FOOTBALL
Quarterbacks give Boyd Anderson football team a double threat
BOYD ANDERSON'S QUARTERBACK OPTIONS BRING DIFFERENT SKILLS TO THE TABLE IN THE TEAM'S QUEST TO REACH THE PLAYOFFS
BY GARRETT W. HYLTON
ghylton@MiamiHerald.com
One is a refined passer who throws tight spirals and understands the ways of the pocket. The other challenges teams with his legs and makes plays from multiple positions.
Together, Boyd Anderson's Kenny Graham Jr. and Jackie Wilson are the quarterbacks in charge of a balanced offensive attack that hopes to finally break the Cobras' curse.
Boyd Anderson has made the playoffs four years in a row but hasn't advanced past the second round.
''There's not an individual situation,'' Boyd coach Mark James said. ``We don't have any individual five-star guys, we just have blue-collar workers, and that's what we want people to consider us this year.''
Graham is the refined pocket passer. He started as a junior last season and threw for 863 yards and eight touchdowns.
Wilson stepped behind center last season when Graham was hurt.
He threw four touchdown passes and was second on the team in rushing yards, then hit the weight room and practice field during the offseason to improve his passing skills.
Now he hopes to threaten teams with his arm.
While the Cobra's offense struggled in a 13-0 win against Ely on Friday, Wilson completed 7 of 10 passes for 107 yards and led the team with 57 rushing yards. Graham completed 8 of 16 passes for 98 yards.
''Both guys, they interact with each other very well,'' James said. ``In the offensive scheme, both of them can do everything. They do a very good job of leading and keeping the kids motivated.''
Aside from posing defenses separate challenges, Wilson and Graham also give James the benefit of putting two quarterbacks on the field at the same time.
This opens the playbook to trick plays, but it also means there are two sets of informed eyes to read the defense.
''Since we both know what's going on, how we can read the defenses, when we're both in we just talk to each like that, send it out to receivers and make sure everybody gets it,'' Graham said.
Added Wilson: ``We just have each other's back. Both of us help each other, talk with each other. There's no disagreeing or lying.''
Along with Graham and Wilson, the Cobras also have playmakers in running backs Tony Hughes and Douglas transfer John Wallace, and wide receiver Travis Reynolds.
Hughes ran for 181 yards and five touchdowns last season playing behind 1,000-yard back Chris Anderson, Wallace ran for 676 yards and scored more than 10 touchdowns at Douglas and Reynolds caught 33 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown.
''They can't focus on one guy, they've got to focus on the whole team,'' Hughes said. ``If they focus on one guy, somebody else is going to step up.''
Although Wilson, Graham, Hughes and Reynolds weren't around for the Cobras early playoff disappointments, last season's flameout was particularly brutal.
The Cobras rolled to a 9-1 record during the regular season while emerging as one of the region's top challengers to eventual national champion Miami Northwestern.
Instead of taking a shot at the Bulls, the Cobras lost at home in the quarterfinals to Douglas.
Making a deep playoff run this season won't be any easier with Deerfield Beach, Miramar, Cypress Bay, and North Miami Beach all likely looming somewhere in the regional playoffs.
But with one last chance to make things right, the Cobras' seniors don't want to let complacency cost them again.
''I'm going to be ready for everything,'' Wilson said. ``I'm going to keep my head right, keep my composure, and keep focused.''
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