There was a collective sigh of relief across WPIAL Class 4A when Bobbie Boyd crossed the graduation stage last spring. Perhaps that came without realizing that there's a new Boyd in the backfield at McKeesport.
"It's really nice to have a Boyd back there," says McKeesport coach Matt Miller. "They know what to do when they have the ball in their hands."
Junior Anthony Boyd takes over as starting running back for the Tigers, and one of the team's biggest offensive producers. He has quickly shed the title of Bobbie's little brother. But even that is a role he can appreciate.
"It was just always us two," Boyd says. "Everywhere we went you would see us. I was up at college with him for his birthday a couple day ago, just kicking it like a regular day. That's my 'day one.'"
Still, it's not always easy to escape the shadow of an older sibling.
"Even on the field, I'll get criticism, like 'you're not him, you're not him,'" he says.
But Anthony doesn't want to be his brother. He, and this group of Tigers, are paving their own path.
"People overlook us because we lost Bobbie Boyd, Jahmil Perryman," Boyd says. "People don't know who we have. We've got an underclassman in Kemon (Spell). He's going to shock the world. He already did the first game. We have to show everybody each and every game that we're still that team."
Out to a 2-0 start, the Tigers may be turning heads earlier than expected – led by a young running back who welcomes all of the comparisons, criticisms and expectations.
"Some guys melt under pressure, some guys thrive under it. He seems like one of those who thrive under it.
Adds Boyd: "I just use that on the field to show them I can do way better. You ain't seen nothing yet."
