In a matchup of the pass-happy attack versus the yard-churning run game pitting two state ranked teams, it was Osceola's relentlessly pounding rushing attack that overpowered Fort Pierce Central Friday night.

The Kowboys ran for 325 of their 375 in a 28-14 win over Fort Pierce Central Friday at Kowboys Field.

Laderrien Wilson (23 carries, 134 yards) and Edtwain Black (10-114) each topped the century mark on the ground, and Black added a touchdown catch.
Defensively, Osceola (2-1) did enough to bottle up the Cobras (2-1) up-tempo spread passing attack. Carlos Becker had two interceptions and North Carolina State signee Riley Nicholson had three tackles for loss in what OHS Coach Doug Nichols called the team's best defensive effort yet.

"It's a nice bounce back and a good win for the kids," he said, referring to a 29-28 loss to ranked Lake Mary last week that came down to a failed two-point conversion in the waning seconds. "I knew we'd be young on offense, and these kids showed they don't lay down. There was no hanging their heads when they came in this week."

Osceola came in ranked seventh in the Associated Press' Class 7A poll and 21st in the Bright House Networks all-class poll.

The Cobras, led by quarterback Jake Celidinio, were ranked fifth in 8A. The junior signal caller was 23-of-42 for 210 yards and one touchdown and the two Becker interceptions.

Osceola took a 14-0 lead thanks to a blazing three minute stretch during the first quarter. After forcing a Cobras' three-and-out, the Kowboys bucked their running trend as quarterback Isaiah Wilson hit Black on a 50-yard seam route for a touchdown. Armani Helligar made an open-field special teams tackle on the ensuing kickoff at the 4-yard line, then Carlos Becker's interception gave OHS back the ball in Cobras' territory. Laderrien Wilson validated it with a 31-yard touchdown run.

Late in the first quarter, FPC's Bill Sauveur recovered a fumble, and the Cobras turned it into points in the second quarter on a 17-yard pass from Jake Celidonio to Mike McInnis. But Osceola answered with a 13-play, 80-yard drive that churned 7:33 off the clock. Five Kowboys touched the ball on the drive, the last one by Nazayah Brown on a 5-yard run that made it 21-7.

Celidonio and the Cobras mounted a drive before halftime, but Becker snuffed it out with his second interception.

FPC, looking for an answer coming out of the half, was stopped on two fourth downs in the third quarter, but the Cobras pulled to 21-14 with 7:27 left in the fourth on a 1-yard plunge by Justen Hodge. But Osceola answered with another clock-grinding, ground game-showcasing drive, going 80 yards in 10 plays and leaving just 2:25 on the clock when Black went around the left end for a 28-yard score that de-fanged the Cobras for good.

Nichols said he knew he'd need a solid effort from the young offense that dominated the clock and the chains.

"As long as we worked the clock and went first down, first down, first down, we could keep that offense over there off the field," he said. "We knew they would work fast, and our kids responded."

Wilson said once Osceola found its offensive rhythm, the huddle knew it wouldn't be stopped.

"We found plays to pop and we did," he said. "We didn't like the loss last week, and the team met to talk about leadership. We've decided the rest of the season is personal.

Osceola begins District 7A-5 play next week at home against winless Liberty.