflects the vibrant diversity of Osceola County.
These games are more than just sporting events; they’re a celebration of what it means to be part of the Osceola County School District family. Whether you’re cheering for the Kowboys (proud Kowboy alum right here!), the Longhorns, Storm Nation, or any of our other teams, you’re participating in something greater than the game itself.
Our student athletes learn invaluable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship. Our band members, cheerleaders, and student volunteers showcase their talents and dedication. And in the stands, friendships are forged, memories are made, and community bonds are strengthened.
No matter which school you support or your student attends, these Friday nights are about coming together, sharing in the excitement, and experiencing the pride of being part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s about the roar of the crowd, the thrill of competition, and the joy of shared experiences.
As we embark on this new season, let’s remember that we are all part of the same team–the Osceola County School District team. Our different school colors all blend together, and that makes our district unique and special.
So, let’s fill those stands, cheer on our students, and celebrate the spirit of good sportsmanship. I look forward to catching you under those #FridayNightLights!
Ten In-County Games Not To Miss
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
Anticipation, question marks and excitement will all be in play when the 2024 high school regular season opens next week (Aug. 23) for all eight Osceola County public teams. Three programs are in position to post big years.
Those three teams include St. Cloud, which won 15 games in the last two years and will have a senior-laden class and a favorable schedule as they continue to build momentum under third-year head coach Mike Short. Osceola, won a district title and made the playoffs last year, but had its first non-winning season (4-6) in the last two decades due to some key injuries while tackling the most difficult schedule in the state. Although playing another difficult slate, the Kowboys have the talent to return to the winning side in 2024. Tohopekaliga’s Anthony Paradiso continues to build the Tiger program in his third season and calls his 2024 team the most “athletically gifted” in his tenure.
Three programs that have traditionally struggled are making strides under new leadership. After going 0-10 and scoring just two touchdowns all season in 2022, Liberty won two games and averaged more than 10 point a game under first-year coach Dee Hart last season despite dressing less than 30 players per game. First-year head coaches Taron Mallard (Poinciana) and Chris Blanton (Celebration) have taken positive steps in their programs during spring football and the summer, and all three coaches believe their programs are headed in the right direction.
Harmony, long known for its running game and tough defense, looks to rebound from last year’s 2-8 season under Nick Lippert; while veteran coach Marlin Roberts has some outstanding athletes as he begins his 17th year as head coach of the Panthers.
If you are not a fan of any particular team, there are many entertaining games this season that should draw the interest of the casual sports fan. Here are the 10 In-County “Can’t Miss” games of the upcoming season:
Treasure Coast at Osceola, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.
The “Can’t Miss” games start in Week 1 this year as Osceola hosts Treasure Coast in a contest of two perennial state playoff teams. The Kowboys beat Treasure Coast twice in 2022—winning in the regular season and then again in the playoffs; while the Port St. Lucie school manhandled Osceola twice last season – winning 22-8 in the regular season and 28-0 in the playoffs on its way to a 9-3 season and regional runner-up finish. It will be a great test for Osceola, who once again will face one of the top schedules in the state.
South Dade at Osceola, Sept. 6
These two schools have a storied wrestling rivalry but have met few times on the gridiron. Although a non-district game, this contest could have big post-season implications for the Kowboys. Under current rules, even district champions are not guaranteed a home game in the playoffs, as that is determined by strength of schedule. South Dade (8-4, regional semifinalist) is one of seven regular non-district games Osceola will play against 2023 playoff teams. If they repeat as district champions, Osceola will have to win its share of these battles to insure getting a playoff game or two at home.
Hagerty at Tohopekaliga, Sept. 6
Although the Tigers have won six games in each of the last two seasons, they have struggled a bit against physically dominant teams. Paradiso acknowledged that from Day 1 of his first season-- stating that Tohopekaliga had to get bigger and stronger. Now as he begins his third year, he has seen that progress in the weight room. This Week 3 game with Hagerty will tell him how far his team has progressed, as the Huskies have made the post-season for the last two years and should provide that physical opponent.
