The Standard Remains High at Zephyrhills

The Bulldogs enter the 2026 season with several new faces stepping into larger roles, but the expectations surrounding the program have not changed. Fresh off a fifth consecutive district championship, Zephyrhills enters the fall with its sights set on making it six in a row.

Competing in Class 4A, Region 2, District 8 alongside River Ridge, Gulf, Hudson, Pasco, Springstead and Fivay, the Bulldogs enter the season as one of the leading contenders to finish on top of the district.

Much of that confidence starts with one of the area’s premier athletes.

Three-star Pitt commit Saniiyin Black headlines the Bulldogs’ roster after another outstanding campaign in 2025. Black hauled in 38 receptions for 872 yards and nine touchdowns while proving just as valuable on defense, finishing with 51 tackles, three interceptions, three pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. His ability to impact the game in every phase makes him one of the top returning players in the Tampa Bay area.

On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker Zacary Carroll returns as the leader of the defense. Carroll recorded 121 tackles as a junior, the highest returning total in Pasco County, while adding 18 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles. His production, physicality and leadership will once again anchor a defense expected to be among the county’s best.

Replacing the production of quarterback Patrick Harding will not be easy. Harding closed out his career by throwing for 2,563 yards, 33 touchdowns and just four interceptions, leaving behind one of the most productive seasons in program history.

Zephyrhills must also replace running back Roe Miller, who rushed for 1,452 yards and scored 21 touchdowns, along with standout receiver Kingston McCullough, who finished his senior season with 51 receptions for 812 yards and nine touchdowns while also contributing 20 tackles and three interceptions on defense.

Between Harding, Miller and McCullough, the Bulldogs are replacing a significant portion of last season’s production. That creates an opportunity for several younger players to step into larger roles this fall.

Those responsibilities now shift to quarterback Bear Keating and running back Shawn Pope. Both have the talent to step into those roles and continue the Bulldogs’ offensive success. Keating will look to carry on the program’s strong quarterback tradition, while Pope has the opportunity to become the next productive running back in the Zephyrhills backfield.

While much of the attention will be focused on the Bulldogs’ headliners, Zephyrhills has no shortage of contributors expected to make an impact this fall. Tyson McCullough, Jarvis Warren, Jahmir Lamar and Adrian Segura are among the players expected to take on larger roles, while Aiden Martinez, Quinton Single, Tre Hoyle, Kevin Kirkland and Jake Godfrey provide additional depth across the roster. If that group develops as expected, the Bulldogs have the pieces to replace much of the production they lost to graduation.

Entering his 11th season at the helm, head coach Nick Carroll has built one of the most consistent programs in the region. Zephyrhills has compiled an impressive 85-28 record under Carroll and enters 2026 as the five-time defending district champion.

Now, the Bulldogs have their sights set on a sixth consecutive district title.

That level of consistency has become the expectation at Zephyrhills. Year after year, the Bulldogs have found ways to replace standout seniors with the next wave of contributors, allowing the program to remain among Pasco County’s elite.

There will be plenty of new faces in key positions this season, but the standard inside the program has not changed. With Black and Carroll leading the way, Keating and Pope stepping into major offensive roles and a talented supporting cast ready for bigger opportunities, Zephyrhills once again appears poised to remain one of Pasco County’s premier programs and one of the leading contenders to capture another district championship in 2026.

2026 Schedule

Preseason

* Aug. 14 — vs. South Sumter

Regular Season

* Aug. 21 — at The Villages

* Aug. 28 — at Wesley Chapel

* Sept. 4 — vs. Land O’ Lakes

* Sept. 11 — at Springstead *

* Sept. 18 — vs. Gulf *

* Sept. 25 — vs. Fivay *

* Oct. 2 — at River Ridge *

* Oct. 9 — at Hudson *

* Oct. 23 — vs. Pasco *

* Oct. 30 — at Wiregrass Ranch

*District games.