Carson Boyd shared the spotlight as Cardinal Ritter's quarterback the past two seasons.
Boyd, now a senior for the Lions, split offensive possessions with Antwon McKay and waited his turn while cheering on McKay from the sideline.
"There wasn't a moment where I would say I wanted it to be just me, because he is a great quarterback," Boyd said. "I learned a lot, especially when I first got here my sophomore year. (McKay) was real and coachable. He wasn't a jerk. Some guys are jerks when it's another guy coming in, but he was really accepting of me and helped teach me the offense."
The two-quarterback system Cardinal Ritter ran the past two years resulted in back-to-back undefeated state championship seasons.
But now McKay is on the roster at Western Illinois University, and this season will be the Boyd show at Cardinal Ritter.
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"He is built for it," Cardinal Ritter coach Brennan Spain said. "Talk about a young man who's been perfecting his craft since he was 5 or 6 years old, and he's lived for this moment."
Boyd, the No. 11 recruit on the Post-Dispatch's Super 30 countdown of the area's top senior college football prospects, has committed to the University of Illinois. He also had offers from Ball State, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Louisville, Missouri, Missouri State, Purdue, Texas A&M, UCF, UNLV and West Virginia.
Before he jets off to Champaign, Boyd is ready to help guide Cardinal Ritter's offense solo.
Sharing snaps with McKay over the past two years reduced his numbers, but Boyd had no complaints.
"He understood the mission and the goal," Spain said. "He's an ultimate team guy, but most importantly, he's a competitor. I expect this out of all my guys. Don't count your reps; make your reps count."
In the past two years, Boyd threw for 3,734 yards on 207 completions with 57 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,138 yards with nine scores.
Last season, Boyd threw for 29 TDs and was only picked off once.
"I'm expecting a lot this year, but at the same time, I'm humble about it," Boyd said. "Just take what the defense gives me."
Having playmakers like wide receiver Dejerrian Miller and running back Jamarion Parker will undoubtedly help Boyd and the Lions.
"It's great just knowing that I can get the ball to playmakers, and they can do what they do in space," Boyd said.
Another thing that has helped sharpen Boyd's skill is practicing against the likes of Vi'naz Cobb, Antonio Parker and Charles Brooks on the other side of the ball day in and day out.
And, in turn, Boyd is making a stellar defense that much better in their search for an undefeated three-peat.
"Carson's ball placement is good. He'll still stick it in anywhere," Parker said. "Yeah, it's annoying, but I'm comfortable knowing that we have the best. Nobody else can do what he does. If there is, well, I've seen it in practice."
Though Boyd is done splitting time as a starter, the teaching role McKay provided for Boyd is one Boyd learned well. This year, Boyd is helping backup Nigel Gooden prepare for his time in the sun.
"I'm coaching (Gooden) daily," Boyd said. "I'm seeing what he thinks about practice. See what he's confused about. Just seeing everything he needs help on and being that leader and mentor he can lean on."
While he mentors the next generation like he was mentored, he's looking to end the season the only way he knows — with a state championship trophy.
"That's the goal," Boyd said.
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