Male Hot Shot winner: Jaylen Pickett, Zephyrhills
When the going got tough for Zephyrhills running back Jaylen Pickett on Friday night, Jaylen Pickett the wide receiver and defensive back got going.
Stymied in the backfield a week after rushing for 260 yards, Pickett picked off two passes on defense — returning one for a touchdown — and caught an 85-yard touchdown pass to lead the Bulldogs to a 45-14 win over Mitchell.
“Whatever my team needs me to do to make an impact,” said Pickett, a senior. “I don’t want to play an entire game and look back wishing I could have done something.”
Pickett was, well, something else Friday, especially on his 85-yard touchdown catch. With his team leading 21-14 with a 1:44 left in the first half, a defensive stop and the ball to start the second half could have gotten the Mustangs back in the game.
But the Bulldogs checked out of a play and sent Pickett deep and down the middle, where Ty Tanner hit him with an underthrown pass that he twisted to catch and then, after shaking off the safety with a one-hand push, raced in for a crucial score.
“After that they pretty much quit and the stands got real quiet,” said Pickett. “I just knew I had to come down with the ball, and after that it was clear sailing.”
Why he won: If one avenue closes to Pickett, he picks three others. The senior finished with 151 all-purpose yards, six tackles, two interceptions and two touchdowns in the win over Mitchell.