In a highly anticipated matchup between Zephyrhills and Wiregrass Ranch, it was the Bulls who proved their dominance over the Bulldogs 28-14 Friday night.
after a scoreless first quarter, the Bulls put up 14 points in less than two minutes to take a lead they would never relinquish.
Bulls running back Nate McNeal scampered 19 yards for a touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter and just a few plays later, Wiregrass senior linebacker Ameer Elghazaly stripped the ball from Bulldogs’ quarterback Xzavier Jackson and took off 29 yards for a touchdown.
Zephyrhills was knocking at the door of the end zone when Jackson’s pass was tipped, intercepted and returned to midfield.
The Bulldogs’ offense could not get on track and head coach Nick Carroll believes that his offense hasn’t been in sync.
“We have never gotten a rhythm all year,” Carroll said. “Never. As a play caller, you need that rhythm. We have to bounce back and not point fingers at each other. We have to come together to get past our next opponent.”
Bulldogs defensive back DJ Pickett got his first of two interceptions and set up the Bulldogs at the Bulls 13-yard line. Tristan Lennon took the Bulldogs the rest of the way for a touchdown to close the gap at 14-6.
The Bulls answered quickly when McNeal dashed 45 yards for a touchdown while waving good-bye to Zephyrhills’ defenders on his way across the goal line.
Zephyrhills closed the game again when Jackson hit Kingston McCullough with a 13-yard TD strike and Lennon hit Saniiyn Black with a pass for the two-point conversion to make it 21-14.
Pickett brought a glimmer of hope back with another interception, but it was short-lived. A forward pass that was ruled by one official as an incompletion was ruled by another as a fumble and the Bulls were settled in for another touchdown by McNeal.
“We have to be able to capitalize when we have the momentum,” Carroll said.