It will be a reunion of sorts when the Boyd Yellowjackets meet the Palmer Bulldogs Friday in Boyd.

Seven former Boyd (0-1) football players who played for legendary coach J.G. Cartwright will be coaching against each other.

Boyd’s Brandon Hopkins, Jason Sanders, Matt Rawlings and Joe Whatley will be going against Palmer’s Duke Dalton, Joe Bounds and Blake Bost.

“It’s fun and kind of a rivalry deal,” Boyd head coach Hopkins said. “We will talk during the week but have to be careful about what we say. They have a good team.”

Dalton is in his third year at the helm of the Bulldogs, and Hopkins says with so much familiarity both teams are very similar, so it should make for a good matchup.

Palmer is coming off a very impressive 60-0, win over Kemp, where they racked up 679 yards of total offense.

Hopkins is still in search of his first victory after a heartbreaking, 34-27 loss to Gunter last week. The Yellowjackets had their chances but could not come up with the plays they needed to.

“We played pretty well,” Hopkins said. “We just had some bad mistakes that cost us.”

According to Hopkins, it’s just a matter of time before things start to gel because offensively so many kids are in new spots this season.

“When you look out there and see only one guy out there in the same spot as last year, you have to remember there is a learning curve,” Hopkins pointed out.

There is not much time to get everything to come together. Unlike a lot of teams in the area, Boyd only has four pre-district games before they start counting them for real.

Hopkins knows he has to take advantage of this time.

“It would help us to get a win under our belt to get a little confidence before district,” Hopkins said. “We have a seven-team district, so when we get to that fifth game, district is right there.”

PALMER (1-0) AT BOYD (0-1)
7:30 p.m. at Yellowjacket Stadium

Boyd: Harris Rating 201

Notable: Seven former Yellowjackets will be coaching against each other when these two teams take the field Friday.

Palmer: Harris Rating 194

Notable: Palmer had no trouble in their opener, easily getting past Kemp, 60-0.

Harris line: Boyd by 7