Cypress Creek looks to cap off record-setting season with playoff berth, district title

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla.- Pasco County’s newest varsity football program of six years has made history already through eight games. 

The Cypress Creek Coyotes won in exciting fashion last week against Parrish Community when Mike Johnson’s crew defeated the Bulls 30-27 in overtime. The win brings Cypress Creek’s record to 7-1, now setting a program best moving forward. 

With the victory, the Coyotes surpassed their 2019 win total of six and now have set their sights on clinching the school’s third playoff berth and a chance at a district championship when they face Zephyrhills on the road Friday night. 

The Coyotes will need a little bit of help, though, with trying to chase a district crown as Pasco would need to lose to Wesley Chapel tomorrow night in order for Cypress Creek to win the Class 3A-Suburban, District 7 title. Cypress Creek’s only loss of the season came against Pasco 39-18 back on Oct. 3. 

Now the Coyotes will have a shot at redemption, but it comes against the district’s prohibitive favorite all season long in the Bulldogs. Zephyrhills has been 3S-7’s favorite all year long because of the Bulldogs’ arduous schedule and bevy of talent at the skill positions. 

The player that Cypress Creek will certainly have to keep tabs on us sophomore star wide receiver/safety DJ Pickett. Pickett, who is being courted by Power 5 schools across the country, has been an factor on both sides of the ball. 

Pickett through eight games has accumulated 527 yards and 27 catches with seven touchdowns along with 27 tackles and four interceptions. Leading the way on the ground for Zephyrhills is running back Rodney Smith at 669 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Throwing the ball to Pickett and handing off to Smith is quarterback Brendyn Colella, who transferred to Zephyrhills in the off-season from Wiregrass Ranch. Colella has done a nice job as the Bulldogs’ signal caller, completing 57-of-92 passes (62 percent) for 840 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Colella will be countered by Cypress Creek junior quarterback Jack Niemann, who has posted some of the program’s best numbers at the position despite Owen Walls graduating just last year. Niemann, a junior, has completed 108-of-182 passes for 1,574 yards, 17 touchdowns versus just five interceptions. 

There’s been other major contributors on the offensive side of the ball for the Coyotes, including running back Malachi Askin (843 yards, 12 touchdowns), wide receiver Shaan Patel (738 yards, six touchdowns) and Milton Gracia (200 total yards, two touchdowns). 

What has hindered Cypress Creek from reaching its full potential has been the rash of injuries that have hit the team all year. The defense has had to endure the loss of players like linebacker Logan Falk and defensive lineman Vincent Tre. Players like junior linebacker Coy Martin (46 tackles) and senior Alex Dulaski (61 tackles) have had to step up in place of Falk and Tre being out. 

Now Cypress Creek will face its toughest test of the season in Zephyrhills with an opportunity to make the 3S-7 district race a lot more interesting. The Coyotes are looking for a chance at redemption from their one loss of the season to the Pirates with a shot to make a play for the district championship. 

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.