By Cindy Peterson
South Lake Makes History with Regional Semifinal Win Over Osceola
South Lake High School made history Friday night, knocking off last year’s state runner-up Osceola 19–13 in the FHSAA Class 6A Region 2 semifinal before a packed crowd at Eagle Stadium.
Quarterback Tre Kelly delivered a breakout performance, accounting for all three Eagles touchdowns, throwing for two and rushing for another, including the decisive 14-yard strike to Isaiah Pina with 4:26 remaining. The win sends South Lake (11–1) to its first-ever regional final.
“It was a great win against a great team,” South Lake coach Brad Lord says of Osceola. “We knew what we were up against, and we knew it would come down to the wire. So proud of both our offense and defense tonight.”
Tre Kelly orchestrated the game-winning 87-yard march, a 20-play drive that showcased both his arm and his scrambling ability. Osceola still had one last chance, driving inside the Eagles’ 30, but on 4th-and-4, running back Jeff Sinophat was stopped a yard short by South Lake defender Tyson Williams, sealing the win.
Osceola dominated much of the second half, reaching scoring range on all four of its possessions. But each time, the Eagles’ defense held firm. A 34-yard touchdown run by Allijah Jenkins was erased by a holding penalty, and sophomore Ahvioume Scott intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart another Kowboys threat.
The teams went to halftime tied 13–13 after trading touchdowns and missed extra points. The third quarter was scoreless, and South Lake produced the lone points of the fourth.
“Every week high school football is different,” Coach Lord says. “Last week our special teams won the game for us. This week our kicking game almost cost us a victory. Our offense and defense picked up the special teams’ miscues. Our student-athletes at South Lake High School are resilient.”
South Lake advances to face unbeaten Armwood (12–0) on the road in next week’s regional final in Seffner. Armwood rolled past Viera 49–0 in its regional semifinal.
Armwood High has given up just 7 points defensively in their last 7 games. Six of the last seven games have been shutouts. This is uncharted water for this South Lake High team. This will be their toughest test yet. That game is set for the day after Thanksgiving on Friday at 7:30pm.
Around the Area
Congratulations to Real Life Christian Academy of Clermont who completed a perfect 13–0 season on Friday. They captured the Sunshine State Athletic Association 8-Man State Championship, defeating Bradenton Christian 38–14.
Mount Dora Christian Academy finished as the SSAA 11-Man State Runner-Up, falling 41–19 to Jupiter Christian in the state title game. Mount Dora Christian finishes with a 12-2 record.
Photos provided by Andrea Rush Photography
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.
