Boyd’s big week building confidence as Week 2 approaches

Maybe one of the best performances of week one came at Cape Central High School last Friday night.

Just minutes into the Tigers’ contest with St. Charles, sophomore running back KeyShawn Boyd broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run.

That touchdown run would be the first of four Boyd would tally on Friday.

“I have to give props to my offensive line,” Boyd said. “They did the blocking and made the right reads, I just had to make the cut.”

Perhaps one of the reasons Boyd is so effective for the Tigers is because of fellow running back Zai’Aire Thomas.

On Boyd’s second touchdown, it was set up by a long run by Thomas that got the Tigers down to the three-yard line. All Boyd had to do was punch it in.

“We both have different play styles,” Boyd said. “Him with his speed and me with my power, it’s unstoppable.”

Following Friday’s 35-33 win over St. Charles, Tigers coach Kent Gibbs had high praise for his running back duo.

“We’re blessed to have two good tailbacks,” Gibbs said. “Both of them have been kind of beat up this summer but they played well tonight.”

Boyd’s third touchdown of Friday’s contest came on the two-yard line after he broke off a 62-yard run.

As the Pirates and Tigers went back-and-forth, Boyd was timely with his finale.

With the Tigers up 28-26 late in the third quarter, Boyd broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers up 35-26.

To go along with his four touchdowns, Boyd had 10 carries for 220 yards.

“We’re really glad he’s on our side,” Gibbs said. “He’s got deceptive speed to the outside but he can also bang it in there. We’re just glad he’s on our side.”

For Boyd and the Tigers, their attention has turned to this Friday’s matchup with Hillsboro.

“I’m just hoping to have another great game on Friday,” Boyd said. “I have to put this one in the past and move on to the next.”

The matchup between the Hawks and the Tigers is schedule for 7 p.m. at Cape Central High School.

“We have to learn from our mistakes and we have to be coachable,” Gibbs said. “We have to watch film and be critical of ourselves, even pat ourselves on the back if we deserve it, but be critical of ourselves and what we did wrong.”