Zephyrhills Athletic League kicked off the 2021 football season with a four-division sweep of the Davenport Patriots.
The morning opened with the ZAL Flag squad taking a 19-13 win behind a pair of touchdowns from Kymani Bullard and a score from Rishon Pickett.
In Mighty Mite action, the Bulldawgs dominated with a 31-6. Ryder Pickett scored two touchdowns. Ex’zavior Kelly, Troy Thomas and Joseph Young each added touchdowns in the lopsided win.
The Pee Wees kept the dominance rolling with a 41-0 win over the Patriots. The Bulldawgs got a pair touchdowns from Xaviar Dillard and scores from Zion Johnson, Cayden Sims, Arkaevis Hicks and Caleb McCoy Mobley. Adding to the scoring was Major Brown.
The finale came with the Junior squad taking a 21-0 win in a game shortened at halftime due to lightning. Saniyn Black put the team on his back scoring all three touchdowns and rushing for a pair of extra points. He also came away with a fumble recovery on defense. Tyson McCullough added an extra point.
“The first games of the year and four wins,” said ZAL President Damien Pickett. “Hard work pays off. We’re just getting started.”
In a special ceremony during the halftime of the Mighty Might, Pickett and Valerie Vann of ZAL presented a memorial sign to the family of long-time ZAL volunteer Jim Swailes, who passed away last month. The sign has been placed at the entrance to the football field at Krusen Field, the home of the Bulldawgs.
