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Kissimmee Osceola Runs Over Lakeland

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By JESSICA ETTER Tribune correspondent

Published: November 24, 2007

KISSIMMEE - Dread not Osceola fans, senior quarterback T'Sharvan Bell was captain of the ship Friday night, and running back Bubba Brown was his first mate.

The ship sunk for Lakeland, while Kissimmee Osceola sails on to play at Chamberlain (9-3) in the Class 5A-Region 2 finals on Friday.

The Dreadnaughts (10-2) played the Kowboys (12-0) for the second time in 21 days. The Kowboys won the last meeting 25-21 at Lakeland's Thomas W. Bryant Stadium. This time, the Dreadnaughts came to the Kowboys' home field and left with a 22-7 loss.

The Kowboys took the wind out of the Dreadnaughts' sails on the first drive, using 8:40 of the first quarter. Brown scored the first touchdown and carried nine times for 51 yards on the opening drive.

The Dreadnaughts fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Kowboys took over at Lakeland's 37-yard line. Brown scored his second touchdown on a 25-yard run.

The Dreadnaughts offense took the field for the first time with less than a minute remaining and ran only two plays in the first quarter.

On their first drive of the second quarter, the Dreadnaughts turned the ball over on downs at the Kowboys' 20-yard line. Brown later took it in from 1 yard out for his third touchdown of the game.

The Dreadnaughts came alive in the the third quarter after the Kowboys turned the ball over on downs on their 40-yard line. Lakeland took advantage of the opportunity, scoring on a T.K. Lamb run with 5:37 left in the third. The Dreadnaughts set up for a 2-point conversion, but a delay of game penalty forced them to kick.
Lakeland tried to mount a rally. After Lakeland quarterback Jarred Haggins had a pass batted down to bring up fourth-and-6 at the 20-yard line. With his team needing points, Dreadnaughts coach Bill Castle decided to go for it, and it paid off when receiver Javares McRoy ran for a first down. The Dreadnaughts had second-and-1 from the 5-yard line, but turned it over on downs.

Brown lead the Kowboys with 109 yards on 23 carries as Osceola rushed for 229 yards.

The Dreadnaughts had won 16 consecutive playoff games since a 41-7 loss to Hillsborough in 2003, and their hopes of winning a fourth consecutive Class 5A state championship were dashed.
Lakeland coach Bill Castle wasn't blaming anyone but himself.

"I did a poor job coaching tonight," Castle said after the loss. "These kids have nothing to be ashamed of."

The Kowboys are trying to become the first team from Osceola County to win a state football championship this millennium. The Kowboys won a Class 5A state championship in 1998.

O-Brown 25 run (Elstermann Kick)

O-Brown 1 run (Jarell Emanuel for 2 point conversion)

L-Lamb 1 run (O'Brien kick)

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