08/22/2026
Special teams miscues prove costly as Zephyrhills falls to The Villages
Special teams miscues and costly turnovers proved too much for Zephyrhills to overcome Friday night as the Bulldogs opened the regular season with a 31-14 loss to The Villages.
It marked the second time in three years Zephyrhills has dropped its season opener. The Bulldogs also lost their 2024 opener against Springstead before rebounding to finish 8-4 and reach the regional quarterfinals.
Bulldogs coach Nick Carroll said the loss will provide an early test of how his players respond to adversity.
“We’re going to see the ones that are going to come back to work, because in our life, you’re going to go through peaks and valleys,” Carroll said. “The ones that are going to be successful are the ones that are going to continue to take on that challenge and not give up.”
The Villages took advantage of a pair of Zephyrhills special teams mistakes to build a 12-0 lead during the second quarter.
The Bulldogs responded when quarterback Josh Howard broke off a long run to move the offense into scoring position. Marcus Gonzalez finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, cutting the Buffalo lead to 12-7.
Zephyrhills regained possession at The Villages’ 42-yard line with a minute remaining in the half but was unable to capitalize, leaving the Buffalo with a five-point halftime advantage.
The Villages quickly regained control after the break. Quarterback Ja’Dence Kennedy connected with DJ Brandt for a 25-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 18-7.
Another Zephyrhills special teams mistake followed when the Bulldogs fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving The Villages possession at the ZHS 22-yard line. The Buffalo scored on the next play to take a 25-7 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Villages continued to benefit from favorable field position and used its consistent offensive attack to stretch the lead to 31-7. Howard later rushed for a touchdown to complete the scoring for Zephyrhills.
Carroll also said the quarterback competition between Howard and Bear Keating remains open. Both took snaps against the Buffalo defense.
“I’m trying to see who’s going to take the reins,” Carroll said. “I’ve got to go back and watch the film. I told them both they have to battle, and who does better in practice is the one who is going to play on Friday night.”
