Sports Update
It's a Smalls world after all: QBs return, solid defense lead East past Boyd
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
MURPHY -- The District 10-5A playoff picture just got a lot more complicated.
McKinney Boyd (5-4, 2-2) failed to clinch a postseason berth Friday night from Kimbrough Stadium and Plano East (5-3, 1-3) thrust itself into the conversation with a 22-20 victory over the Broncos.
"We haven't been ourselves the last several games," said Johnny Ringo, East head coach. "I'm not saying we're all the way back, but this was a step in the right direction."
A game that was never more than eight points apart came down to the final minutes.
Trailing, 15-14, early in the fourth quarter, Boyd apparently caught a break when East muffed a punt and the Broncos recovered. That is until a flag flew and the ball was returned to the Panthers.
"They called a halo infraction," said Don Drake, Boyd head coach. "I'm going to have to go look through the rule book and check the tape because we didn't touch their player ... and needless to say that was a critical call."
East took advantage.
The team marched down a truncated field and extended its advantage to 22-14 following a 2-yard touchdown run by senior Lionel Wills with 6:55 to go. Wills finished with two scores and 106 yards on 26 carries.
It wouldn't take long for Boyd to respond with its most efficient drive of the half as the Broncos moved 77 yards in seven plays. Junior quarterback Curtis Ladd, who completed 14-of-25 passes for 172 and ran for another 35, connected on four straight throws to set up a 5-yard scoring run from senior Bryan Driskell. Boyd's only other serious second-half scoring threat was ended by a field goal block from East senior Nimoy Tennison.
Bouncing back from his worst game of the season a week prior, Driskell surpassed 5,000 offensive yards for his career Friday by rushing for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
But Driskell's second touchdown only made it 22-20 and Boyd had to go for two.
That try, with 5:28 remaining, was unsuccessful.
That was a story of the night for Boyd, which had previously converted a pair of two-point conversions, only to see both recalled by penalties following an early 8-0 East lead.
"We seemed to be chasing that point all night," Drake said.
East milked the majority of the clock following a 4th-and-5 catch from junior Anthony Maioriello, who had five grabs for 57 yards, the last of three fourth downs converted by the Panthers in Broncos' territory.
"Our players trust us and we trust them," Ringo said, "so we are comfortable putting them in those high-pressure situations."
"I like those clutch moments," Smalls added. "It shows what I can do and shows what the team can do."
Boyd got the ball back with less than a minute to go and that last-ditch drive was ended by a sack from sophomore Austin Corbett for the 22-20 East win.
It was a fitting ending for a Panthers defense that was stout much of the night.
"Boyd has a great running back and a quarterback that can run and throw very well," Ringo said. "so I'm really proud of our defensive effort."
"Our defense stepped up in a big way tonight," Smalls added. "You can't ever count our defense out."
East's defense started early with respective fumble recoveries by seniors Jackson Garrey and James Sullivan on Boyd's first two possessions.
"We turned the ball over quite a bit," Drake said, "which really hurt us."
After the Broncos' first turnover, the Panthers took an 8-0 lead following a 7-yard touchdown toss from Smalls to senior Collin Shaw with 7:25 left in the first. That was a popular connection on the night with Shaw catching nine passes for 91 yards.
"Collin gets double-teamed all the time," Ringo said, "but he continues to step up like the big-time, clutch player he is."
Few players may have stepped up more than Smalls though. Having been out since the end of non-district with a right foot injury, Smalls returned against Boyd and, despite still appearing hobbled, completed 22-of-35 passes for 270 yards.
"I'm still a little sore," Smalls said, "but I knew this was going to be a tough challenge against a good team and I was ready to fight through no matter what."
Among Smalls' other top targets were seniors Parker Hunt (five catches for 86 yards) and Christian Sandlin (three receptions for 48 yards).
"Mario is a special quarterback," Ringo said.
Boyd got consecutive touchdowns from Ladd, whose older brother Patrick caught eight passes for 92 yards, and Driskell to take a 14-8 lead with 9:20 left in the second but East regained the edge at 15-14 following a 29-yard touchdown run by Wills and held that lead at the break.
That score remained until a frenetic final seven minutes that saw East triumph, 22-20.
"I thought our defense battled tonight," Drake said. "But we had some other issues we just couldn't overcome and then you have to give credit to East ... they just beat us."
Boyd can assure itself of a playoff spot at 7:30 p.m. Friday by defeating McKinney at Ron Poe Stadium. The scenario is more clouded for East. The Panthers must beat West at the same time from Clark Stadium and will likely need to do so by at least eight points to go through a three- or potentially five-team tie for the final three postseason slots.