Osceola at St. Cloud,
Sept. 13
The Kowboys and Bulldogs are one of the oldest rivalries in the state and they will meet for the 101st time. Although the series has been one-sided of late (counting a 2010 forfeit, Osceola has won the last 19 games and leads the all-time series 68-28-4) it still significant to many of the county residents that have seen five generations of relatives play in this game. Bulldog head coach Mike Short bristles at the suggestion that the series should be dropped. “While Harmony has become our biggest rival, this game is still important to a lot of people and it needs to be played,” Short said. “Tradition still means something to me and most sports fans and what sort of lesson are we trying to teach when we tell our athletes, it’s okay to quit when things are hard? “
Jones at Osceola, Sept. 20
Although in a smaller classification, Jones has been an FHSAA State Power for a long, long time, going 46-12 and advancing to the state semifinals in each of the last four years. Osceola played Jones tough on the road last year (28-20 loss) and will look to avenge that loss at home this year. This is another nondistrict game that could significantly impact playoff seeding.
Harmony at Tohopekaliga, Sept. 28
These two teams met for the third time last year, with Harmony pulling off a 23-14 win to go to 3-0 all-time against the Tigers. This budding rivalry takes on new importance this year, as these two schools are paired with St. Cloud and Lake Nona in the same district – giving this mid-season game definite playoff implications.
Celebration at Liberty, Oct. 4
This game makes our Top 10, as second-year Chargers Coach Dee Hart and first-year Storm Coach Chris Blanton continue to build their programs. It is the type of game, both programs need to win to build momentum. Liberty has won five of the last six in the series, including a 17-14 thriller last year.
St. Cloud at Gateway, Oct. 4
Although St. Cloud has dominated of late (four consecutive wins), this has been a fairly spirited and friendly cross-town rivalry. Prior to 2020, Gateway had won four of the previous six games. Given the season both teams are coming off of, a Panther win might be a tall ask – but if Gateway is healthy, anything can happen in a game like this.
Lake Nona at Harmony, Oct. 10
New district opponents clash at “The Ranch,” in a game that could have playoff implications. Both coaches are in their second year (Nick LippertHarmony; David Aubrey - Lake Nona) and are looking to reverse sub .500 seasons.
Tohopekaliga at St. Cloud, Oct. 18
Two teams with high expectations for the 2024 season meet in Week 9 and it could very well be for the Class 7A, District 10 Championship. Toho quarterback Sabby Meassick directed Tiger wins over St. Cloud in both his freshman (47-6) and sophomore (41-19) seasons to hand St. Cloud (15-6) two of their last six losses. Bulldogs head coach Mike Short felt both games should have been a lot closer, citing the numerous early game turnovers and mistakes his team made. “Harmony may be our top rival, but this game is gaining juice, especially given how we lost the last two. Since we are now in the same district, it becomes even bigger,” Short said.
Poinciana at Liberty, Oct. 25
For 16 years, Liberty dominated the Battle of the Boulevard – winning all 16 games often in lop-sided fashion. Poinciana started to breathe new life in the series, pounding out a 56-0 win in 2022 and following it with a 35-8 win last year to start its own winning streak. It is without question the biggest and most important game on both team’s schedule. It is the type of game and atmosphere that will grab your attention, regardless of the record of the two participating teams.
Best of the Road Games: Harmony at Sebastian River (9/6), Tohopekaliga at Viera (9/20), St. Cloud at Lake Nona (9/27), Osceola at Apopka (10/18), Tohopekaliga at Lake Nona (10/24), Osceola at Lake Wales (10/25),
OSCEOLA KOWBOYS
KOWBOYS LOADED AGAIN, LOOK FOR REDEMPTION
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
In some ways 2023 was a typical Osceola football season, resulting in a district championship and another trip to the post-season. But in other ways, it was a disappointing year as the Kowboys finished with sub-.500 season for the first time in nearly two decades and made a quick one-game exit in the playoffs.
That 4-7 season can be explained away by an extremely difficult schedule (eight games came against playoff teams) and a rash of injuries that saw a dozen key players lost for either the season or extended periods of time. What you did not hear from the players and coaches, however, were excuses.
“We absolutely were not pleased with how last season went but we offer no excuses,” Head Coach Eric Pinellas said. “Nothing can be done about it anyways. What we can control is how this season goes and I can tell you we are excited about the players we have coming back, we’re excited with how the spring and pre-season went and we are looking forward to playing Kowboys football this fall.”
In recent decades, Osceola has always had a reputation for reloading and not rebuilding and that should be the case again in 2024.
