Thomas and Queen account for all the east side touchdowns
Zephyrhills High School running backs Jaylin Thomas and Willie Queen were the stars of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Pasco County All Star game giving the east squad a 21-6 win over the west Friday night.
Thomas scored a pair of touchdowns in the first half on runs of 10 and three yards and Queen added another in the third quarter on a 20-yard TD scamper to provide all the scoring for the east squad.
“This is like a super team,” Thomas said. “It feels good to wear this helmet one more time. You can’t take it for granted. I’m glad I get one more game with these guys. It’s special to play one more game with them.”
The win provided the east the edge in the game’s seven year history with a 4-3 advantage. In all four of the east’s wins, a Zephyrhills player has scored a touchdown.
The FCA All Star Game is a senior-only high school career finale for these players. It is the last time the players represent their school.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Zephyrhills linebacker Theotis Smith added an interception.
The east defense was too much allowing the west to just score on field goals of 45 and 39 yards.
Zephyrhills quarterback Jaxson Rivera made his presence known with strong runs where he plowed through defenders.
In the opening half, the east ran 27 plays and 25 of them were runs by Thomas, Queen and Rivera.
“It has been an awesome experience,” Rivera said. “Meeting kids from different schools, it’s just awesome to be on the same team with them. It is awesome to play one more. When we lost in the first round of the playoffs, it was devastating. To be able to play one more time is something special and something I won’t forget.”
Tymar McKever played tough at safety and TJ Jackson provided some excitement in the second half at receiver.
Zephyrhills Christian Academy had a pair of lineman Reggie Pry on defense and Austin Henderson offense to help supply power in the trenches.
“This is amazing,” Pry said. “These are amazing players on this team.”
Henderson has history with his teammates.
“I’ve grown up with a lot of these boys,” Henderson said. “This is so much fun.”
While Pasco had a tough season. Javon Jeune played on both sides of the ball as defensive end and as fullback to block for his Bulldog teammates. Cody Tadlock added some beef on the offensive line to open holes for the running game.
“Some of us are rivals, but being as a team, we feel we can get it done,” Jeune said. “We have been working together for the last two weeks. This is a lot of fun. Whoever created this, it was a good idea.”
Not only were senior football players selected for the game, but cheerleaders made an All Star squad as well. Emily Kirk and Madison Long represented ZHS, Kylie Weiser and Haley Enea represented Pasco.
It wasn’t a night to remember for some of the Cypress Creek players as two passing touchdowns to Coyote receivers and a pair of CC rushing touchdowns were called back because of penalties.