Osceola races past Gosnell

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection Team

GOSNELL - Osceola raced to a 15-0 halftime lead and cruised past the Gosnell Pirates 31-12 on rain soaked J.W. Rea Field in Gosnell.

The point of attack....

The Seminoles and Pirates battled through a scoreless first period after the Pirates turned away the Seminoles initial drive of the game when Osceola quarterback Tyler Bell was stopped short of the line to gain on a fourth and two play from the Gosnell 9 yard line. Osceola had pushed the ball into Pirates territory on a 52-yard screen pass and run by Jeremiah Jacobs. Jacobs’ long jaunt gave the Seminoles the ball at the Gosnell 17 yard line. However, the Seminoles’ bid for the lead was thwarted.

Osceola would force a punt and would take over at their own 26-yard line

A pair of runs by Bell and MJ Washington would result on a first down at the Seminoles 40 yard line, however, a big sack by the Pirates, resulting in a 13 yard loss, would end up forcing a Seminole punt on the second play of the second quarter from the 33 yard line.

The Pirates Daniel Smith (4) rushes Osceola’s Donovan Littleton (53) while the Seminoles Garryn Cook (65) stays with the play.

The Seminoles 35-yard punt would not be returned and Gosnell had the ball at the Seminoles 32 yard line.

A pair of Daniel Smith runs moved the ball to the Pirates 42 yard line and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Osceola moved the ball to the Osceola 43 yard line. Three running plays resulted in a three yard loss. Then on a fourth down punt attempt, the snap rolled to the punter and he would be unable to get the kick away. The Seminoles would take over at the Pirates 43 yard line.

A Jacobs run moved the ball to the 39 yard line, then another run put the ball at the 35 yard line. On third down, Jacobs ran for two yards and a first down. On the next play, Bell scrambled for 16 yards to the Pirates 17 yard line. After a short loss, Bell then found Washington on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 5:44 to play in the half, which made it 7-0.

The Pirates defense pursues the play...

Gosnell’s Aydyn Cleveland returned the ensuing kickoff to the Pirates 47 yard line. Following a Marcus Anderson run on first down, a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 38 yard line. A defensive holding call against the Seminoles then moved the ball to the Pirates 48 yard line. A five yard run by 11 moved the ball to the Osceola 47 yard line, but J.D. Young would be unable to pick up the first down resulting in a loss of three yards.

Following a Pirates punt, Osceola would take over at their own 15 yard line with 2:16 remaining in the half.

Osceola would gain 18 yards on a pass from Bell to Aiden Haymon and Jacobs would gain four yards to move the ball to the 38 yard line. Following a Seminole time out, Bell found Haymon for 27 yards to the Gosnell 36 yard line. After the Seminoles final time out of the half, Bell found Jacobs out of the backfield on a 36-yard scoring pass. Jacobs then caught the ball for the two-point conversion with 33.9 seconds to play and it was 15-0 Seminoles.

Following a touchback on the kickoff, Gosnell would fumble the ball away and Osceola recovered at the Pirates 21 yard line. Gosnell would, however, get out of the jam without surrendering any additional points, as a Seminole touchdown was called back by a penalty and a field goal try by Jeremiah McGowan on the final play of the half would be unsuccessful.

“I thought we had too many penalties,” said Seminoles head coach Robert Hooks, Jr. “We missed a few throws and we left some points out there, especially in the first half. But I liked our intensity overall. We just need to keep our heads and play smart.”

Following several offside penalties by Osceola on the second half kickoff, Gosnell would eventually take over at their own 48 yard line.

Gosnell would try to advance the ball through the air but would be unable gain a yard as three straight passes were knocked down by the Seminoles. After a short punt, Osceola would take over at their own 31 yard line.

Two Jacobs’ runs moved the ball to the Pirates 48 yard line and a 16-yard run by Bell moved it to the Gosnell 32 yard line. After an ineligible man down field penalty against the Seminoles, Bell scrambled for 15 yards and a holding penalty on the Pirates gave Osceola a first down at the Gosnell 12 yard line. After an offside penalty on the Seminoles, Jacobs ran for six yards. Bell than found Jacobs open at the Gosnell 1 yard line. On the next snap, Bell snuck the ball in to make it 21-0 with 6:23 to play in the quarter.

McGowan’s kick was good and it was 22-0 Osceola.

On the ensuing kickoff, Osceola recovered the ball when the Pirates mishandled the ball at the 9 yard line.

The Seminoles would be unable to get the ball in the end zone and McGowan would convert a 26-yard field goal with 5:01 remaining to make it 25-0.

In the final period, the Pirates would finally get on the scoreboard on a 4-yard run by Allen with 7:52 remaining. The Gosnell two-point try would be unsuccessful and Osceola held a 25-6 advantage.

The Pirates would force a turnover on downs at the Osceola 41 yard line moments later and Allen found Jacobs for 29 yards. However, two plays later, an Allen pass would be picked off by Bell at the Seminoles 5 yard line and the junior would return the ball 95 yards for a score to make it 31-6 with 4:20 to play.

The Pirates would add a late score as Jacobs ran the ball in from 9 yards out to set the final score of 31-12.

The Seminoles would hold the Pirates run offense to a total of 85 yards on 32 carries, while the Seminoles gained 123 yards on 38 attempts. Bell and Washington combined to go 10 of 19 through the air for 196 yards and two scores, both by Bell.

Both the Pirates and the Seminoles are off next Friday. Gosnell (1-2) returns to action Sept. 27 in its 3-4A conference opener at Highland (2-0). Osceola (1-1) opens 3-3A play Sept. 27 at Hoxie (1-2). Both games are set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.