Boyd was knocked out of the 3A Division I playoffs by perennial postseason contender Jim Ned Friday, 42-7, The Yellowjackets ended their 2025 campaign at 5-6 and made their first trip back to the playoffs since 2020 . BRENDAN MARCHAND | WCMESSENGER

Boyd’s first trip back to the playoffs since 2020 came to an end Friday against a proven winner in Jim Ned, 42-7.

Jim Ned broke through twice in the first quarter, first a 45-yard passing touchdown from Cash Gwinn to Garon Beasley and a walk-in score five minutes later from the latter.

Boyd settled in after, keeping the Indians out of the end zone while making a trip of their own in the second quarter.

Boyd coach Shawn Sparks said he saw physicality and discipline from his team at the tail end of the second quarter to keep the game in check and the Yellowjackets firmly in upset territory.

“The kids just play hard,” he said. “I think the big question coming in was could we be physical, and I think we’ve shown we can be.”

After forcing a Jim Ned punt late in the first half, Boyd quarterback Cash Selby and receiver Drew Brinkley connected on a 67-yard pass to move the Yellowjackets to the Jim Ned 13. The Yellowjackets advanced to the 3 after defensive holding was called on the Indians, and senior linebacker/running back Garrett Hunt delivered.

Hunt extended for a diving touchdown reception thrown by Selby to get Boyd on the scoreboard and bring the Yellowjackets within a score (14-7), but it proved to be Boyd’s last trip to the end zone.

The Indians held Boyd scoreless in the third and fourth quarters while piling on 28 points.

Gwinn and Jim Ned receiver Breck Lawson connected for a 14-yard score in the air and running back Aiden Ellis jogged in from the 3-yard line in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Tucker Deal scooped and scored on a blocked Boyd punt and Kaileb Garcia tacked on a 51-yard rushing touchdown a minute later for the final score of the night.

Sparks said the blowout second half was a combination of wear and tear and his team’s lack of playoff experience.

“We’re all pretty beat up, and we’re also playing a lot of sophomores. These kids haven’t played a game that matters in a long time, especially this late in the year, so it’s their bodies and their mentality,” Sparks said. “Jim Ned is a heck of a football team. A normal year for them is a couple of rounds deep, meanwhile none of our kids have played in a playoff game. It’s a whole different animal.”

Boyd ended its 2025 season at 5-6 following the loss. Sparks said despite being bounced in bi-district, this season has been filled with things to celebrate, including the journey back to the postseason that the Yellowjackets have been absent from.

“We’ve really tried to celebrate them and the accomplishments all year. I told them that while I was disappointed for them in how tonight went, I’m so proud of what they were able to do for Boyd this year,” Sparks said. “They helped get Boyd back to where it used to be. We’re headed in the right direction because of that.”

Sparks added that the senior class was not only accepting of his way of running the program, but they embraced the change. He believes if he and the staff had the class of 2026 when they were sophomores, Boyd would’ve been contending for multiple gold balls this year.

“They’re good kids and they’re talented. But old habits are hard to break, and we’ve still got to do some of that,” Sparks said. “Everything is a work in progress and it’ll take some time, but we’re headed in the right direction. To get a true, full offseason is going to be big for us.”

“It’s a great time to be in Boyd.”

Here are our key takeaways from the 3A Division I bi-district game:

Key takeaways

Experienced Indians were in familiar territory

To say Jim Ned is a surefire playoff team would not only be accurate, it would be an understatement.

The Indians haven’t missed the playoff cut since 2016, and since then have lifted a state championship (2020). Deep playoff runs are ingrained into the Jim Ned culture at this point.

That “been there, done that” mentality helped seal the game for Jim Ned. While the Indians were tested in the first half and only led 14-7 when the teams hit the locker rooms, the confidence derived from past postseason experience fueled the second half.

Parks turns in strong performance despite loss

Boyd running back/linebacker Maddox Parks was asked to do more than his fair share against Jim Ned, and he showed up. Against a stout defense that likely knew he was running at them before the ball was even snapped, Parks still racked up 134 yards on 23 carries. 

His two-way play didn’t limit his explosivity, where he registered three rushes of over 20 yards.

The senior’s on-field production, and leadership, will be hard to replace going forward.

Short field proves costly for Boyd

The Yellowjackets were left defending the Indians with their backs already against the wall more than a handful of times Friday thanks to advantageous field position on several Jim Ned scoring drives.

The Indians started two scoring drives on Boyd’s side of the field, and two more began at the Jim Ned 49, making for quick strikes and prime opportunities to reach the end zone.

Boyd’s punting game was the first weak link to open up the favorable field position as the result of a few shanked balls. A number of failed fourth down attempts, while likely necessary to try to hang with the Indians, were the second piece of the short yardage puzzle. 

A bounce back season worth remembering

A football season is rarely satisfying unless you’re left as the last one standing, hoisting a state championship at the end of the year. And while this game likely won’t sit well for Boyd, it’s the first step in reclaiming the prestige the Yellowjacket program once held.

In the last two seasons, Boyd posted back-to-back 1-9 records, a mighty fall for a team that made consecutive playoff trips from 2003-2020 (besides a one-year absence in 2016) and took home the state title in 1983 and 2004.

This year, the fans had more than enough to root for in Boyd’s return to the postseason, including an upset win against Jacksboro early in the season to cement the Yellowjackets’ return under first-year head coach Shawn Sparks.  

A 5-6 record and bi-district loss is just the start for what is being built in Boyd.

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