Offensively, they will be led by a deep and extremely talented backfield that includes Taevion Swint, Jeff Sinophant, Zion Mathews and Eli Hickson. Swint missed four games and was hampered all season by a variety of injuries but has been healthy this spring and summer and will enter his senior year with more than 4000 total yards and 46 touchdowns. He is rated one of the top 20 running backs in the nation and had committed to UCF.
Sinophant and Mathews return after injury riddled seasons, but Hickson filled in nicely – averaging 5.0 per carry.
After Osceola graduated five starters on its offensive line, a question could have arisen about opening holes for those talented running backs, but Osceola got a huge lift when former St. Cloud star and massive offensive tackle (6-6, 320) transferred in for his senior season. Kamden Jones, Marcus Ferrar, Gian Cross and Jaeden Bellamy gained valuable experience as reserves last year and should step in to starting roles this year.
A pre-season battle is expected at quarterback. Camren West (824 yards, 9 TDs) started last season but could be challenged in camp by Oak Ridge transfer Izaiah Prime; while Alihjah Jenkins and Zavon Gooden will give the Kowboys some explosive playmaking ability on the outside.
Without question, the secondary will be the strength of the Kowboys defense. Starters Jakari Watson, Jeff Banks, Ja’mario Bradford and Larenz Walker all return. Watson (6 interceptions, 5 pass defenses) and Bradford (6 INT, 11 PD) are real ball hawks; while Banks (58 tackles) is a hard-hitting, versatile athlete that can line up anywhere in the backfield.
Depth on the defensive line is also impressive. Oniel Morel, Joshua Alamo, Jaquille Knox, Amier Clarke, and Elijah Vansickle are five of just 12 defensive lineman who could work their way into the rotation this season for the Kowboys.
Robert Lee (72 tackles, 15 TFL) and Nathaniel Barnett (60 tackles, 9.0 TFL) return at linebacker and will be aided by senior Elijah Melendez, another standout who was lost for the season in the Game 1 last year.
With the FHSAA scrapping its Suburban/Metro classification, Osceola finds itself in the small Class 6A, District 6 with Melbourne and Viera. Although they will be favored to win that district, they must perform well in tough non-district games that include Jones, Treasure Coast, Apopka, Lake Mary and Lake Wales in order to secure a favorable playoff seeding.
“Year in and year out, we play a really tough schedule and that is certainly the case again,” Pinellas said. “The good part is that come the post-season, there is no team that will intimidate us.”
OSCEOLA KOWBOYS
Head Coach Eric Pinellas
Class 6A, District 6
2023 Record: 4-7
8/16 at Bishop Moore* 7p.m.
8/23 TREASURE COAST 7 p.m.
8/30 at Lake Mary 7:30 p.m.
9/6 SOUTH DADE 7 p.m.
9/13 at St. Cloud 7 p.m.
9/20 JONES
9/27 MELBOURNE** 7
10/4 Bye Week
10/11 at Viera** 7 p.m.
10/18 at Apopka 7 p.m.
10/25 at Lake Wales 7:30 p.m.
11/1 LAKEWOOD 7 p.m.
*Kickoff Classic Exhibition
**District Game
GATEWAY PANTHERS
Panthers Independent St Should Level Playing Field
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
When nearby Tohopekaliga opened a half decade ago, it created a huge problem for Gateway Athletics. Not only did it syphon off half of the Panthers student population (including half its athletes) but it dropped the Panther classification – forcing them into one of the largest and far-reaching districts in the state, where they were often over-matched with Polk County powerhouse teams.
Between that schedule, a lack of depth caused by open transfer rules and an unfortunate high number of serious injuries (the team went through five quarterbacks last year) – the program found itself on hard times, winning just four games over the last three years – including an 0-10 mark last year.
With that backdrop, the Panther administration made the tough decision to classify as an independent for at least the next two years. Although they will not be eligible for the FHSAA playoffs, it allowed the Panthers to put together a more balanced schedule.
It’s not an unprecedented moved for schools around the state. Liberty, Poinciana and Gateway will all play as independents this year, while 10 Orange County schools made the same move this year. “Depending on your size and location, you end up getting stuck in a district where you’re not competitive and there is no real light at the end of the tunnel and that was the basis for going independent,” Gateway coach Marlin Roberts said. “We are still going to play a good schedule, but at least we are going to give our kids a chance to be competitive in most of those games.”
