Cypress Creek (Florida) edges out Parrish Community in thriller

The win for Cypress Creek sets up a winner-take-all district championship matchup with Zephryhills next week

WESLEY CHAPEL, FLORIDA- Trailing for most of the game, the Cypress Creek Coyotes needed someone to come up with a play to turn the tables against Parrish Community. 

It would be defensive back Milton Gracia coming up with the play the Coyotes desperately needed to remain unbeaten. 

Gracia’s interception of Jackson Volz late in the fourth quarter helped setup the game’s go-ahead touchdown as Cypress Creek defeated Parrish Community 41-34 to improve to 8-0 on the season. 

The win sets up a winner takes all in Class 3S, District 7 as the Coyotes will face Zephyrhills (6-2, 2-0) for the district championship. For now, Mike Johnson and his guys can take a sigh of relief coming away with another quality win. 

It didn’t come easy by any means against the Bulls of Manatee County, however. 

The Coyotes (8-0, 2-0) took an initial 7-0 lead on a Malachi Askin touchdown run. Turnovers would start to become an issue, though, for Cypress Creek in the second quarter. 

Two turnovers helped setup touchdowns for Parrish Community as Jerone Turner (11 carries, 56 yards) scored on a 4-yard run to give the Bulls a 13-7 lead with 6:57 in the second quarter. 

Dylan Clark’s team wasn’t done yet as Lane Tomlinson added a short 2-yard touchdown run to increase the Bulls’ advantage to 20-7 before intermission. 

Cypress Creek quarterback Jack Niemann (15-of-22, 269 yards) would connect on a 70-yard scoring strike to Gracia (seven catches, 169 yards), cutting the deficit to 20-14 with 1:07 before halftime. 

There’s the Coyotes passing attack we’ve been waiting for. @niemann_jack connects with @MiltonGracia5 who takes off for the 70-yard TD strike. With 1:07 remaining till Halftime, @PCHSBULLSFB leads @StayHowlin 20-14. @Andy_Villamarzo @PascoCountyFB @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL pic.twitter.com/8rLJkXZyhN

— Alejandro Tamayo (@AlexTamayo22) October 21, 2023

The Bulls (7-2) added to their lead in the third quarter, with Volz finding Tomlinson on a 10-yard touchdown pass to give Parrish a 27-14 lead. It looked like the game might start getting out of hand when Volz waltzed in on a 4-yard scoring run to put the Bulls up 34-14 with 4:04 in the third period. 

That’s when the comeback trail started for the Coyotes. Niemann would throw touchdown passes to Gracia and Shaan Patel to narrow the Bulls’ lead to 34-27. 

Askin tied the game up at 34-all with 4:16 remaining on a 10-yard touchdown run. It would setup the next possession where Gracia picked off Volz, setting up the game’s go-ahead score. 

Cypress Creek took its first lead since the first quarter as Askin scored his third rushing touchdown of the night, putting the Coyotes ahead for good 41-34. 8-0 for the first time in program history, the Coyotes now have a chance at history next Friday night. 

COYOTES HAVE THE LEAD!! Askin with his 3rd rushing TD of the night. With 3:06 remaining in the game, @StayHowlin leads @PCHSBULLSFB 41-34. @Andy_Villamarzo @PascoCountyFB @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL pic.twitter.com/asUG8FZ4R4

— Alejandro Tamayo (@AlexTamayo22) October 21, 2023

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-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl