Zephyrhills dominates Cypress Creek in second half en route to district title

The Bulldogs out score the Coyotes 42-7 in the latter two quarters

WESLEY CHAPEL, FLORIDA- Winning three straight district championships isn’t easy. 

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs made it look somewhat, though, in the final two quarters of a de facto Class 3S, District 7 championship against Cypress Creek on Friday. 

Trailing at halftime by seven on the road, the Bulldogs knew what they needed to do. 

Nick Carroll’s bunch scored six second half touchdowns and rolled to a 63-35 victory over the Coyotes. Zephryhills makes it three straight district titles and did it in dominating fashion. 

Everything looked like it would go the Bulldogs’ way from the get go as Zephyrhills jumped out to a 14-0 lead, with Cypress Creek missing a field goal early on. A Tristian Lennon touchdown have the Bulldogs the two-score advantage, but not so fast. 

Bulldogs run game lookin’ unstoppable. Tristian Lennon is bulldozing Coyotes defenders tonight. Here he runs in from a yard out for 6. With 1:44 remaining in the 1st Quarter, @_CoachCarroll_ leads Cypress Creek 14-0. @Andy_Villamarzo @PascoCountyFB @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL pic.twitter.com/0HgqUeAUTa

— Alejandro Tamayo (@AlexTamayo22) October 27, 2023

Coyotes quarterback Jack Niemann connected with wide receiver Shawn Smith on a 56-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead down to 14-7. 

Cypress Creek (8-1) tied things up at 21-21 when Niemann (10-of-20, 138 yards) scored on a 16-yard gallop into the endzone, with 2:19 remaining before halftime. The Coyotes took the lead on a 7-yard Milton Gracia touchdown run. 

Up 28-21 at halftime, there seem to be a different feel about this particular Cypress Creek-Zephyrhills district championship rematch from a year ago. 

In 2022, the Bulldogs ran away with the district crown with resounding 53-13 thrashing. Zephyrhills may have not won in the same fashion, but they reminded folks of their dominance in the series. 

The Bulldogs (7-2) scored three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter and never let their foot up on the gas pedal. Zephyrhills running back Rodney Smith scored on a 6-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 35-28 lead they would never relinquish. 

Bulldogs back on top. RB Rodney Smith runs in from 6-yard out to regain the lead. With 4:22 remaining in the 3rd Quarter, @_CoachCarroll_ leads @StayHowlin 35-28. @Andy_Villamarzo @PascoCountyFB @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL pic.twitter.com/FXpEV4ndMK

— Alejandro Tamayo (@AlexTamayo22) October 28, 2023

What ultimately proved to be the X-factor was the dominance of the Bulldogs’ ground attack against the Coyotes’ front seven. Carroll’s offense piled up 406 yards on the ground, led by tailback Tristian Lennon’s 210 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns. Smith added 105 yards and three touchdowns. 

Zephyrhills ended the evening with 589 yards of total offense compared to Cypress Creek’s 393. 

(Photo credit: Dave Walters) 

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