Roberts, who begins his 17th year as head coach at Gateway and 23rd year with the school overall, does have some talent on his roster but says his team does not have the depth if the injury bug hits again. “Staying healthy is going to be a big key for us,” Roberts said. “We have some good players but we’re real thin at certain positions.”
Leading the Panthers offensively will be running back Dashawn Reese and quarterback Jandel Diaz and WR Jerimiah Barnes. Reese (6-0, 200) can be a load to bring down in the open field; while Roberts calls Diaz, a “smart player who has a good grasp of the game.”
Freshman speedster Nydrell Thigpen has looked impressive this summer in seven-on-sevens and workouts and should also be an integral part of the Panthers offense.
Other players expected to contribute include LB Dory Thimote, DL Markell Solomon, DB Jayden Gardner, and OL/DL Gustavo Gallardo. Gardner is a transfer from Winter Park.
“As has been the case for the last couple of years, we’re going to have to play a lot of players on both sides of the ball,” Roberts said. “So staying healthy is going to be extremely important for us. Another key will be developing some depth on both the offensive and defensive lines.”
Last year was also tough for the Panthers because a massive school reconstruction project forced them on the road for the first eight games of the season and also made it difficult to find practice fields. The project has been completed and Gateway will get to play five home games. “Last year was trying for us in a lot of ways,” Roberts. “Just returning to sense of normalcy will help.”
2024 Schedule
Head Coach: Marlin Roberts
Independent 2023 Record: 0-10
8/16 WINDERMERE 7 p.m.*
8/23 SPACE COAST 7 p.m.
8/20 at Astronaut 7 p.m.
9/6 at Cypress Creek 7 p.m.
9/13 at Lake Region 7 p.m.
9/20 at Winter Springs 7 p.m.
9/26 LIBERTY 7 p.m.
10/4 ST. CLOUD 7 p.m.
10/11 LAKE PLACID 7 p.m.
10/18 at Poinciana 7 p.m.
10/25 Bye Week
11/1 CELEBRATION 7 p.m.
*Kickoff Classic
TOHOPEKALIGA TIGERS
Tohopekaliga Trends Upward In Paradiso’s Third Season
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
When he took over the Tohopekaliga football program prior to the 2022 season, former Lake Nona Head Coach Anthony Paradiso knew there would be no quick fixes. He was taking over a 2-8 team featuring average talent, no direction, and low morale.
Although immediate improvement took place in year one (6-4), Paradiso knew it would take some time to fully turn the program around. Now entering its third season under Paradiso, the Tigers are beginning to see the progress of his plan to build a solid foundation for success.
“We had a lot of issues that we had to address. Getting everyone on the same page on how we wanted to do things, hitting the weight room to get bigger and stronger, learning a new system. This is year three and I am certainly pleased with the direction we are going,” Paradiso said. “We graduated a lot of talented players last year, but to be totally honest, I think this may be our most athletically gifted team we’ve ever had.”
Tohopekaliga opened camp with a record 110 kids in uniform and said as many as 15 or 20 more were expected when school started. Paradiso said building those participation numbers were part of the plan. “We have a lot of athletes who want to be a part of this program and that allows us just plug in players to replace those who graduated. For example, we lost most of our starting defensive line to graduation this year, but we have 14 guys ready to step in and play this year.”
The Tigers offense will be under the control of record-setting junior quarterback Sabby Meassick, who has thrown for 77 touchdowns and more than 6800 yards in his first two seasons – both county career records. Paradiso calls the junior the “most advanced quarterback I have ever seen for his age” and said Meassick should be even better this season. “Sabby doesn’t need to worry about the playbook anymore because he knows it inside and out,” Paradiso said. “He can now concentrate on team leadership.”
Although its top three receivers in Churandy Duval, Delvin Pryor and Julian Nasco (200 receptions, more than 2300 yards and 27 touchdowns) graduated, Paradiso says Meassick will have plenty of wide receivers to throw to this season. “Tre Punter (51 receptions, 628 yards, 3 TD) and Emmanuel Theagene (7-104-2) return and we have five other guys including a freshman named Tony Brown, who has a chance to be a really special player. We have three running backs, including Jaxson Hardnett and Dominic Lombardi, that can replace Duval. We have the guys on offense to make plays for Sabby.”
Protecting his quarterback against the more physical teams was a problem in 2022-23, but it is an area where the Tigers should be greatly improved this season. Kayden Polite, Daniel Omurkulov, Wade Cordell, Davin Cajuste all return as three-year starters.
Although Tohopekaliga graduated most of its starting defense, they do return USF commit Andrew Hines (6-4, 265) on the defensive line; as well three-year starter Nashawn Noel at DB. Linebackers Ryan Wells and Chase Gilbert will step in as starting linebackers; but again, Paradiso points to depth as the greatest asset. “Guys that were backups and jayvee players last year are stepping up into more prominent roles,” he says.
Paradiso, who is entering his 26th year of coaching, says its players like Hines that keeps him coming back. “Every year, I say it’s going to be my last year but you develop special relationships that make you want to come back. Andrew Hines came to us a sophomore and simply wasn’t that impressive. But the kid worked his tail off, did everything we ask of him and became a great player. He going to graduate early and be at USF this spring. Developing players, getting them to graduate, helping them fulfill their dreams whether inside or outside athletics. It’s what makes you want to do the job.”
Under new classifications, Tohopekaliga finds itself in a new district (Class 7A, District 10) with county rivals Harmony and St. Cloud; as well as his former school Lake Nona. “The county games will be more significant because they are district games and I had some great years at Lake Nona, but at the end of the none of that really matters. What does matter is did we do everything we could do to help these kids graduate, did we help them reach their potential and did we prepare them to become productive members of society? After 25 years of coaching, those are the things define success, not how many games we win.”
Tigers Schedule
Head Coach Anthony Paradiso
Class 7A, District 10
2023 Record: 6-5
8/16 at Timber Creek 7 p.m.
8/23 at Melbourne 7 p.m.
8/30 LYMAN 7 p.m.
9/6 HAGERTY 7 p.m.
9/13 Bye Week
9/20 at Viera 7 p.m.
9/27 HARMONY** 7 p.m.
10/4 Lake Brantley 7 p.m.
10/11 MASTERS ACADEMY7 p.m.
10/18 at St. Cloud** 7 p.m.
10/24 at Lake Nona 7 p.m.
11/1 AVON PARK 7 p.m.
*Kickoff Classic Exhibition **District Game
New Coach Hopes To Keep Eagles Moving Forward
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
Citing the desire to pursue a new direction, Poinciana school officials decided not to renew the contract of long-time football coach Randy Beeken and elevated assistant coach Taron Mallard to the position. The former Poinciana alumnus and multi-sport standout has started to put his stamp on the program during spring football and hopes to keep the program moving in a positive direction as he begins his first season at the helm.
Poinciana declared independent status and won a school record eight games in 2022, but slipped to 4-6 last year. The Eagles will stay independent for the next two years, as Mallard says he will continue to build depth in the program. “For a 7A school we simply do not have the numbers needed to compete in district play,” Mallard noted. “Staying independent and putting together a schedule where we can be competitive was important as we continue to build our program.”
Mallard does have some talent on his roster and has seen some positive results in the spring and especially this past summer. “While we do not have the numbers we need, we do have some talented kids. The players have worked really hard in both the spring and summer and we have had some positive results, especially in our 7-on7 tournaments.”
He points to Poinciana’s fifth place finish at the King of the Beach 7-on7 Tournament in Daytona as an example. “That tournament was loaded with a lot of really good teams like Rockledge and American Heritage and we held our own,” Mallard said. “Even in the games where we lost, we competed hard.”
With the small roster, Mallard will have to rely on a lot of athletes playing both ways, but as long as they can avoid multiple injuries the talent is there to compete. Senior Cameron Brown (1866 passing yards, 51% completion percentage, 19 touchdowns) returns at quarterback and Mallard calls him an “indispensible team leader.”
Wil Nezius Is a productive running back /slot receiver, who ran for 568 yards five touchdowns last year. Mallard received some pleasant news this summer when Ernest Nunn (205 rush-935 receive-654 return-1826 total yards-12 touchdowns) changed his mind about transferring and will return to Poinciana for his senior year.
Two other players to watch on offense include receivewrs Amorey Monroe (14 Rec.-129 yards) and Chance Frazier, who averaged 32.3 yards per catch as a freshman last season (4-129). Center Michael Garcia, a three-year starter, returns to anchor the offensive line.
Graduation hit the Eagles hard on defense. Nezius, Dunn, and Frazier will see double duty and played extensively in the defensive secondary last year. Mallard is expecting big things Jacoby Hines, and outside linebacker he calls “super athletic.”
