The Osceola Kowboys won their Kickoff Classic, 36-27 over Oviedo Friday, but for much of it they didn't resemble the form that took them to the Class 7A state semifinal the last two seasons.

The Kowboys were able to overcome three turnovers and some costly penalties, and Coach Doug Nichols said his team needs to come forward with more discipline next week when it opens the regular season at home against Orlando Freedom.

"I told them that comes from coaching so this one's on me, but the next one would be on them," he said. "We played a little slow defensively in the first half, and that's not us. I don't know if it was getting all excited to finally play another team and then have a rain delay or what."

While 11 different Kowboys carried the ball led by Laderrian Wilson (10 carries, 115 yards), Oviedo Coach Wes Allen put the game in the hands quarterback Nick Carbone. The junior ran the spread option well, carrying 16 times for 98 yards off the zone read play, and was 6-of-16 passing for 78 yards. He poked holes in Osceola's veteran and vaunted defense on the Lions' opening drive, but that stopped once they reached the end zone, when Dominic Lee intercepted a pass to stop the threat. Osceola took two plays to take the lead on 33 and 40-yard runs, the last to the end zone. Chase Kinglsey's long kickoff return set up the Lions with a short field, Carbone hit -- then took a hit -- Malcolm Bryant in the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown that tied it up.

Oviedo got the ball back with a short field after Jarvis Green's fumble recovery on Osceola's next play, and Carbone gave the Lions the lead with a 10-yard run off the option. The short-field theme continued when Tayshon Pinellas returned the ensuing kickoff past midfield and Edtwain Black tied the game with a 10-yard touchdown run.

Oviedo took the lead back shortly before halftime, helped by Osceola committing two penalties on fourth down to keep the drive alive. Carbone gave the Lions a 20-14 lead into intermission with a 12-yard TD run.

The Kowboys erased the lead on their first two third-quarter possessions. Quarterback Isaiah Wilson hit Nazayah Brown in stride on a 47-yard touchdown pass, then Marcus Edwards put the Kowboys up 28-20 witha 25-yard run.

The teams played mostly the second string in the fourth quarter, when Osceola's So'More Fagan carried for a 33-yard touchdown run and Oviedo backup quarterback Kasden Smith scored on an 8-yard run.
Oviedo outgained their hosts 326-296.