10/18/2025
Bulldogs Pass Seasonâs Biggest Test, Stay Perfect at 8-0 with 20-14 Win Over South Sumter
The Zephyrhills Bulldogs faced their toughest challenge of the season Friday night â and passed with flying colors. A late interception by junior defensive back Tyson McCullough sealed a hard-fought 20-14 victory over South Sumter, keeping the Bulldogs unbeaten at 8-0.
With South Sumter threatening inside the Bulldogsâ 20-yard line and less than a minute to play, McCullough snatched a tipped ball on fourth down to ice the game and send the Zephyrhills sideline into a frenzy.
âIâm running down the sideline telling him to get down,â head coach Nick Carroll said with a grin after the game. âThatâs just a younger kid â anybody could punch that ball out, you know. So, heâll learn. But Iâm proud of him. Thatâs a huge play.â
Zephyrhills drew first blood after a scoreless first half when Roe Miller powered in from three yards out to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead after the extra point. The drive was kept alive by a clutch fourth-down run from Patrick Harding, who escaped pressure and moved the chains with his legs.
South Sumter, known for their physical play and disciplined defense, answered back in the third quarter, knotting the score at 7-7 after a sustained drive.
The Bulldogs had a chance to retake the lead late in the third, but a 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked â a key momentum shift that tested Zephyrhillsâ resilience.
That resilience showed in the final period. With 10:08 left, Harding found Deori Pope on a 26-yard touchdown strike to put Zephyrhills back in front, 14-7.
Moments later, Miller broke free again â this time sprinting 42 yards to the end zone with 4:59 remaining to stretch the lead to 20-7 after the kick failed.
South Sumter refused to go quietly. The Raidersâ backup quarterback Milo Patterson came in and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass on his first play from scrimmage, cutting the deficit to 20-14 with 3:18 left.
But the Bulldogsâ defense â as it has all season â held strong when it mattered most. On fourth-and-six from the Zephyrhills 19, McCulloughâs interception sealed the victory and the Bulldogsâ perfect record.
âI think we had a couple big plays that moved the sticks in second down yardage that kind of gave us some momentum into that third quarter,â Carroll said. âScoring on that first touchdown in the third quarter â thatâs one of our goals every week. And then moving the ball in the fourth quarter like we did was huge.â
The defense, which has been stellar all season, once again delivered in key moments.
âOur defense has been damn good all year, so Iâm really happy for our kids,â Carroll said. âFor us to battle back and get them in negative situations, to make it fourth down, was huge.â
For Carroll and the Bulldogs, the win was extra sweet â their first against South Sumter in his tenure.
âI had to get this crap off my back, man,â Carroll said with a laugh. âWe all watched a lot of film â I probably havenât watched that much film in a long time. I really wanted to get this monkey off my back. We did it, and Iâm really proud of the kids and our coaches.â
With the victory, Zephyrhills remains unbeaten and in full control of its destiny heading into the final stretch of the season. The Bulldogs are back in action next Friday when they travel to Fivay for a district showdown.
