Wild play in the fourth quarter denies Byron Nelson a win over McKinney Boyd
It took an unconventional play to determine Thursday night’s winner between McKinney Boyd and Byron Nelson at Northwest ISD Stadium.
In a showdown of undefeated teams, Byron Nelson was backed up to its own 3 following a pair of untimely penalties. But Bobcats quarterback Jake Wilson and receiver Gavin McCurley connected for 45 yards on a third-and-16, then six plays later on a 33-yard touchdown to tie the game at 26 with 5:39 left to play.
However, on the ensuing extra-point attempt, the snap went over the holder’s head and Byron’s kicker picked it up and tried to create something. Unfortunately, he faced a wall of Boyd defenders before fumbling and Broncos’ DB Evan Dennis scooped it up and returned it 60 yards for two points.
Then Boyd picked up clutch first downs to kill the clock to come away with a 28-26 victory.
McKinney Boyd improves its mark to 4-0 for the first time in program history.
Byron was looking for its first 4-0 start.
“That’s a good football team. We just had to make fewer mistakes,” Byron Nelson coach Travis Pride said. “We had some special team breakdowns and few early errors. I thought both teams were evenly matched, they just made fewer mistakes.”
The Broncos started the game on the wrong foot when they threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage. Byron Nelson’s Landon Ransom-Goelz, who also had a big night offensively, leaped up in front of the intended receiver for the pick.
Boyd kicker Caleb Sempewba hit a pair of first-half field goals (31, 26), the first giving Boyd a 3-0 lead in the first quarter following a Byron turnover. His second came as the first-half clock expired to give Boyd a 13-7 lead at intermission.
Both first-half touchdowns came from a Carter Whitefield 8-yard run for a Boyd 10-0 lead and a 17-yard pass from Wilson to Ransom-Goelz to pull Byron within 10-7 with 5:15 left in the second quarter.
Byron Nelson (3-1), which came into the week ranked No. 6 in the Fort Worth-area Class 6A rankings, woke up with two touchdowns in the third quarter. Wilson connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to Addison Cureton that gave the Bobcats their first lead of the night at 14-13 early in the period.
“Third quarter they started to execute and made plays. We were just one play away and that’s how it happens sometimes,” Pride said. “Certainly going to fight. They’re a good group of kids. It matters to them so it’s nice to see a little fire in them.”
Wilson and Ransom-Goelz hooked up for a second time, a 22-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 20-13. But a bad snap on the PAT kept the Bobcats from leading by eight.
McKinney Boyd’s Caden Park came alive in the second half with a 32-yard touchdown run just before the third quarter ended to tie the game at 20-20.
Then Park made a nice double move on his defender and caught a pass from QB Ryan Shackleton and took it 77 yards for the touchdown, giving Boyd a 26-20 lead early in the fourth.
The snap on the extra point was bad leaving the Broncos with a six-point advantage.
Wilson threw for 334 yards on 26 of 39 passing and four touchdowns for the Bobcats, who will start District 4-6A play next Friday Sept. 24 at Southlake Carroll.
McCurley finished with seven catches for 116 yards and one TD. Ransom-Goelz added seven receptions for 76 yards and one TD. Byron finished with 388 yards of total offense.
“These kids are very committed. They’re good friends and care about each other,” Pride said. “Very hard workers and they’re tough. The things we lack in some areas, we make up with toughness and heart.”
This story was originally published September 16, 2021 at 10:33 PM.