Eagles Schedule
Head Coach: Taron Mallard
Independent 2024 Record: 4-6
8/16 CYPRESS CREEK* 7 p.m.
8/23 at Celebration
8/30 at Harmony 7 p.m.
9/6 at St. Cloud 7 p.m.
9/13 EVANS 7 p.m.
9/20 at Haines City 7 p.m.
9/27 Bye Week
10/4 LAKE REGION 7 p.m.
10/11 at Auburndale 7 p.m.
10/18 GATEWAY 7 p.m.
10/25 at Liberty
11/1 TIMBER CREEK
*Kickoff Classic Exhibition
ST. CLOUD BULLDOGS
KING, SPRINGS TO LEAD DOGS’ OFFENSE IN ‘24
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
A year after his team averaged more than 31 points and won a county-best eight games, St. Cloud head coach Mike Short returns a senior-laden squad who looks to continue its winning ways.
“With the exception of our defensive line, we return experience at practically every position,” Short who begins his third season as head coach said. “This group of seniors has a special place in my heart and I know they have big goals and expectations for this year.”
The offense will be led by Logan King, a four-year starter at quarterback who threw for 2100 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. He took over as starter for the final five games of his freshman year and has posted a 15-6 record the past two seasons. “He’s everything you would want in a quarterback and has gotten better and better every season. He throws a great deep ball,” Short said of King.
King’s top target will be fellow senior Alex Springs, who earned all-county honors in both basketball and football last season. He led the Dogs in receptions (57), receiving yards (974) and receiving touchdowns (14) last year.
Arguably one of the best athletes in the county, Springs will most likely draw a lot of double coverage this year and Short feels some other receivers will have to step up to take some pressure off of Springs. That help could come from Jacob Hernandez (14 receptions, 147 yards) and Stacy Taylor Jr. – a pair of twoway players. Short also believes Josiah Cotto -- another all-county basketball standout – could help out as he tries his hand at football.
Although Jonathan Morales graduated, St. Cloud returns an explosive runner in TJ Griffin (548 yards rushing, 269 receiving, 10 touchdowns). Junior Cameron Dalton had a great spring and summer and will factor in the backfield.
On the offensive line, Division-1 prospect Connor Howes announced he was transferring to Osceola for his senior season; but St. Cloud still returns a veteran line that includes four-year starter Daniel Torres at center, guard Shawn Eplin and senior Brian Morales.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have good depth and talent in the secondary and at linebacker. Hernandez and Bryce Williams combined for five interceptions and Taylor is also a returning starter. Cotto and freshman Jayden Taylor could also be a factor in the secondary.
Team captain Landon Millman (48 tackles) will wear the traditional #2 jersey as the Bulldogs’ defensive leader. Tyler Green (52 tackles, 2 INT) and Aiden Johnson (70 tackles) gives St. Cloud a solid trio at linebacker.
One area of concern heading into the season is the defensive line, where two-way player Eann Mesa (G/DT) is the most experienced player returning. Short says it will be important for St. Cloud to find some depth early on the defensive line and says freshman Steve Stephens is a promising addition.
With the new classification, St. Cloud will compete in Class 7A, District 10, where the district will be decided when they will play at Lake Nona (9/27) host Tohopekaliga (10/10) and travel to Harmony (10.25). Home schedule highlights include the 101st playing of the Osceola/St. Cloud game on Sept. 13 and its home opener with Freedom on Aug. 23.
“It’s a good, competitive schedule,” Short said. “Harmony is really our biggest rival and we are developing a pretty good back-and-forth with Tohopekaliga. We are now in the same district with both of those teams, so those rivalry games will mean even more.”
2024 Schedule
Head Coach: Michael Short
Class 7A, District 10
2023 Record: 8-3
8/16 at Innovation*
8/23 FREEDOM
8/30 at Pine Ridge
9/6 POINCIANA
9/13 OSCEOLA
9/20 MERRITT ISLAND
9/27 at Lake Nona**
10/4 At Gateway
10/11 Bye Week
10/18 TOHOPEKALIGA**
10/25 at Harmony**
11/1 TRU PREP
*Kickoff Classic Exhibition
**District Game
HARMONY LONGHORNS
Harmony Looks to Reverse Fortunes in ‘24
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
After a rough season where the Longhorns slipped to two wins, Harmony head coach Nick Lippert will find his team in a new district for 2024 – one he considers competitive but fair. “We have been stuck in a district on the East Coast for a long time,”Lippert said. “So to be in the same district with Toho, St. Cloud and Lake Nona is a welcome change in terms of travel. We have a lot of non-district games that I consider toss-up games – how we do in those games will go a long way in determining our success this season.”
