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Bulldogs Keep Hopes Alive

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 25, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - At times it was hard to tell who was more distracted during Zephyrhills' homecoming - those in the long line trying to get their programs autographed by the Bulldogs' greatest player ever, or the 35 or so current Zephyrhills players on the sideline.

But despite all the hoopla surrounding the retirement of NFL veteran and 1998 Zephyrhills graduate Ryan Pickett's No. 79 jersey, the Bulldogs did just enough to keep their state playoff hopes alive in Class 3A-District 8, scoring the game's first three touchdowns to beat winless Wiregrass Ranch 21-6.

"District or not, we needed a win, especially with homecoming," Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher said. "We survived all this chaos going on."

There appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary going on in the first quarter, as the Bulldogs (3-4, 2-1) held the Bulls (0-7, 0-3) to 0 yards of offense, scored on their opening drive, which ended with a 5-yard pass from Tyler Guy to Alex Sampson, and got a 40-yard punt return TD from Kylend Poston. Michael Peterman (102 yards rushing, 48 yards receiving) paced the ground game.

But after a 3-yard touchdown run by Alex Paniagua and ensuing extra point made it 21-0 in the second quarter, Wiregrass Ranch's pass offense befuddled the normally stout Zephyrhills defense.

Bulls quarterback James Tringali (11 of 23, 139 yards) started 1-for-8 but completed four passes in a row before halftime, three to Blake Burch, who finished with seven catches for 82 yards. A Josh Johnson 10-yard scoring run made it a two-score game at the half.

After halftime, Guy (13 of 18, 190 yards) and Sampson (eight catches, 94 yards) continued to hook up, and along with Peterman's running, Zephyrhills was able to control the clock just enough.

Z-Poston 40 punt return (Guy kick)

Z-Paniagua 3 run (Guy kick)

WR-Johnson 10 run (kick failed)

SAINT STEPHEN'S 24,

BISHOP McLAUGHLIN 21

BRADENTON - Junior running back Cameron Ayala broke the three-year program's single-game rushing record for the third time this fall with a 213-yard performance to lead St. Stephen's (5-2) past Bishop McLaughlin (3-4).

The Hurricanes, riding a three-game winning streak, stunned the crowd in the first quarter when defensive back Jeff Pope stripped the ball from freshman quarterback Adam Vining and raced 79 yards for a touchdown.

After the Falcons got a field goal, Pope scored on a 34-yard run in the second quarter for a 13-3 advantage.

Bishop McLaughlin's final score came in the fourth quarter when Ryan Bebble raced down the right sideline for an 87-yard TD on a kickoff return.

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