Chattanooga Times Free Press

Blue Raiders running back Boyd earns Player of the Week

BY PATRICK MACCOON

At the midway point of the regular season the Cleveland High School football team seems to be turning a corner.

After fighting back for a 27-24 Region 2-6A home victory over Farragut last Friday, Marty Wheeler’s Blue Raiders are 4-1 for the first time since the program went 10-4 and reached the Class 5A semifinals in 2013.

A lock-down defensive secondary has helped key the successful start. Opposing teams have only completed 16-of-36 passes for 176 yards while accounting for one touchdown and five interceptions. Senior outside linebacker Tate O’Bryan has 13 tackles for loss and is averaging one turnover per game with four forced fumbles and an interception.

On the offensive side of the ball, seniors Tetoe Boyd and Memphis University committment Destun Thomas are game changers.

The physical 5-foot-10, 206pound Boyd ran over and through the Farragut defense for a careerhigh 332 yards on 36 carries in a dominating effort where he also forced a key defensive turnover late. That effort has earned Boyd Times Free Press Player of the Week honors.

“We really just fought against Farragut,” said Boyd of an Admirals team which had knocked the Blue Raiders out of the playoffs in 2015, 2017 and 2018. “A lot of people thought this was the year we would beat Bradley Central, but we brushed that one off and have gotten back to winning. As a team we are more connected and know what to do now. This team has a chance to do something special this season. We have some great leaders and we have bought into the coaches.”

Boyd’s presence and health certainly plays a key role in the Blue Raiders’ big plans the rest of the season.

One of the area’s most dominant backs — he has 2,731 total yards for his career — has only played two full games at full strength this season. After a 161yard performance in a 17-10 road win over a solid Red Bank team to open the season, Boyd was off and running for a big night against McMinn County, taking his first three carries for 38 yards and a score before banging up his knee.

Despite not playing at full strength he ran for 71 yards and a touchdown in a 28-14 loss against Bradley Central, a game Cleveland led 14-7 at halftime. He then sat out the next week against East Ridge.

Back to full strength now, Boyd looks to be quite a problem for opponents.

“Tetoe is what I like to call a throwback running back,” Wheeler said. “He is a guy who gets downhill as fast as he can. He is looking to run you over. He runs with a lot of passion and purpose. That’s the type of running backs I have always really liked to watch.”

Aside from his powerful running, Boyd is a great leader and individual state champion wrestler who represents his school well.

“He is not just a great football player, but an unbelievable teammate on and off the field and someone who makes our school better,” Wheeler added. “He is really nice to everyone and people love him. But when he steps in between these white lines he changes his approach, attitude and mindset. He embraces doing whatever you need him to on the gridiron.”

SPORTS

en-us

2021-09-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://edition.timesfreepress.com/article/282260963602920

WEHCO Media