By Brian Knox | Published Sunday, November 8, 2009
With their position in the playoffs already set, the Boyd Yellowjackets had only one thing left to accomplish in the regular season: a district championship.
They accomplished that feat Friday in Millsap with a 42-28 victory over the Bulldogs.
Two scores in the third quarter, one on special teams and another by the defense, secured the win. Leading by only a touchdown entering the third quarter, the 'Jackets scored on the second-half kickoff when Kyle Stearns returned it 80 yards. Edgar Lugo's kick made it 28-14.
Millsap drove nearly the length of the field on their next possession, but Boyd's Alan Cardona intercepted a pass on a fourth down try and returned the ball 88 yards for the score.
Boyd ended the quarter by driving 90 yards, but they were stopped on a fourth and two to turn the ball over to the Bulldogs. However, Millsap fumbled on its first snap, and George Lavigne recovered the ball for Boyd. The 'Jackets scored on the next play when Ryan Wilson went in from two yards out with 11:16 left in the game. Lugo's kick gave Boyd a commanding 42-14 lead.
Millsap added two scores late, but it was too little, too late.
The teams traded the lead in the first half. Millsap scored first on a 1-yard run by Matt Callan with 11:36 left in the second quarter. The score was set up by a Boyd fumble on their own 44 yard line.
The Yellowjackets responded with a 7-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown run by Colton Lyon with 8:49 left in the quarter. Lugo's kick tied the game.
Boyd took the lead with 5:18 left in the quarter when quarterback Tim Fleming scored on a 22-yard run.
Millsap responded with a bit of trickery. After faking a punt on 4th and 9, Zack Littlefield connected with Chris Hicks for a 65-yard touchdown to draw even.
With the first half winding down, Fleming injured his shoulder on a run and had to leave the game. His replacement, Tim Warner, connected with Austin Ratliff on his only pass attempt of the game for a 9-yard touchdown to give Boyd its 21-14 halftime lead.
Boyd finished the game with 373 yards of total offense, 280 yards rushing. Wilson led the team with 146 yards on the ground. Fleming was 6 of 8 passing for 84 yards, and Stearns caught 4 passes for 61 yards.
The Yellowjackets (6-4, 5-0) will take on Pilot Point in a rematch of last year's bi-district game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Springtown's Porcupine Stadium.
Story by Brian Knox from game information provided by Steve Mazzei.
