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North Suncoast Game of the Week: Zephyrhills 50, Pasco 16

 
Bulldog running back Antwione Sims (5) scores on a one-yard run set up by a huge run by quarterback Charles Harmon (12). The kick was good giving the Pirates 1 14-8 lead. The "Nine Mile War" between the Pasco High School Pirates and the Zephyrhills Bulldogs was held at Zephyrhills High School on Friday evening November 6, 2015.
At halftime the Bulldogs are leading the Pirates 14-8.
DAVID W DOONAN | Special To The Times
Bulldog running back Antwione Sims (5) scores on a one-yard run set up by a huge run by quarterback Charles Harmon (12). The kick was good giving the Pirates 1 14-8 lead. The "Nine Mile War" between the Pasco High School Pirates and the Zephyrhills Bulldogs was held at Zephyrhills High School on Friday evening November 6, 2015. At halftime the Bulldogs are leading the Pirates 14-8. DAVID W DOONAN | Special To The Times
Published Nov. 7, 2015

ZEPHYRHILLS — After last week's win over Class 5A, District 8 rival Anclote, Zephyrhills' Reggie Roberts, who went 4-0 as a player against Pasco in the 9-Mile War, said he hoped to get back to .500 in the storied series after coming up short five times as a coach.

He is now 5-5, and 1-5 as a coach, after Friday night's 50-16 win at Bulldog Stadium.

"I never asked them to win it for me, but I heard some of these kids during the week say they were going to win it for me," Roberts said. "It's huge for those people who say we can't win the big game."

Zephyrhills is a district runnerup for a second straight season. The Bulldogs (8-2) lost in the first round to Live Oak Suwannee last season.

Pasco saw its seven-game winning streak in the 9-Mile War end and already knew it would miss the playoffs for a second straight season after a seven-year postseason run. The Pirates (4-6) lead the 58-year-old series 40-18.

Zephyrhills capitalized on five turnovers and the running of Antwione Sims to finally come out on top in the county's oldest rivalry. Kevin Lee had two interceptions and Myles Carter returned an interception 71 yards for a touchdown. Dre'wan Clarke and Leonardo Guzman IV each recovered a fumble.

Sims, a junior who entered with a single-season school record of 1,794 rushing yards this season, gained 289 to head into the playoffs with 2,083. He also scored four touchdowns and has 24 this season.

Zephyrhills led 14-8 at halftime on the first of Tre'un Everett's two touchdown runs and a Sims run sandwiched around a 2-yard quarterback sneak by Michael Penix Jr. But after Penix's score the Bulldogs went on a 35-0 run. They outscored the Pirates 36-8 in the second half.

Freshman Javion Hanner led Pasco with 91 rushing yards and scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter. Penix completed 7-of-16 for 128 yards, including three for 61 yards to Chris Debyah, and gained 46 yards on the ground.

Zephyrhills quarterback Charles Harrison scrambled for 64 yards and Everett rushed for 55.