A stout running game and an aggressive defense have been the calling card of Harmony for many years and while Lippert still wants to emphasize those aspects, he says his team may open it up on offense a little more this year.
Last year, Harmony averaged less than 10 passes a game with Kal Amen at quarterback. And although Amen returns, he may see more action at wide receiver – giving junior Matt Davis more playing time under center. But the big reason Lippert believes the offense will be more diverse is the emergence of senior WR Ivan Ramos, who also stars in basketball and track for the Longhorns.
“Regardless of the sport, Ivan has always been a sensational athlete. But he has been extremely explosive this spring and summer,” Lippert says. “If our opponents don’t know about him now, they will this fall. With Ivan and a few other guys on the outside, we have a chance to make some plays downfield and need to take advantage of that.”
Still, Harmony has always had solid runners including Tyler Eman and Cooper Richards (Class of 2023) and recently graduated Jeremy Hilliard. Lippert believes that Aiden Wiggins and Ja’kari Ealy are ready to step in that role. An experienced offensive line, featuring Michael Capranica and Jayden Gomez should open holes for the running backs and protect the quarterbacks.
Defensively, Harmony returns two All-County selections in DB Chase Adams and DT Mekhi Ealy. Adams posted 37 tackles, 7 pass defenses, and added three interceptions last year; while Ealy had 43 tackles with 10 tackles-for-loss. Lippert is also high on sophomore linebacker Colton Sklarek, who stepped in as an injury replacement as a freshman and performed admirably in the final seven games of the season. “I really believe Clayton could have a breakout year,” Lippert said. “We threw him in the first last year as a freshman and he handled it really well.” Clayton Williams, another multi-sport athlete, could also provide some senior leadership on Harmony’s young defense.
2024 Schedule
Head Coach: Nick Lippert
Class 7A, District 10
2023 Record: 2-8
8/16 at The Villages*
8/23 WINDERMERE
8/30 POINCIANA
9/6 at Sebastian River
9/13 BAYSIDE
9/20 at Lake Howell 7 p.m.
9/27 at Tohopekaliga** 7 p.m.
10/4 Bye Week
10/10 LAKE NONA* 7 p.m.
10/18 at Celebration 7 p.m.
10/25 ST. CLOUD** 7 p.m.
11/1 at Colonial 7 p.m.
*Kickoff Classic **District Game
LIBERTY CHARGERS
Hart Continues to Build Chargers Program
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
Expectations are often defined by circumstances, so it is no surprise that Liberty head football coach Dee Hart talks in abstracts as he enters his second season with the Chargers.
“We’re not at that point where we are too worried about wins and losses,” the former college standout says. “Our program was at a pretty low point when we got here prior to last year and we made a lot of strides in our first season. We continued to make progress in the spring and summer and now we are looking to take the next step. Still, success will not be defined by the number of wins. We will define our success based on how our kids compete this year. Maximum effort and never giving up will define our success.”
Based on what Liberty football was when he arrived, there can be no argument that Hart has the Chargers on the right track. By the end of the 2022 season, the Chargers were dressing just 25 players as they slogged through a 0-10 season and scored just two touchdowns all season.
Despite a late start in being named head coach, Hart directed a much more positive season last year as Liberty won two games and scored more than 10 points per game – despite being out-manned and out-numbered in most contests.
The momentum continued in a positive direction in the spring and the summer.
“We had 75 kids sign up for football this fall and had more than 50 players in uniform for our first fall practice – that was almost double what we had last year,” Hart said. “But the real difference I have noticed has been in the attitude. These guys want to play, they want to practice and they want to get better.”
Liberty should be able to continue its forward momentum this year for several reasons. First, the talent and numbers are in their favor. “We’ve had about 10 transfers come in and a lot of those guys could have an impact,” Hart said. “In addition, we have pretty good numbers on our offensive and defensive lines and that depth should allow us to play more platoon football – rather having eight or nine guys having to play on both sides of the ball.”
