ZCA defeats IMG Blue 38-0
Dontrevius Jackson rushed for 157 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Zephyrhills Christian Academy to a 38-0 win over IMG Academy Blue Thursday night.
Jackson, a transfer from Bishop McLaughlin, has been a workhorse for the 8-1 Warriors in their bid to be the top seed in the region in next month’s state playoffs. The senior has rushed for 1,558 yards on 119 carries scoring 18 touchdowns.
“The kid is a stud,” said ZCA Coach Mike Smith. “He runs the ball hard. We’re sitting him more on defense so he can carry the load on offense for us.”
Jackson more than joined a football team when he came to ZCA. He gained a family.
“First day I was here, coach Mike said we were going to be a family,” Jackson said. “He didn’t lie. The goal for this team is a state championship. Nothing less or nothing more.”
EJ Allen Jr. was a highlight reel as he ripped off an 51-yard punt return for a touchdown. Allen appeared as if he was going to let the ball bounce and be downed, but he scooped it up and flew through the IMG punt team for a score. Allen had a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown called back because of a penalty.
Quarterback Adrian Miller, who filled in for the injured Jayce Nixon, showed off his passing skills late in the first half hitting Andrew Felder on two beautiful slant routes to set the Warriors up with a first and goal from the none. Miller plowed in from the one for the score giving ZCA a 24-0 lead at halftime.
Nixon has been suffering from muscle spasm for much of the season.
“Two weeks in a row, Adrian has come in and turned the game around,” Smith said. “He made a big play and got us going. He is a good ball player.”
In the second half, linebacker Kayleb Samuel stripped the ball from the IMG running back setting up Jackson’s 55-yard TD run to put the Warriors up 32-0.
Miller added another TD lat in the game to put ZCA up 38-0 and force a running cloce with just over nine minutes to play.
The Warriors (8-1) face Orlando Christian Prep (6-1) in a crucial Class 2A Region 2 matchup Friday night at home.