Booker senior pulls off rare football feat

Hockey is big on names for accomplishments.

Score three goals in a game, that’s a hat trick. (The phrase was actually first used in cricket, but go with it.) A goal, an assist and a fight? That’s a Gordie Howe hat trick. The Mario Lemieux hat trick, such an advanced maneuver, requires a player to score an even-strength goal, a power play goal and a shorthanded goal in one game. I could keep going, but you get it.

Football isn’t as specific with accomplishment labeling, but I have a proposal. The powers that be won’t listen to me, but maybe my readers will. If a player records a kickoff return touchdown, a punt return touchdown and a passing touchdown in the same game, that act shall henceforth be known as “pulling a Ziegler.”

Jermaine Ziegler, to be exact, because the Booker High senior did just that in the Tornadoes’ 39-0 win against Desoto County High on Oct. 13. He started his career day early, taking the opening kickoff to the end zone for a touchdown.

“They kicked it to the right,” Ziegler said. “I was at the 15-yard line when I caught it. I just ran straight. (Sophomore) Jacquez Jones made the perfect block, then I was gone."

The Tornadoes stopped DeSoto County on the game’s next possession, forcing a punt, and yes, Ziegler took that back for a score, too. He added the touchdown pass later in the game, a strike to senior wideout and University of South Florida verbal commit Talik Keaton.

He has returned kicks for touchdowns a few times before, he said, but never had a game like this.

Part of the reason for that? Ziegler isn’t a natural quarterback. He prefers defensive back or wide receiver, both of which he played last season. He’s been thrust into the signal-caller role out of necessity, and as a result the Booker offense has been slow to develop. The Tornadoes were shut out in their first three games. Lately, though, he’s gotten more comfortable in the pocket, and the Tornadoes have been scoring points.

If you were at Booker practice Oct. 17, you wouldn’t have any clue the team has struggled this season. Competing with each other in drills to see who has the fastest reaction time, the team was clowning on whoever lost and slapping the winner — literally, on the helmet — with praise. When I mentioned the positive vibe to Ziegler, his eyes widened and he nodded.

“When you start winning, this is what happens” he said. “People want to come to practice. They want to start having fun again.”

Special teams are a big part of that. Often the least-talked-about phase of football, special teams can be the difference between a win and a loss. Booker would probably have beaten DeSoto County even if Ziegler didn’t have two return scores, but I can’t say that for sure. He sparked the team early so it never had to look back.

If Booker keeps winning in the weeks to come, other teams will notice. “Pulling a Ziegler” may become commonplace after all — well, the expression, anyway.