Quarterback will be one of the top questions for the Chargers offense this year, as Hart must find a replacement for the graduated Jeremiah PierreLouis, a three-year starter who was Liberty’s most dynamic player. Richard Monplasier was at the top of the depth chart when fall camp opened but Hart could use multiple players at the position, including WR/RB Jaelyn Vaughan in a wildcat formation. “We’ll move guys around this year and try to take advantage of their talents,” Hart says.
Offensive line could be a strength of Liberty this year as the Chargers have 10 players on their roster including returning starters Curtis Jean, Zxavier Cobb and Josh Fabian. The RB/WR group shows some promise including Josh Alezi, Je’narr Cobb, and Vaughan when he is not playing quarterback.
Defensively, look for transfer Seth Williams to be a force at defensive tackle. He will play alongside of Jarrell Gilbert, who was a starter as a freshman last year. Ellos Delva (LB), Xae’Vez Brown (LB), Ryan Preistley (DE), Gabriel Acevedo (LB) and Cobb (DE) are all returning players who should bolster the Charger defense.
A move to Independent status has allowed the Chargers to schedule a more competitive schedule. It is becoming a more common move for teams in the rebuilding phase or in a district where they could not compete with state powers. Liberty makes to the move to the Independent classification, joining Gateway and 10 Orange County schools making the same move this year. “The move should allow us to be competitive with every team on our schedule, which is an important part of building confidence,” Hart said.
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Blanton Breathes New Life Into Storm Football
BY: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
Historically, Celebration has struggled in football – recording less than a handful of winning seasons since opening in 2003. Those struggles continued of late, including a 1-9 season last year – causing not one but two coaching changes as Jeb Ebersole was hired to replace Jeremy Palmer only to see Ebersole let go a few months later because of non-allowable recruiting issues.
Celebration Athletics Director Chad Boudreaux brought in Chris Blanton just week before the start of spring football started and now believes the school has the right coach moving forward. “From the beginning I started to understand he was different,” Boudreaux said. “He gets hired a few days before spring ball starts and has just two assistant coaches , and yet he somehow put together a solid spring. He’s highly organized and is a no-nonsense coach that demands accountability but can deliver it in such a way that kids want to work and play hard for him. I think we were very fortunate to get him onboard and we are excited about the future of Storm football.”
Blanton is aware of Celebration’s previous struggles in football, but sees this opportunity as a blank slate. “History has never won an athletic event. We have immediately began putting in our system, our expectations and our values and players started buying in immediately. Our philosophy is you become winners by first believing you can win. And you win by doing things the right way. I don’t want our players to ever be comfortable, we constantly challenge them to go outside their comfort zone.”
Although the Storm return few starters in either side of the ball, Blanton says the talent for success is there. At quarterback, veteran Yanden Yaw has been the front runner in training camp to win the starting job but James Wise-Pauley has performed well in both the spring and early days of camp.
Blanton believes he may have a feature running back in sophomore Phillipe Costa, who ran for more than 100 yards and scored a touchdown in the spring game jamboree, but also has several other talented runners “that can bring different things to the table.”
At wide receiver, Blanton says sophomore Kobe Orr has turned some heads in training camp and will lead the receiving corps along with Sean Nuzzi.
Celebration returns senior captain Gavin Konopka, Keenan Betts and Anthony El Dib on the offensive line, but Blanton says like most football coaches in America that “depth is always a concern on the OL.”
The family act of Triston and Tyee McNeal and cousin Ryan NcNeal will make the Celebration secondary a family affair. All three are six-foot plus – giving the Storm one of the taller secondaries in the region.
Up front, Blanton has been excited about the emergence of DT Justin Berry calling the 6-2, 230-lb. junior a “force.” Betts will be an anchor on the defensive line; while several others – including Konopka will see action on both sides.
Dag Kradft and Zane Zelmanski have looked solid in camp at linebacker. Our goal is to play fast and aggressive on both sides of the ball,” Blanton said.
The FHSAA went away from their two-tier, two-year experiment of Suburban (1s-4S) and Metro (1M-4M) classes and returned to the enrollment-based classification system for 2024. Celebration finds itself in Class 7-A, District 9, where they will compete with perennial state power Dr. Phillips; as well as Olympia and East Ridge (Clermont). “It’s a tough district and a I know a lot our parents and fans weren’t happy about it, but again it’s something out of our control,” Blanton said. “You get better by playing good teams and although getting to playoffs may be difficult we looking to earn the respect of our opponents.”
Best of Luck this Season! #GoBulldogs
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