October 8, 2020 Miscues topple terrifi c ground game for Bulldogs in 14-13 loss at Sickles William Poe turns in a solid performance for the Bulldogs. ANDY WARRENER East Pasco XC teams mix it up at Gator Invite All fi ve east Pasco County teams tested their mettle against a very strong fi eld of cross country teams on Saturday BY ANDY WARRENER Sports Reporter What is usually a late-season testing ground, has turned into an early-season tune up, even as the con- ference meet and post season are the only meets left on the shortened calendar. The Land O’ Lakes Gator Zephyrhills quarterback Jaxson Rivera lets this pass go under pressure from a Sickles defender. ANDY WARRENER Invitational at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Shady Hills brought out the stars on Saturday and those stars shone brightly. committed four off sides penalties, Sickles quarterback Brandon Defending state champions Newsome of Lith- The Bulldog defense and run game did all it Dessi drawing the Bulldog defense off with hard counts. They com- ia in Hillsborough County, placed second in both could to save a hapless string of errors that mitted fi ve personal foul penalties. Two of the four Bulldog comple- the boys and girls team results, senior Keleigh Scal- tions on the night went to Sickles defenders, the fi rst as the Bulldogs lon winning the girls individual title. Pasco County dropped the Bulldogs to 0-2 were driving to the Gryphon 14-yard line and the second to seal the powerhouse Sunlake, the odds-on favorite to win the game in the fi nal minute. County (conference) title this Saturday, won the boys In spite of the apoplectic moments, there were a number of Y NDY ARRENER team title handily. Colby Robbins of Sunlake edged B A W bright spots. Senior Tre Gallimore and junior Maguire Neal had Sports Reporter out Pinellas County Osceola’s Wiliam Stone for the some good kick off and punt returns, Theotis Smith and Dajuan individual title. Osceola, a top-fl ight squad in their McCullough had solid nights on defense, Marc Dortch ran an inter- own right, took third in the boys and won the girls ception back for a touchdown and Roundtree picked up over 230 team title. In spite of it all, the Wiregrass Ranch and Discipline or rather the lack thereof doomed an otherwise note- yards on 20 carries and scored a three-yard touchdown. Cypress Creek boys teams had strong showings. In- worthy eff ort from senior back Zyre Roundtree, his off ensive line The Bulldogs are looking for an identity. They started Raleigh dividual runners from across east Pasco County had and the Bulldog defense. Penalties and miscues happened at just Allen at quarterback. That didn’t really work. They shuffl ed Jaxson big days as well. the wrong moments to doom what was a game that the Bulldogs let Rivera in, that didn’t work, either. They put Timothy Jackson back get away from them. in and that was only marginally better. Wiregrass Ranch “We’re undisciplined,” Bulldog head coach Nick Carroll said. Defensively, they are closer to fi nding that identity. The Bull- The Bulls had the best showing of area teams. “We get these fl ags and we’re third-and-20, third-and-30. We have dogs stymied the Gryphon run game, yielding just 33 yards but The Wiregrass boys placed fi fth among the 15 com- to fi nish drives.” receivers Javohn Thomas and Jakari Williams caught 14 passes plete teams at the meet. Senior Sebastian Hernandez It was agony for Carroll as time and again, the Bulldogs put ®ZHS FOOTBALL: See Pages 4B & 5B themselves in position but squandered the opportunity away. They ®CROSS COUNTRY: See Page 3B Bulldogs rout junior varsity Pirates, 35-7 Host Zephyrhills opens its season with a dominating performance over Pasco in the JV 9-Mile War BY STEVE LEE Sports Reporter While the varsity football teams in Zephyrhills and Dade City tradi- tionally wait until the fi nal game of the regular season to play the 9-Mile War, there was no waiting for the junior varsity version in what has so far been somewhat of a non-traditional season. Zephyrhills hosted Pasco last Thursday and the JV 9-Mile War was anything but close with the host team clobbering arch-rival Pasco 35- 7. Only a touchdown in the fi nal minute of play prevented the Pirates from being held scoreless. Afterward, Zephyrhills coach Raleigh Allen commended