From Big Hit To Friends

Alex Sampson remembers the first time he met Zephyrhills High teammate Gage Hayes, who he only knew as the kid walking around the weight room barefoot freshman year.

"At one practice, we were matched up and he hit me, and I was like, 'Whoa'," said Sampson. "I gave him his props. We've been friends ever since."

Hayes' first memory of Sampson was hearing him talk - more like yell - on the field. It's a trait that has never seemed to go away.

"I was like, 'Who is this kid?'" Hayes recalls saying to himself. "But then he started backing it up, so I was OK with it."

The friendship for the two receivers and defensive backs has carried into senior year for both. And after spurring on many of the Bulldogs' big defensive plays last season, both are looking forward to becoming a bigger part of the Zephyrhills offense in their final seasons.

That, of course, remains to be seen, as Coach Tom Fisher's offenses have been predicated on running the ball in the past. But with quarterback Tyler Guy entering his second year as a starter, and showing off more poise and accuracy to go with his strong arm in the spring, all of the elements are there to make this year's Bulldogs some of the most explosive yet on offense.

"Hopefully we can still be balanced, but those guys have good hands and are smart football players," Fisher said of Sampson and Hayes. "We've got three and four wide receiver sets in the playbook, but it depends on them if we're going to use it. They're going to have to earn it."

And by earn it, Fisher means blocking well in the run game and staying focused when the play isn't called for them. While Sampson admits that all any receiver wants is to be the center of attention, he is quickly adapting to Fisher's ways.

"In the game you just want to be in the spotlight, but I realize it's more than that," Sampson said. "The team needs to spread the ball around and let everyone be in the spotlight."

Hayes, the backup quarterback last year, is one of the team's fastest players with a 4.5-second time in the 40-yard dash. You'll hear no argument from Sampson, who runs a 4.7 but probably has the edge in strength thanks to his days on the defensive line.

After recording 6.5 sacks and five interceptions as an end last year, Sampson has moved to safety where he thinks college scouts will take more notice. It adds to an already loaded Zephyrhills secondary.

The entire unit has improved in part because of new receivers/defensive backs coach Gerrell Cogman, a former Bethune-Cookman player who has taken not just coaching, but conditioning to a new level.

"He demands perfection," Hayes said. "If we do something good, but it's not perfect, it's not right."

For this pair, who both aspire to play college football, it is a perfect combination. Now, the focus will be taking it to the field, and getting Zephyrhills back in the playoffs.

"Our strongest thing, both of us really, is run after the catch," Hayes said. "If we can get the ball in space ..."

Chimes in Sampson, "... that's where we're going to get 'em."