Spears accounts for five touchdowns as Osceola shuts out Manila

Osceola 32, Manila 0

OSCEOLA — Deion Spears ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more as Osceola pulled away from Manila for a 32-0 homecoming victory Friday night.

The Seminoles broke a scoreless tie with two second-quarter touchdown runs, then scored on two third-quarter possessions to take control. Their defense kept Manila out of the end zone throughout, with Julius Jones and Javen Brown adding fourth-quarter interceptions.

Osceola improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play, according to the broadcast. Its postgame statistics credited the Seminoles with 370 yards of offense and Manila with 65.

The first quarter offered little indication of the eventual margin. Osceola moved the ball on its opening possession behind Kylan Bragg and Adrian Davis, but a mishandled snap gave Manila possession near midfield. The Lions advanced into Seminole territory before the Osceola defense stopped the drive on downs.

The defensive front kept disrupting Manila quarterback Gabe Gonzales. Fabious Hughes and Deizel Freeman combined to help end an early possession, and Freeman continued pursuing plays into the backfield and toward the sideline.

Osceola finally broke through midway through the second quarter. Spears completed a pass to Khamajh Poole, who was stopped at the 1. Spears took the next snap under center and crossed the goal line with 7:01 remaining. The extra-point attempt missed, leaving the lead at 6-0.

Bragg helped move the Seminoles into scoring position again. With 52 seconds left in the half, Spears scored on another one-yard keeper. Another missed kick made it 12-0 at the break.

Osceola’s opening third-quarter drive survived a fourth-down situation when Manila jumped offside. Spears later kept the ball, worked through traffic and broke tackles on a 27-yard touchdown run with 9:25 left. Poole ran for the two-point conversion, extending the lead to 20-0.

Manila moved near midfield on its next possession, but Freeman and a group of pursuing defenders stopped a sweep for a loss. The Lions were forced to punt, and Osceola again turned possession into points.

Bragg’s first-down run helped the Seminoles move deeper into Manila territory. Spears then faked a throw toward the outside before finding Poole open down the middle for a 13-yard touchdown. The two-point attempt failed, leaving Osceola ahead 26-0 with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter.

Dedrick Coleman supplied the final score. On third-and-three, he caught Spears’ pass, cut back across the field and escaped for a 52-yard touchdown with 8:45 left in the game.

The defense finished the shutout. Jones intercepted a pass on Manila’s next possession. Brown appeared to make another interception in the final minute, only to have a penalty erase it. On the next play, Brown intercepted another throw and returned it into Manila territory.

Osceola’s postgame totals credited Bragg with 84 rushing yards on 11 carries and Davis with 46 on eight. Spears was credited with 43 rushing yards while accounting for all five touchdowns.

Scoring summary

Second quarter, 7:01 — Osceola: Deion Spears, 1-yard run (kick no good). Osceola 6, Manila 0

Second quarter, 0:52 — Osceola: Deion Spears, 1-yard run (kick no good). Osceola 12, Manila 0

Third quarter, 9:25 — Osceola: Deion Spears, 27-yard run (Khamajh Poole two-point run). Osceola 20, Manila 0

Third quarter, 2:49 — Osceola: Khamajh Poole, 13-yard pass from Deion Spears (two-point run unsuccessful). Osceola 26, Manila 0

Fourth quarter, 8:45 — Osceola: Dedrick Coleman, 52-yard pass from Deion Spears (kick no good). Osceola 32, Manila 0

Players who stood out

Deion Spears, Osceola — Three rushing touchdowns and two touchdown passes; broadcast credited him with 43 rushing yards and 124 passing yards

Kylan Bragg, Osceola — Broadcast totals: 11 carries for 84 yards

Adrian Davis, Osceola — Broadcast totals: eight carries for 46 yards

Khamajh Poole, Osceola — 13-yard touchdown reception, successful two-point run and a reception to the 1 before the first touchdown

Dedrick Coleman, Osceola — Turned a third-down completion into a 52-yard touchdown

Deizel Freeman, Osceola — Repeated backfield pressure and pursuit, including a third-quarter stop that helped force a punt

Julius Jones and Javen Brown, Osceola — Fourth-quarter interceptions to help preserve the shutout