McKinney Boyd (5-4, 2-2) failed to clinch a postseason berth Friday night from Kimbrough Stadium and Plano East (5-3, 1-3) thrust itself into the conversation with a 22-20 victory over the Broncos.
"We haven't been ourselves the last several games," said Johnny Ringo, East head coach. "I'm not saying we're all the way back, but this was a step in the right direction."
A game that was never more than eight points apart came down to the final minutes.
Trailing, 15-14, early in the fourth quarter, Boyd apparently caught a break when East muffed a punt and the Broncos recovered. That is until a flag flew and the ball was returned to the Panthers.
"They called a halo infraction," said Don Drake, Boyd head coach. "I'm going to have to go look through the rule book and check the tape because we didn't touch their player ... and needless to say that was a critical call."
East took advantage.
The team marched down a truncated field and extended its advantage to 22-14 following a 2-yard touchdown run by senior Lionel Wills with 6:55 to go. Wills finished with two scores and 106 yards on 26 carries.
It wouldn't take long for Boyd to respond with its most efficient drive of the half as the Broncos moved 77 yards in seven plays. Junior quarterback Curtis Ladd, who completed 14-of-25 passes for 172 and ran for another 35, connected on four straight throws to set up a 5-yard scoring run from senior Bryan Driskell. Boyd's only other serious second-half scoring threat was ended by a field goal block from East senior Nimoy Tennison.
Bouncing back from his worst game of the season a week prior, Driskell surpassed 5,000 offensive yards for his career Friday by rushing for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
But Driskell's second touchdown only made it 22-20 and Boyd had to go for two.
That try, with 5:28 remaining, was unsuccessful.
That was a story of the night for Boyd, which had previously converted a pair of two-point conversions, only to see both recalled by penalties following an early 8-0 East lead.
"We seemed to be chasing that point all night," Drake said.
East milked the majority of the clock following a 4th-and-5 catch from junior Anthony Maioriello, who had five grabs for 57 yards, the last of three fourth downs converted by the Panthers in Broncos' territory.
"Our players trust us and we trust them," Ringo said, "so we are comfortable putting them in those high-pressure situations."
"I like those clutch moments," Smalls added. "It shows what I can do and shows what the team can do."
Boyd got the ball back with less than a minute to go and that last-ditch drive was ended by a sack from sophomore Austin Corbett for the 22-20 East win.
It was a fitting ending for a Panthers defense that was stout much of the night.
"Boyd has a great running back and a quarterback that can run and throw very well," Ringo said. "so I'm really proud of our defensive effort."
"Our defense stepped up in a big way tonight," Smalls added. "You can't ever count our defense out."
East's defense started early with respective fumble recoveries by seniors Jackson Garrey and James Sullivan on Boyd's first two possessions.
"We turned the ball over quite a bit," Drake said, "which really hurt us."
After the Broncos' first turnover, the Panthers took an 8-0 lead following a 7-yard touchdown toss from Smalls to senior Collin Shaw with 7:25 left in the first. That was a popular connection on the night with Shaw catching nine passes for 91 yards.
"Collin gets double-teamed all the time," Ringo said, "but he continues to step up like the big-time, clutch player he is."
Few players may have stepped up more than Smalls though. Having been out since the end of non-district with a right foot injury, Smalls returned against Boyd and, despite still appearing hobbled, completed 22-of-35 passes for 270 yards.
"I'm still a little sore," Smalls said, "but I knew this was going to be a tough challenge against a good team and I was ready to fight through no matter what."
Among Smalls' other top targets were seniors Parker Hunt (five catches for 86 yards) and Christian Sandlin (three receptions for 48 yards).
"Mario is a special quarterback," Ringo said.
Boyd got consecutive touchdowns from Ladd, whose older brother Patrick caught eight passes for 92 yards, and Driskell to take a 14-8 lead with 9:20 left in the second but East regained the edge at 15-14 following a 29-yard touchdown run by Wills and held that lead at the break.
That score remained until a frenetic final seven minutes that saw East triumph, 22-20.
"I thought our defense battled tonight," Drake said. "But we had some other issues we just couldn't overcome and then you have to give credit to East ... they just beat us."
Boyd can assure itself of a playoff spot at 7:30 p.m. Friday by defeating McKinney at Ron Poe Stadium. The scenario is more clouded for East. The Panthers must beat West at the same time from Clark Stadium and will likely need to do so by at least eight points to go through a three- or potentially five-team tie for the final three postseason slots.
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