his play- ers, especially the ones on the defensive unit, for a solid eff ort in the season opener. He also noted three touchdowns the Bulldogs tallied on turnovers. “Good job defense,” he said, as coaches and players huddled in the south end zone of Tom Fisher Field. “You scored almost as many points as the off ense.” For the Pirates it was their third game of the season, including loss- es to Cypress Creek and Wesley Chapel. They are still seeking their fi rst win. For the Bulldogs, it represented their fi rst game since the JV and varsity squads at Zephyrhills had to be quarantined for two weeks due to an undisclosed player testing positive for the coronavirus. “It reinforces the work ethic,” Allen said of his team’s long wait to play and get the win. “We took a lot of time and put it into the details and we stuck to the details.” Zephyrhills took a 14-0 lead in the fi rst quarter and by halftime the home team led 21-0. The Bulldogs then added a pair of touchdowns in ®JV FOOTBALL: See Page 8B Pasco running back Javonte Robinson tries to turn upfield as a Zephyrhills defender closes in. STEVE LEE 2 B Thursday, October 8, 2020 | Zephyrhills News Did you know? Women diagnosed with (www.reach.cancer.org). Pa- breast cancer who want to tients then look for a match speak with someone who has by searching volunteer pro- survived the disease can do so fi les, fi ltering through sug- thanks to a unique program gested matches and send- sponsored by the American ing an online chat request to Cancer Society. The Reach to volunteers. Patients and vol- AdventHealth Dade City Recovery program from the unteers can then schedule ACS connects current cancer a chat and discuss any con- patients with breast cancer cerns patients may have. survivors via an online chat. Volunteers with the and Zephyrhills host virtual Patients, regardless of where Reach to Recovery program they are in their cancer jour- are breast cancer survivors neys, can connect with volun- who have been trained by teers for one-on-one support. the ACS to provide peer-to- health talks Volunteers can help pa- peer support to people fac- tients cope with treatment and side eff ects ing a breast cancer diagnosis. Volunteers can while also off ering advice on speaking with provide support to patients, but are prohibited Tips for Managing High Blood Pressure friends and family, working while receiving from off ering medical advice. Tune into AdventHealth with Jerry Bishop, MD, board-certifi ed in fam- treatment and more. Even people facing a pos- More information about the Reach to Re- Dade City and AdventHealth ily medicine, Oct. 13, 12 p.m. on the Adven- sible breast cancer diagnosis can sign up. covery program, including how to join as a pa- tHealth Dade City and Zephyrhills Facebook The program works by asking patients tient or volunteer, is available at www.reach. Zephyrhills’ Facebook pages pages. For registration, call (833) 300-2371 or and volunteers to join the program and cre- cancer.org. visit AHDadeCity.com. ate profi les on the Reach to Recovery website each week to watch a variety LINX: A New Option for Acid Refl ux with Naga Thatimatla, MD, board-certifi ed gener- free health talks al surgeon specializing in Bariatrics, Oct. 20, 12 p.m. on the AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Dade City and Zephyr- Zephyrhills Facebook pages. For registration, hills have transitioned their Healthy Happen- call (833) 300-2371 or visit AHDadeCity.com. ings health talks to an online platform. The free Keeping Your Colon Healthy with Sudhir health talks will be broadcast on AdventHealth Kalaskar, MD, colorectal and general surgeon, Dade City and Zephyrhills Facebook pages. Oct. 27, 12 p.m. on the AdventHealth Dade City Physicians will speak on a variety of topics, and Zephyrhills Facebook pages. For registra- including joint replacement, men’s health and tion, call (833) 300-2371 or visit AHDadeCity. pain management. Registration is recommend- com. ed. People who register for a virtual health ta lk will receive an exclusive coupon to the Adven- tHealth Wellness Center Zephyrhills. 24-Hour SCOOTER Emergency & SUPPLY Service We make house calls! We Support Your Independence Now Accepting with Quality Mobility Equipment! VA Referrals! 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