Tardiness not a problem as King tops Roxborough

NASIR BOYKIN had to wait patiently on the sideline as the game went on without him. In fact, waiting was a theme last night at the Ben Johnston Supersite.

With Martin Luther King High set to host Roxborough at 6:30, kickoff was pushed back 15 minutes because the evening's halftime entertainment - the Howard University Showtime Marching Band - was swallowed up in traffic.

So, after warming up, both teams retired to their respective locker rooms when word of the delay spread. When both sides returned to the field, the Cougars did so without Boykin, who missed a practice during the week and had to pay penance by sitting the first quarter.

"I was ready to go," Boykin said. "I was ready to just show my talent on the field. I missed a day of practice and when you miss practice you have to sit out a quarter. I was just waiting to basically get out there and help my team."

The 6-foot, 176-pound sophomore, who lives in the Northeast (Oxford Circle), said he missed the day because he didn't have a ride to practice.

"I didn't feel good about it," he said about learning from coach Ed Dunn he would have to sit. "I knew I was letting my team down by not coming out and fighting from the beginning."

With Boykin in the fold, the Cougars clawed the Indians, 31-7, in the AAAA matchup. He finished 11-for-21 for 208 yards and four touchdown passes in relief of junior quarterback Devin Washington.

Without the smooth-tossing southpaw, King (2-2, 2-0 Independence) struggled early. Behind the quick thinking of senior do-it-all Eduardo Sanchez, Roxborough (2-2, 0-2) to a 7-6 advantage into halftime. On a fourth-and-long situation from his 20, Sanchez, who also handles all the kicking duties, took the snap and darted left down the sideline. Eighty yards later, the Indians had the lead.

Was it a planned fake?

"You think I would call that," a Roxborough assistant said with a smile. "I was about to ring his neck!"

However, that was the end of any momentum the Indians had mustered. With the band still traveling, halftime was extended about 15 more minutes. Roxborough came out and stretched as usual, while King stayed in the locker room for most of what turned into about a 30-minute intermission.

When play resumed, it was all Boykin and the Cougars. The Indians' chances weren't helped by second-half injuries to Sanchez (seven carries for 68 yards) and senior running back Edinton Wright (20 carries, 55 yards). Both also added an interception apiece.

However, by the time they went down, Boykin and Co. were in control.

A 53-yard screen pass to Jann Gunter-Scott (2 catches for 56 yards) started the avalanche. A 32-yarder to Jayni Harris (two catches for 46), who adjusted beautifully to find the high, floating pass, was next.

And if you're curious, the band arrived in the fourth quarter and delighted the home crowd. It also performed after the game while King knelt in the end zone and watched. Good things to those who waited.

And, not a bad day for a sophomore quarterback stepping into big shoes left by Joseph Walker (Delaware), who led King to its first football title last season.

It was a little hard in the beginning, but I have good coaches pushing me to my full potential," he said. "Why was it hard? Because I wasn't really a vocal leader on the team, but once I got to know everybody, we all just came together."

So, any chance Boykin feels more comfortable coming off the bench like a relief pitcher? Not a chance.

"Coming off the bench, no," he said emphatically. "I want to come out here and do it from the beginning of the game."