Boyd linebacker Garrett Slimp celebrates his late-game pick-6 that sealed the Yellowjackets’ 47-35 win against Callisburg Friday. BRENDAN MARCHAND | WCMESSENGER
Boyd handed Callisburg a late-game defeat Friday to exit non-district play with all the momentum swinging its way.
After blowing an early lead, the Yellowjackets (3-1) rallied from a 28-14 deficit and used three fourth quarter touchdowns to seal the home win. Boyd’s up-tempo offense that it deployed in the second half against a thin Callisburg roster was the X-factor in the win.
“We’ve got numbers, and we try not to play most of our offensive line on defense. We’re not exactly where we want to be yet, and when you play up-tempo, it covers up some of those warts,” Boyd coach Shawn Sparks said. “Their best guys are tapping out late, and we’re playing on.”
An impressive defensive stand by Boyd’s front seven led to a three-and-out on Callisburg’s first drive, which quarterback Cash Selby quickly converted into a 54-yard passing touchdown to Layton Wheeler in the first quarter. The Boyd defense continued to keep the Wildcat offense quiet midway into the second quarter, where the Yellowjackets went up 14-0 on running back Maddox Parks’ 55-yard rushing touchdown.
Boyd’s lead was erased by halftime, where Callisburg rattled off 21 unanswered points, all scored by running back Gabriel Zinski — two on the ground and another in the air as the second quarter expired.
“The first quarter was great, but then we got away from the things that we had worked all week,” Sparks said. “We got a little selfish and started trying to do too much. At halftime, it was just, ‘Hey, do what you’re supposed to do and don’t worry about anybody else. Be physical, be smart and play your game.'”
The Wildcats took the momentum into the third quarter, using their under-center, split-back offense to pound the ball against the Boyd defense for another touchdown four minutes into the second half.
“It’s almost impossible to simulate [that offense] in practice, but our JV got after it this week and gave our guys a good look,” Sparks said. “It’s just about staying lower and being physical.”
Parks answered back with a 20-yard rushing touchdown to bring Boyd within 8 of Callisburg after the extra point attempt failed. The Yellowjackets then forced a three-and-out on Callisburg’s ensuing drive, setting up Selby to run the hurry-up offense and run in from the 34-yard line at the 3:10 mark in the third quarter to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 2.
Zinski caught his second touchdown of the night — a 43-yard strike from quarterback Bowen McAdams — to close out the third quarter and give Callisburg a 25-26 cushion.
The Wildcats’ wear and tear began to show in the final period of the game. With Boyd chipping away at a gassed Callisburg, the penalties began to fall in Boyd’s favor and the shine wore off the visitors.
Callisburg was tagged for pass interference on a Selby end zone shot, setting the Boyd offense up at the 5-yard line where Parks busted across the goal line to once again bring the contest within 2 points with 10 minutes to go.
The Yellowjackets got another shot at the end zone six minutes later after Boyd’s defense forced a Callisburg punt. Parks ran up the middle twice to march Boyd down to the Wildcats’ 40, then moved down to the 15 after the Wildcats committed a dead ball personal foul.
Parks muscled his way into the end zone from the 2 to give the Yellowjackets their first lead since the second quarter with 2:14 to go.
“We got a little ‘fat and happy’ as coach likes to say. We got too comfortable with a lead, but the job wasn’t finished,” Parks said. “Once we started picking up the pace and playing faster, we knew we were going to do good things.”
Callisburg was called for holding on its ensuing kick return, then again on the first play of the drive to move the Wildcats back to their own 17. Boyd linebacker Garrett Slimp used it as an opportunity to effectively seal the game.
On McAdams’ drop back, he was suffocated by Boyd’s defense, and in a desperate move to avoid a sack as he ran into his own end zone, tossed the ball underhanded where it fell right into Slimp’s lap in the end zone — a 0-yard pick-6 to cap off the night.
“I was cutting inside cross face on the guard, and we had [McAdams] pinned,” Slimp said. “He threw it and man, I don’t even know, the ball was just in my hands.”
Slimp’s celebration may have cost Boyd a few penalties as he emphatically launched the ball into the air, but 90 seconds later, Boyd walked off without giving up another yard and secured the victory.
After the win, Sparks said the confidence is high going into district play. Boyd opens up its 4-3AI schedule at home against Ponder Sept. 26.
“I’m just happy for the kids, because it’s something I don’t think they’ve really experienced before,” Sparks said. “You really win games by how you practice Monday through Wednesday. We’ll put this one to bed tomorrow and come out Monday ready to work. We’ll have to play our best game of the year next week.”
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