Boyd-Buchanan Bucs nip Silverdale Baptist Academy Seahawks in overtime

photo Boyd Buchanan's Jim Cardwell (1) runs the ball.

Sometimes you've just got to go with your gut feeling.

Boyd-Buchanan football coach Grant Reynolds did just that Friday night, and his Buccaneers' execution of a conversion pass in overtime brought them their fifth consecutive District 5-A championship with a 22-21 victory over fourth-ranked Silverdale Baptist Academy.

The win also extends their streak to 15 consecutive over league opponents and marks the fifth consecutive time the Bucs have beaten Silverdale (9-1, 2-1).

"Just another patch to put on the jacket," Boyd-Buchanan senior quarterback Jim Cardwell said.

Cardwell and Reynolds likened winning the title to winning it in 2010. The Bucs, who were 3-6 coming into Friday's game, were 5-4 when they beat Copper Basin 22-7 at home for the championship in 2010.

"This feels just as good as that," Reynolds said. "This one's great because it's in the here and now."

Boyd-Buchanan (3-0 5-A) was down to fourth down from the 9 in overtime when Cardwell found tight end Jack Keebler over the middle in the end zone. Kicker Brogen Baker ran onto the field, but before the Bucs snapped the ball, a timeout was called.

Reynolds sent the offense out afterward. But again before the ball was snapped, this time Silverdale called a timeout.

"We were about to run a running play when Silverdale called time out," Cardwell said.

He went on to say there was talk along the sideline during the timeout about an overload the Bucs had on the right side if the Seahawks came out in the same defense. Cardwell, who ran for both Boyd-Buchanan touchdowns in regulation, took the shotgun snap and threw quickly in the flat to running back Austin Jackson, who followed his blocking into the end zone.

"We felt like Cardwell was going to roll out and pass it or tuck it up," Silverdale coach Al Rogers said. "They made a great call. We were one man short on that side on the screen play."

Reynolds credited offensive coordinator Carter Cardwell for the play call.

"I just had a feeling that we had a little momentum going," Reynolds said of his decision to go for two. "I could see it in the kids' eyes. They were like, 'Yeah, Coach. Let's go.' We changed the call during that second timeout, got the ball to Austin Jackson, who got his shoulder down and scored."

Silverdale scored a tying a touchdown late in the first half when holder Tristan Huggins scooped a low snap on what would've been a 33-yard field-goal attempt and threw high into the end zone where Colton Rogers caught it.

Josh Rogers scored the Seahawks' other touchdown with 7:24 to play on a 36-yard run. Until then, the Bucs had held Silverdale's leading rusher to 13 yards on nine carries.

The Seahawks came in the with four running backs having totaled 2,149 rushing yards. At halftime Silverdale had 22 carries for 39 yards.

"Their defense did a real good job," Coach Rogers said. "Their tackles did a great job.

"Now we know what a loss feels like. It hurts and we don't want to go there again. If you don't like the way it feels, you have to do something about it. Our boys played hard. It was just a tough loss."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.

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