By JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports
Byrd junior Abram Murray is one of the best kickers in the country. He has the offer and verbal commitment to the University of Miami to prove it. But, as things stand, he is only the third best kicker in District 1-5A.
Last week, Murray trotted out just before halftime and kicked a 45-yard field goal to give the Yellow Jackets a 17-16 advantage on the scoreboard and a little juice going into the locker room. Byrd used the momentum from Murray’s field goal to go on to defeat Huntington 46-22.
In most districts and during most seasons, a 45-yarder would be enough to lead the league, but 2022 is turning out to be the year of the kicker in District 1-5A.
Last Thursday night, Captain Shreve’s John Chance kicked a 49-yard field goal against Calvary. It was one-yard shy of Chad Usry’s 50-yard school record field goal in 2014.
The following night, Parkway’s Aeron Burrell hit a 52-yard school record field goal on the road at Red River. Not only was Burrell’s kick a school record, but it was the longest field goal in the history of Bossier Parish.
Standings aside, Murray was just happy to get his first field goal as a Yellow Jacket under his belt.
“It felt good,” Murray said. “I was a little more excited than usual.”
Who can blame him?
Last year, he had to sit out the entire season after transferring from Calvary after his freshman year.
“Having to sit out was bad,” Murray said. “It was hard just coming out to practice every day and not getting the opportunity to go out there on Friday night.”
When he stands on the field Thursday night at Lee Hedges Stadium, he will recognize some familiar faces on the Calvary sideline as he and the Jackets take on the Cavaliers at 7 o’clock.
“I still play golf with some of those Calvary guys out at Southern Trace,” Murray said.
Those buddies – and then some – have been texting him this week.
“I’ve had about 20 guys text me,” Murray said. “We’ve had fun with it.”
They can text him all they want; Murray just wants to get his kicks against the Cavaliers . . . and move up the District 1-5A standings for longest field goal.
Contact Jerry at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com
CALVARY (1-1) vs. Byrd (2-0), Lee Hedges Stadium
Series: Byrd leads 6-2
Last year: Did not play
Last week: Byrd beat Huntington 46-22; Calvary lost to Captain Shreve 27-14
Rankings: Byrd in No. 10 in LSWA 5A poll, No. 1 in SBJ; Calvary is No. 7 in LSWA 2A poll, No. 6 in SBJ.
Radio: Byrd (The Tiger, 1130 AM, 103.3 FM); CBA (Promise, 90.7 FM)
Notable: Byrd senior quarterback Lake Lambert had a career-high 185 yards of rushing in the Jackets 46-22 victory over Huntington last Friday night … Lambert’s touchdown run of 95 yards was the second longest in school history. The longest touchdown run in C.E. Byrd history was a 99-yarder by Frankie Sabbath against El Dorado (Ark.) in 1981 … This will be the ninth meeting between Byrd and Calvary. Byrd leads the series 6-2, including a 35-27 win in 2020. Both teams went on to play in a LHSAA State Championship game at NSU that year. Calvary won a state championship that season, beating OCS. Byrd lost to Catholic in the Championship game, but the trophy sits in the Byrd trophy case. Catholic had to forfeit the championship trophy due to sanctions levied by the LHSAA.
Photo by APRIL JOHNSON