Osceola has new coach, same title hopes
Despite an abrupt coaching change this offseason, Kissimmee Osceola is steadfast in its preparation while eyeing another opportunity to play for a state championship.
Long-time Osceola assistant Eric Pinellas takes over as head coach for Doug Nichols, just one year after the program reached the Class 8A state final in Tallahassee where the Kowboys lost 38-10 to undefeated Sanford Seminole.
Nichols retired earlier this year due to health concerns.
Pinellas oversees an Osceola squad returning six starters on both offense and defense. No corners are being cut by players when it comes to gearing up for the season.
“We be killing each other in practice and talking trash [to each other] every day,” said senior quarterback Chad Mascoe Jr. “We know what it takes to get back to a state championship game, so every day we’ve been grinding hard and making sure everybody is on the same page. We always have fun and try to make each other better.”
Teammates on the defensive side of the ball share the same sentiments.
“I try to destroy every single one of them every single day in practice,” senior defensive back Jeremiah Wilson said. “I come to play as hard as I can and just obliterate them because it’ll make all of us better. I know I’m going up against a state championship offense and they’re going up against a state championship defense, and if we go against each other like that, the sky is the limit for us.”
Wilson is joined in the secondary this fall by Mascoe’s younger brother, junior Bo Mascoe, on a unit that includes imposing junior linemen John Walker and Derrick LeBlanc. Senior running back Ja’Randy Swint returns after compiling nearly 900 yards and rushing for 9 TDs.
Osceola, which has won eight district titles in a row and recorded wins in 42 consecutive district games, has not lost to an Osceola County opponent since 2010 vs. St. Cloud.
Those district streaks will be tested as the Kowboys and Osceola County neighbor Celebration are now grouped with Orange County teams Dr. Phillips, West Orange, Olympia and Windermere High in District 9.
Rich Pringle takes over as head coach at Celebration after spending the past two seasons as defensive coordinator at Lakeland Lake Gibson. Pringle previously coached in Ocala at both Forest High and Trinity Catholic.
Rivals St. Cloud and Harmony face off this fall in a Class 7A district that includes East River, Melbourne and Viera. The Bulldogs defeated Harmony 21-17 in December.
But St. Cloud graduated 28 seniors from a year ago and lost senior receiver Hayden Taylor to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the spring game. Just one starter returns on offense, where Connecticut transfer Jaden Moorehead is in line to take over at quarterback.
On defense, senior Giovanni Bayron and junior Noah Carr return at linebacker for the Bulldogs to lead a unit that brings back six starters.
Harmony should benefit from the return of 15 starters in all, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. That includes juniors Tyler Emans and Cooper Richards at running back. Junior linebacker Joshua
Moss averaged 6.7 tackles per game in 2020.
Jeff Higgins is the third head coach in four years at Tohopekaliga. The Tigers have moved up in classification to 8A and landed in a district with Orange County schools Boone, Cypress Creek, Freedom, Lake Nona and Oak Ridge.
Tohopekaliga returns only three starters and two assistant coaches from a year ago. Higgins said the program “consists of new players in all three phases of the game.”
Senior Peter Rodriguez returns to the offensive and defensive lines. Senior transfers Robert Wilson Jr. (West Oaks Academy) and Kam Davis-Roberts (Oak Ridge) are competing at the quarterback position.
Gateway is still feeling the effects of
Toho opening as a relief school in 2018. The Panthers entered the preseason with just 35 players on roster, which is about half of what the program was able to field in years past.
Edward Dyer, a move-in from California early last season, has shifted from wide receiver to quarterback. Sophomore wideout Ely Azize has shown potential, while senior linebacker Elijah Simmons leads a defense that includes 6-foot-4 defensive tackle Brent Pinnock.
Gateway is matched with Auburndale, Melbourne Eau Gallie, Palm Bay Heritage and Lake Wales in 6A District 7.
Both Liberty and Poinciana will play as independents this season.
New Liberty head coach Brett Munroe has 18 total starters returning, including senior wide receiver Greg Vital and senior defensive lineman Dixon Palma.
Poinciana brought in former Umatilla assistant coaches Jason Roberts and Willy Keene to work with a team that returns 13 starters.
Senior Andrew Peters is slated to rarely leave the field for the Eagles while lining up at running back and safety and being utilized as a kick returner.