ZEPHYR – Coming off three consecutive district championships, the Class A Division II No. 11 Zephyr Bulldogs sent a message in their 2025 season opener than they’re still a force to be reckoned with under new head coach Derek Stevens.

Zephyr produced 200 total yards – 156 rushing and 44 passing – on just 12 snaps, scored a total of six touchdowns, and yielded only 24 yards of total offense with a pair of takeaways in a 46-0 thrashing of the Veribest Falcons Thursday night.

“I couldn’t be any more pleased with how the kids started off the season,” Stevens said. “We’ve been told by multiple people that there’s a little doubt around the Zephyr Bulldogs, and the kids have really fed off that motivation and have been working hard. Our motto is death before defeat, we’re going to prove some people wrong and it started well tonight.”

Chayden Woodcock rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns, CJ Byers chipped in 35 yards on the ground and a score, and Bauer Blair hauled in a 44-yard scoring reception and scored another touchdown on a 20-yard fumble recovery.

The Bulldogs (1-0) needed almost half the first quarter to finally wrestle the ball away from the Falcons (0-1), and at the end of the first period had run just four offensive plays. Three of those, however, went for touchdowns as Zephyr carried a 22-0 advantage into the second period.

“Defensively it took a minute to get the first game jitters out and they threw out some different formations that we couldn’t prep for over scrimmage film,” Stevens said. “Once we got the ball Coach (Tyler) Tabor made some good calls, we had a good running game and didn’t have to throw a lot. In our last scrimmage against Cherokee we threw a lot so the were soft at the point of attack, so we ran the ball pretty well and our blocks were great.”

Woodcock scored on carries of 13 and 31 yards, and Byers chipped in a 26-yard sprint to the end zone in the opening stanza.

In the second quarter, Zephyr scored twice more on offense and ended the scoring with a defensive score when Blair scooped up a loose ball with 3:06 left in the second period, as the game ended at halftime due to the 45-point mercy rule.

“It’s always nice to score off defense,” Stevens said. “We had two turnovers, we were a plus on that, and usually when you’re plus in the turnovers it’s usually a good night.”

Earlier in the second period, Woodcock found the end zone for the third time on a 19-yard scamper and Blair hauled in a 44-yard scoring toss from Josiah Gowin.

“This team is together, nobody gets selfish, we’re able to rotate kids in, nobody’s saying they want the ball more or want more defensive reps,” Stevens said. “They know their role, they cheer on each other and because they do that, we’re probably going to beat some teams we’re not supposed to, and beat some teams worse than what we ought to. It’s a good quality to have in a team.”

The Bulldogs will be back in action Friday , Sept. 5 as they hit the road to battle No. 15 Blackwell, which plays its season opener at Aspermont.

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OTHER LOCAL THURSDAY SCORES

Gordon 52, Richland Springs 6

Sidney 22, Strawn JV 6