By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
COVINGTON — When St. Paul’s effortlessly threw the ball down the field and scored on its first possession, that could have been a harbinger of what was to come in Friday’s second-round Select Division I playoff matchup against visiting Byrd.
But by the time St. Paul’s reached the end zone again, the scoreboard read fourth quarter and Byrd had scored 37 straight points.
Byrd’s offense controlled the clock, and the defense forced four turnovers as the No. 10 seed Yellow Jackets rolled through No. 7 St. Paul’s in a 37-15 win.
“The turnovers were huge, especially the first one that set up the score for us to go up 17-7,” said Byrd coach Stacy Ballew. “Ja’cari Williams forced three fumbles (two Byrd recovered), and then James Logan intercepted two passes.
“St. Paul’s didn’t run very many plays tonight, and our advantage in time of possession (32:34 to 16:26) was also important.”
St. Paul’s quarterback Brennan Keim plunged in for a 1-yard score following multiple big passing plays, including a 46-yarder to Jake Walker to start the game.
But Byrd (9-3) dominated for the rest of the first half, and the Yellow Jackets recovered an onside kick and forced two turnovers that led to a 16-point halftime lead.
Byrd’s offense soaked up nearly a full quarter on the ensuing two drives, which were connected by an onside kick recovery by Cameron Williams following a beauty of a kick from Asher Murray.
The Yellow Jackets ate up more than eight minutes on their first scoring drive, which included one third-down and one fourth-down conversion while overcoming a couple of penalties. Quintin Hilliard scampered seven yards on the edge to tie the score 7-7 late in the first quarter.
Byrd cashed in the onside kick into a 32-yard Murray field goal for a 10-7 edge early in the second quarter. Murray’s 10th field goal of the season tied Byrd’s single-season record.
The Yellow Jackets converted a total of 9-13 third- and fourth-down conversions, including 4-of-4 on fourth down when the game was still in reach.
St. Paul’s (8-3) lost a fumble on the next drive when Williams forced a fumble that Ethan Sipes recovered.
Fullback Desmond Simmons provided the foundation for the next drive, as he did for the majority of Byrd’s drives Friday.
A multitude of Simmons’ carries set up a Harrison Ayres 1-yard touchdown run, the first of two Ayres touchdowns.
Simmons finished the night with 124 rushing yards on 24 touches to pace a Byrd rushing attack that gained 272 yards on 60 carries.
Down 17-7, St. Paul’s continued to make big plays through the air as the Wolves got into scoring position.
But Byrd’s secondary stiffened, forcing a field goal that failed.
The Yellow Jackets put their efficient two-minute offense into gear. A 50-yard pass from Ayres to Kristian Roberson set up a 2-yard Simmons score and Byrd led 23-7 at halftime.
“We can throw it when we need to, even though it’s not our M.O.,” Ballew said. “We have receivers who can catch the ball, but it’s all set up by the run.
“Some defenses will sell out to stop the run, and we are able to pass and take advantage of that.”
St. Paul’s couldn’t recover the onside kick to start the third quarter, and Byrd took advantage of the field position with a Collin Deere 14-yard touchdown after Simmons toted the water down the field. Byrd led 30-7.
The Wolves’ offense moved the ball (330 yards to Byrd’s 354), but Byrd’s Barfield recovered a fumble on the next drive, another of St. Paul’s many empty possessions.
Byrd’s James Logan logged his second interception of the night midway through the fourth quarter to set up the Yellow Jackets’ final score, an Ayres 1-yard touchdown run with 6:06 to go for a 37-7 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets advance to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons and will next head to unbeaten No. 2 seed Alexandria Senior High.
Byrd beat ASH to make the quarterfinals in 2022, but it’s a Trojans squad that now is one of the best in the state. ASH dispensed of Evangel, 49-6, in the second round.
Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com
BYRD YELLOW JACKETS 37, ST. PAUL’S WOLVES 15
Yellow Jackets 7 16 7 7 – 37
Wolves 7 0 0 8 – 15
SP – Brennan Keim 1 run (Drew Talley kick), SP 7-0
B – Quinton Hilliard 7 run (Asher Murray kick), tied 7-7
B – Murray 32 field goal, Byrd 10-7
B – Harrison Ayres 1 run (Murray kick), Byrd 17-7
B – Desmond Simmons 2 run (kick blocked), Byrd 23-7
B – Collin Deere 14 run (Murray kick), Byrd 30-7
B – Ayres 1 run (Murray kick), Byrd 37-7
B – Bret Villa 68 pass from Keim (Chase Ravain pass from Keim), Byrd 37-15
BYRD INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING (60-272) – Simmons 24-124, 1 TD; Christian Maxie 12-47, Deere 6-32, 1 TD; Ayres 8 -31, 2 TD.
PASSING – Ayres 5-6, 82 yards.
RECEIVING – Simmons 2-15, Kristian Robertson 1-50, Alex Schoonover 1-10, Maxie 1-7.