SEARCH:

Select a School:

Your Hometown:

Archives > Sports Update

Print
E-mail
Comment (No comments posted.)
Rate

RSS
Share
Text Size

Business as usual: Boyd meets Jesuit in playoff opener

By Richard C. White, rwhite@starlocalnews.com

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 12:40 PM CST

Boyd (6-4) v. Jesuit (8-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday at John Clark Stadium

For most football teams, making the playoffs is a milestone worth celebrating. As far as McKinney Boyd head coach Don Drake is concerned, it's just business as usual for his Broncos.

"Our team started the season with the expectations to make it to this point," he said. "We're not here just to have a good time and be happy that we made it. Our kids know that, they believe that, they want that, too. That's what we expect."

Boyd (6-4) kicks off the playoffs with a Friday night matchup against Jesuit (8-2). It's the Broncos' third straight trip into the postseason, something Drake wants to establish as a yearly standard that's taken with a business-like approach rather than an occasional, special achievement.

"I've told them there are two types of teams in the playoffs," he said. "There are those that are happy to be there and those that expect to be there. Whichever approach you take is reflected in your performance once you get there. Our expectation was to be here and so we as a coaching staff expect our kids to prepare to go win and move on."

As they have all year, the Broncos will rely heavily on senior running back Bryan Driskell, their dynamic workhorse in the backfield. Driskell ran for a school-record seven touchdowns to go with 333 rushing yards in last week's Senior Night win against cross-town rival McKinney.

"I hope he hasn't peaked yet," Drake said. "He had a great night on Senior Night. He's very capable of changing any game. That's not the first time I've been impressed with his performance. We look forward to him having another great night Friday."

Drake knows Jesuit's defense will bring everything it has against Driskell.

"They're mainly a 4-2-5 defense," he said. "They have a solid defensive front and do a pretty good job of shutting down offenses. I'm sure they've been working towards stopping our ground game. It's no secret that's where it starts with us."

Drake though was quick to point out that while Driskell is indeed a premier back with game-changing abilities, it would be foolish for any Broncos player to just assume that Driskell will carry them to victory.

"It's a team effort and it has to be that if you expect to hang around in the playoffs," he said. "To be successful, you're going to have to have everyone step up and play well. To think you can center it around any one individual is wrong."

Jesuit knows all about star power, given that it has senior receiver Jake Oliver suiting up. Oliver, who has committed to play for the University of Texas, set a state record last month for career pass receptions, breaking the previous mark of 264.

"They have a pretty explosive offense," Drake said. "Jake Oliver is the all-time leading receiver in the history of Texas high school football, so they put it in his hands quite a few times. They got some great weapons offensively and do a good job of spreading the field and moving the ball, so we'll have our hands full trying to slow them down for sure."

As they begin their playoff run, Drake hopes his players appreciate the high-level intensity of the playoffs, especially given the moods swings of a long season.

"Everybody gets excited at playoff time," he said. "In this long season you go through phases. Everyone is excited early in the year for the new season, then towards the middle it becomes a lot more work as that emotion of the new season fades off and reality hits. Then as the season comes to the end, and you get to where you're fighting for the playoffs and are in the playoffs, that intensity level and your emotions tend to grow and that's a great atmosphere to be in."

Share this Article