SOPHOMORE MAKES BIG PLAYS IN QUARTERFINAL WIN

Two years ago the Bearcats beat Osceola in a Class 3A quarterfinal playoff game in Bearcat Stadium when a sophomore was involved in a key play at the goal line.

Friday night another sophomore made two plays that helped the Bearcats beat the Seminoles again, this time in Osceola, 35-20.

The Bearcats (11-2) and Seminoles (8-4) were in a 14-14 tie with about four and a half minutes left on the third quarter clock but found themselves facing a fourth-and-12 at the Seminole 31-yard line.

Sophomore Jace Washburn got free and Peyton Tatum hit him for 30 yards to the 1.

That would give the Bearcats 101 yards passing on the night.

Two plays after the completion fullback Cody Elliott bulled into the end zone and Marcos Mullor kicked the point after for a 21-14 lead with 3:18 left in the third quarter.

Elliott logged 20 carries for 91 yards on the night.

Osceola punted less than a minute later but forced a Bearcat punt to get the ball back with 11:59 to play.

A 38-yard touchdown pass got the Seminoles within 21-20 but a two-point conversion attempt saw at least four Bearcats push the Osceola ball carrier backward with Lance Sims and Tatum among those finally assuring there would be no lead change.

Washburn (shown) returned the ensuing kickoff to the Bearcat 42 and Dax Goff rumbled 58 yards on the next play to make it 28-20 with 9:45 to play.

For Goff that continued a night in which he both set a new single season rushing record, surpassing Ronnie Littleton’s 1967 yards in 1978, and eclipsing 2,000 yards. He also threw for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and ran for a two point conversion.

Osceola attempted a fake punt on its next possession but Dunn Daniel broke up a pass and the Bearcats had the ball back at the Seminole 27.

Four straight Elliott carries got the ball to the 3 but a fifth give to the senior would result in a yard loss.

Goff carried the next down and the ball came loose at the goal line but was eventually recovered in the end zone by Trace Hall and it was 35-20 with 4:28 remaining.

Osceola was unwilling to concede even after a holding penalty and a Chase Plymale sack -- he had 2.5 takles for a loss -- converting third-and-26 with a reception on a deflection going for 39 yards.

Another 30-yard catch and run was sandwiched between a pair of pass breakups by Conner Lentz before Washburn came through again.

This time it was with a leaping interception in the end zone with 2:18 to play.

One first down later the Bearcats were in victory formation, beating Osceola for the third time in five years.

The Bearcats had started the game with a 32-yard kick return from Goff that was further enhanced by a facemask penalty.

However Osceola forced a turnover on downs.

The Seminoles had an errant snap and lost 27 yards on their first play. Demari Poole made the stop and made another after a pass interference flag gave the Seminoles some breathing room.

After an Osceola punt the Bearcats fumbled and Osceola took advantage of the turnover to go up 8-0, scoring on a fourth-and-7 from the 13.

Hall returned the kickoff past midfield but the Bearcats ultimately suffered a second turnover when a Tatum pass was deflected, then intercepted.

After the turnover Osceola lost a score to an ineligible receiver down field call and would punt, but the Bearcats started their next possession at their 16.

Goff got 56 yards on the first play of an 84-yard drive and he completed the drive by throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Brooks Herrera.

Goff followed his second touchdown pass of the season with a two-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8.

Goff would disrupt the next Seminole possession by forcing a fumble on what would have been a first down pickup. Herrera recovered the loose ball at the Bearcat 37.

Goff ran for 8 then got behind the Osceola defense and took a pass from Tatum 55 yards for a touchdown to
make it 14-8. A two-point try failed.

Osceola started its next possession with a reception off a deflection that went for 33 yards and would tie the game on a 5-yard run 1:47 before halftime but Brendan Dove stopped a two point try.

The second half began with Osceola punting after Washburn batted away a third down pass.

Elliott then ripped off 29 yards to start the drive that led to the Tatum-to-Washburn pass and Elliott scoring to give the Bearcats the lead.

The Bearcats now move on to the semifinals for the 22nd time in school history and will face 3A-2 top seeded Melbourne (13-0), a 21-20 winner at Glen Rose Friday.