UP AND AWAY – Boyd’s Chase Graham gets some air while attempting to block a Sanger kick. Messenger photo by Joe Duty
”He’s going to give 110 percent every time,” Boyd coach Brandon Hopkins said about his star running back. “He’s hard to bring down. Once you think you have him bottled up he’s off to the races. He’s a heck of a running back.”
Helping to keep some of the attention off Cardona was the return of starting quarterback Blake McDonald. McDonald sat out last week with an injury but returned this week to throw for 112 yards and a touchdown.
“He [McDonald] didn’t practice until Wednesday,” Hopkins said. “He came out tonight and made the throws he needed to. He had a big throw for a score in the back of the end zone on fourth down and he ran the ball hard.”
Leading 14-13 at the half, Boyd never relinquished the lead in the final two quarters. Cardona got things started midway through the third quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run to give the Yellowjackets a 21-13 advantage.
Sanger came storming back, scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter to push within 21-19. The Indians went for the tie but were denied on the two-point conversion when Sanger quarterback Wyatt Broxson’s pass fell incomplete. It was the first of two big stops on two-point conversions for Boyd.
“We made the big stops that we needed to,” Hopkins said. “There were times we bent a little bit, but we didn’t break.”
Cardona would soon strike again. On Boyd’s next drive Cardona sprinted in from 38 yards out to give the Yellowjackets a 27-19 lead. The PAT was missed keeping it a one-possession game.
Broxton took advantage by scoring on a 4-yard scamper with 2:25 left in the game giving the Indians a chance for a tie.
Broxton would keep the ball on the two-point try but his knee fell at the one-yard line preserving Boyd’s two-point lead.
The Yellowjackets recovered the onside kick and put together a couple of first downs to run out the clock.
“Going in 2-2 feels a lot better than 1-3,” Hopkins said about starting district next week. “It’s a big confidence boost for us.”
Boyd opens district play at Bowie Friday.
GOING DOWN – Decatur’s Michael Partin heads down to join Cole Meador on the ground after bowling over a Sanger defender. Messenger photo by Joe Duty
Boyd … 7 … 7 … 7 … 6-27
Sanger … 6 … 7 … 0 … 12-25
FIRST QUARTER
Sanger – Derek Shelby 10 run; kick failed
Boyd – Michael Partin 23 pass from Blake McDonald; Nathan Thomas kick
SECOND QUARTER
Sanger – Broxson 4 run; kick good
Boyd – Cardona 5 run; Thomas kick
THIRD QUARTER
Boyd – Cardona 7 run; Thomas kick
FOURTH QUARTER
Sanger-Broxson 5 run; pass failed
Boyd – Cardona 38 run; kick failed
Sanger – Broxson 4 run; run failed
BOYD … SANGER
First Downs … 18 … 18
Rushing yards … 206 … 254
Passing yards … 112 … 33
Comp-Att-Int … 7-10-1 … 7-15-1
Punts … 4-34.2 … 4-40
Fumbles … 3/0 … 0
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing – Boyd, Cardona, 23-162; Sanger, Broxson 22-118
Passing – Boyd, McDonald, 7-10-112-1; Sanger, Broxson, 7-15-118-1
Receiving- Boyd, Cole Meador, 1-44, Michael Partin, 1-37; Sanger, Tanner Thomas, 2-11, Devin Teeters, 2-10
AWESOME TEAM-WORK!! Couldn’t be prouder of the way you guys played as a TEAM!! The two goal line stands for the conversion were priceless and as a reward Game Winning!! Proud to be a Jacket Backer!!