Dead touch spot on replacement screen

I just replaced the screen on my iPhone 5s with a replacement screen from iFixit after the digitizer on my old screen went out. After turning it on, I find that I have a thin dead spot on the screen, right over where the bottom row of keys are on the keyboard (abc, emojis, speaker, space, return keys). It makes it impossible to click the "iMessage" blank in text messages to be able to type a message, not to mention I now have to space by clicking on the predictive text. I tried a firm reset, no fix. Took a peak at the connectors for the screen, all snug and no pin damage from what I can see. Anybody have any insight?

Emailed support, was asked to perform a DFU reset. Going to back the phone up and give this a shot tomorrow afternoon when my wife gets home from work. Pins and cables all look good under a 10x loupe. Cleaned them with a toothbrush dipped in isopropyl. It's strange because the rest of the screen works normally, it's just this one dead spot which is also super inconveniently placed. You have no idea how often you use that little tiny piece of your screen until it doesn't function.