Everyone watching saw what Justin McGoy had done for Boyd Buchanan’s football team in Thursday night’s home game against Silverdale Baptist Academy.
McGoy was still happy to hear his head coach make clear that he took notice, too.
The junior was given a shout-out by Gary Rankin in the postgame huddle and broke into a big smile, having earned the recognition by providing a major lift for the Buccaneers in their 49-28 win against the Seahawks.
Boyd Buchanan remained undefeated through seven games this season and improved to 5-0 in TSSAA Division II-AA East Region play, while the Seahawks fell to 4-4, 3-2. The Bucs improved to 13-3 in the all-time series between Chattanooga rivals.
With the Bucs’ second-leading rusher, Sabastian Jones, going down to an ankle injury in the first half, McGoy made the score 21-all when he exploded for the game’s longest play, a 69-yard touchdown run with five minutes left before halftime.
McGoy’s score began a stretch of 28 unanswered points for Boyd Buchanan — which is ranked No. 2 in DII-AA — as the Bucs pounded their way to a season-high 447 rushing yards.
“Justin stepped up big time,” Coach Rankin said. “He is one of the best kids we have on this team and in this school. He deserves everything, and he works his butt off every day. We got beat up tonight, and he stepped up really big time. We knew he was capable of that. He showed it and took advantage of the moment.”
Another explosive burst by McGoy on a 23-yard rush around the left end with 11:09 to play made it 42-21 and put the game well in hand for the Bucs.
Boyd Buchanan’s backfield was superior as senior star David Green rushed for a season-high 223 yards and three scores. On defense, Green provided the biggest stop of the first half when he made an open-field tackle at the Bucs’ 3-yard line; the Seahawks missed out on points as the clock expired.
“Our offensive line was moving people off the ball and creating gaps for us to hit the hole,” Green said. “We just have to run powerfully through that hole. Our goal this season is to win a ring. We just have to keep putting our foot on the gas and not get lazy or lethargic.”
Silverdale’s Luke Bowman had a stellar first half as he had a 52-yard catch-and-run touchdown and intercepted a pass in his own end zone. Three plays later, a 63-yard touchdown catch by Cannon Rogers provided the visitors their only lead of the night at 21-14.
Rogers added a 67-yard touchdown catch on a bomb from Connor Jenne in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks finished the game with 478 yards (294 passing, 174 rushing).
Boyd Buchanan set the second-half tone with a 10-play, 99-yard drive on its first possession of the third quarter, which was capped by one of two touchdown runs by freshman TJ McReynolds. David Yancey accounted for 55 yards on the drive.
The defensive standouts for the Bucs included Mason Bates, who stuffed several rushing attempts, and EJ Daniels, who forced a fumble.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.