KISSIMMEE, Fla.—
It’s a January afternoon at Osceola High School. The football season just ended but junior quarterback Chad Mascoe Jr. is out throwing routes with his teammates.
“28 was talking that trash boy,” Chad says as he walks up to the line of scrimmage. Memories from the season are clearly still fresh in his mind.
“Ready go,” Chad says as he snaps the ball to himself and throws a deep out. It comes off his hand effortlessly. He’s a product of years of QB training, however some defenders you can’t see.
“The wind bruh,” Chad mutters to himself as a pass takes on a life of its own.
His brother Bo Mascoe, a sophomore defensive back is also playing. He’s quieter, but hit a growth spurt and is starting to come into his own as a football player as well.
“My brother taught me a lot,” Bo says during an interview in the Osceola bleachers. “I chose [defensive back] because my brother is on the other side and I just like to compete with my brother.”
“Me and him always talking trash,” Chad says. “I feel like he’s going to be way better than me at his position. He a dog I ain’t going to lie.”
“Dog” is how they describe their father, Chad Mascoe Sr. who is watching them play from a nearby bench. Not that long ago he played at Osceola too.
“He was an athlete. I can’t really do everything that he did, being that I’m only at quarterback,” Chad says.
From 1997 to 2000 Chad Mascoe Sr. was mostly a linebacker and running back but he’d do anything the team needed. He played wide receiver, quarterback, defensive back, and even return kicks. Longtime Osceola head coach Doug Nichols was the running backs coach and offensive coordinator when Mascoe Sr. played. He remembers him well.
“He was probably the most versatile guy who has ever played here since I’ve been here,” Nichols says. “We had him all over the field and that’s the reason the picture is hanging in there.”
To this day Mascoe Sr.’s team picture hangs on Osceola’s weight room wall. 1998 5A State Champs the caption on the picture reads. Mascoe Sr. is right in the middle of the first row wearing number five.
“Anybody that played on that 1998 state team we love to see Kowboys state champs up there,” Mascoe Sr. says. “We want to see some more up there, we going to get it.”
After his storied high school career, Mascoe Sr. went on to play linebacker at UCF. He was recruited by schools like Alabama, Florida State and Clemson, but after doing a year of junior college decided he wanted to stay closer to home to help out his mother.
“We had a lot of family there every week,” Mascoe Sr. says. “You know family is big for us.”
Chad Mascoe Jr. was originally committed to Florida State. He decommitted after the program let Willie Taggart go.
“I don’t really have a set school I want to go to,” Chad says. “Just search for a better opportunity, a better fit for me.”
The Family Legacy
Chad and Bo were both born in Kissimmee, but started their high school careers in Thomasville, GA. Chad played his sophomore season at IMG Academy, a national football powerhouse in Bradenton, Fl. After the program made a coaching change, the family decided it was time to come home.
“I’ve always wanted my sons to play for coach [Nichols], coach [Nichols] coached me when I was in high school,” Mascoe Sr. says. “It was a no brainer for me.”
Chad and Bo helped make a good team great. On December 19, 2020 Osceola played Seminole for the 8A State Championship game in Tallahassee. It was the first meeting ever between two teams from central Florida and a chance for Chad and Bo to write their own chapter in the Mascoe family legacy.
“Ladies and gentleman please welcome the Osceola Kowboys!” The PA Announcer says inside Doak Campbell Stadium. The whole Mascoe family is in the stands.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Mascoe Sr. screams. On his left hand, his state championship ring glistens in the Florida December sun.
The faces in the crowd supporting Chad and Bo go beyond just mom and dad.
“I come by and I see everybody in my family in one section and I just feel great,” Chad says.
There are friends and extended family all hoping to witness history. On Chad’s towel is a special dedication to the ones who mean the most.
A Dedication
“It’s my why. It basically explains how come I’m going so hard and why I still do everything that I do,” Chad says about the towel he wears at his waist for every game.
On it you can make out the names of his mom, dad, and sisters. At the top there’s a date for someone who is watching the state title game from a different view.
“Yeah, Cynthia Mascoe,” Chad says. “She’s the person who I feel like If I was going through something I always turned to her.”
February 15, 2020 Chad’s grandmother, Cynthia Mascoe, passed away after a bout with pancreatic cancer.
“It was a sad moment because I felt like she kept our family all together,” Chad remembers.
“My mother was a mom to many,” Mascoe Sr. says. “Not just our kids but to anybody that needed somewhere to eat, somewhere to go lay your head. A lot of people used to go to my mom just to feel loved.”
Unfinished Business
The game versus Seminole didn’t go Osceola’s way. Chad threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter that gave Seminole a 9-0 lead.
“I just kept playing ball,” Chad remembers. “I never felt like I was going to lose the game.”
His second quarter touchdown pass made it a one score game. His cheering section erupted after the play action pass.
“Yessir!” Mascoe senior yelled with joy. Ultimately that would be the only time Osceola found the end zone that day. Seminole was crowned state champs after a 38-10 win.
“They need to take that taste with them and they need to put in their mind every day state championship, state championship,” Mascoe Sr. says. “I believe they will be back.”
That’s why every day after school Chad and Bo are out on their home field working.
“Working hard this summer, spring,” Bo says. “Go back to state again two years in a row.”
They want to win it for everyone who will be watching. The ones in the stands and up above.
“I’ll be back next year. I thought the whole time I’ll be back next year for sure,” Chad says.
“Do you feel like it’s unfinished business?” I ask him.
“Unfinished business…exactly unfinished business.”