Bulldogs quickly surprise Gators

Zephyrhills scores twice in the first quarter, leading to a 14-7 win over Land O'Lakes, which couldn't get its offense moving until the third.

By IZZY GOULD
Published August 26, 2006

LAND O'LAKES - A bus of fury rolled into Land O'Lakes fueled by skepticism and filled with athletes ready to prove the prognosticators wrong.

Zephyrhills was a quiet storm ready to erupt like the lightning flashes blasting on the horizon making for a spectacular backdrop of color.

In a span of three minutes, the Bulldogs rolled down field with a bruising trio of runners, then launched a couple of touchdown passes to stun the Gators 14-7.

"Teams are going to have trouble with Land O'Lakes," Zephyrhills quarterback Sederrik Cunningham said. "No doubt. I'm still wondering how we beat them. ... It's a big win for us. It's a shocker around the conference, let's be honest."

Zephyrhills took advantage of prime field position on both first-quarter scoring drives mostly due to Land O'Lakes' inability to move on offense.

The first drive began on the Gators' 42-yard line and took just three plays. The Bulldogs connected on a 14-yard pass to Michael Floyd for a 6-0 lead. A two-point converstion from Cunningham to Beau Barnes made it 8-0.

After another Land O'Lakes drive stalled, the Bulldogs picked up at the Gators' 40-yard line with Cunningham connecting with Floyd again, this time for a 26-yard catch and dash through several missed tackles to the end zone.

Both drives were set up by runs of 13 and 16 yards by Cannellios Ansley, who finished with 82 yards on 15 carries. Cunningham was 3-of-11 for 64 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. And both of Floyd's catches totaled 52 yards.

"Every game we're going to play is going to be hard," Cunningham said. "This game was hard. I feel as if I almost lost the game for us."

Land O'Lakes came out clicking in the second half after Joe Weatherford's pinpoint passes were repeatedly dropped in the first half.

The Gators broke through with 6:50 left in the third quarter on a 35-yard pass from Weatherford to Develin Robinson to cap a 51-yard drive.

Weatherford completed 15 of 34 passes for 259 yards, one touchdowns and two interceptions. Robinson had eight catches for 162 yards and a score.

The Gators seemed poised to score on their next drive, taking a 10 plays 55 yards to the Bulldogs' 24. On fourth and 14, Weatherford was under pressure and stripped of the football for a turnover.

Land O'Lakes coach John Benedetto, who began his 30th season as head coach, was brief after hugging Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher to wish him a good season.

"That's the most frustrated I've been in my entire life," Benedetto said. "I really don't have a whole lot to say. We just got beat by a better football team."

Contact Izzy Gould at igould@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 26, 2006, 08:15:01]