Zephyrhills handle Cypress Creek 14-6
The Zephyrhills Junior Varsity defense bent but didn’t break in the Bulldogs’ 14-6 win over Cypress Creek Thursday night.
The win gives the Bulldog JVs a 2-0 record on the season and extends their winning streak to nine games dating back to the 2020 season.
After a scoreless first half, the Coyotes took advantage of Bulldog penalties in the third quarter to move deep into Zephyrhills’ territory. Three plays later, Cypress Creek to a 6-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered back when Bulldog running back Rodney Smith took the ball at the seven and plowed down to the one, but stretched across the goal line to knot the score at 6-6. The extra point by kicker Christian Clemons put the Bulldogs ahead 7-6.
“Rodney is a pounder,” said coach Raleigh Allen. “He runs hard. Eventually the hammer beats the rock in the end.”
The Coyotes had the ball at its own 20-yard line when the Bulldogs defense tightened to force Cypress Creek to turn the ball over on downs.
“This defense comes to play all the time,” said Allen. “Our thing is always get 11 hats to the football. It is team defense. We flew to the ball.”
The Bulldogs took over at the 20. Smith got the Bulldogs down to the five. On the next play, quarterback Jacavien McGovern finished off the drive through the defense to put the Bulldogs up 13-6. Clemons added his second PAT to give Zephyrhills a 14-6 lead.
“Cypress Creek did a pretty good job and kept us in check,” Allen said. “We have to tighten some things up on offense. It will back to the drawing board.
The defense answered the call in the final three minutes, forcing the Coyotes to turn the ball over on downs again.