It has been one year since Drew Akins had to be lifted off the turf after the Bucs lost to Christ Presbyterian Academy in the Class 1A state championship game.
Akins, then a sophomore wide receiver, dropped to the field in shock and cried after the Bucs failed to score on a fourth down in overtime.
Akins is now the starting quarterback as Boyd-Buchanan (11-2) prepares to play Donelson Christian Academy (13-1) for the state title on Friday at 4:30 p.m. eastern time at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.
Akins is not the only difference between the team that lost in the final last year and the one that hopes to bring home a championship trophy on Friday. Boyd-Buchanan coach Robert Akins reflected on some of the differences from a year ago during an interview Thursday morning.
++ Difference in offense: "We've transitioned more to a running game this year,'' Akins said. "Last year we were 50-50 pass-run. Now, we're 70-30 run, maybe more. The kids have a lot of confidence and we have three or four sophomores up front who have grown and matured during the season.''
++ Difference in defense: "Really, we're a lot like last year defensively,'' Akins said. "We run to the ball well and we have good technique. That's how we overcome playing against some bigger teams. We get a lot of hats on the ball. That has been our mentality the last two or three years.''
++ Difference in special teams: Will Healy handled the punting and place-kicking last year for the Bucs and did both well. However, he missed a field goal in the state championship game and one point-after kick was blocked. "We've had some breakdowns on special teams and haven't been consistent this year,'' Akins said. "But (kicker) Weston Perry is getting to a point where he is very consistent. He has the capability to be great.''
++ Difference in confidence level: "We were pretty confident going to Murfreesboro last year, but this year is completely different,'' Akins said. "Now we know what to expect. We're comfortable with what is going to happen and the procedures of the day. We know we have to play when the game starts. We enjoyed the experience last year, but we were not really focused and that was my fault. This year I've told them it's a lot like homecoming, that their job is to play while the fans enjoy the moment.''
++ Difference in coaching philosophy: "It is a little different because we were more wide open last year,'' Akins said. "But even though we're more run-oriented, we'll still try to keep it wide open, throw on first down and try to minimize turnovers.''
++ Difference in game-day preparation: "It will be the same scenario as last year,'' Akins said. "We'll leave at 10 o'clock Friday morning after we walk through the entrance way with the entire school wishing us well. We'll get up there an hour before the game and walk the field. We may eat at a different place and do a few things different, but it will pretty much be the same as last year.''
++ Difference in opponent: "CPA was a little more wide open,'' Akins said. "DCA relies more on the running game, but that could change in this game due to injuries.''
Star DCA running back Chris Wooden has a partially torn MCL, but plans to play. Senior tailback Matt Meacham, who ran for 164 yards while filling in for Wooden last week, suffered a broken ankle in the semifinal.
"We don't think Meacham will play, but Wooten told us at media day on Monday that if he's breathing, that he'll be playing,'' Akins said. "We expect him to be on the field, but we think they will throw a little more than in the past.''
PICKING WINNERS: The Bucs will carry home the championship trophy this year. Boyd-Buchanan 38, DCA 26.
BLUECROSS BOWL NOTEBOOK: DCA beat Fayette Academy, 35-32, in last week's semifinal. However, Fayette had 355 yards rushing and outgained DCA, 465-304. … DCA will be making is first appearance in the Class 1A final for the first time since winning the 1996 championship. … DCA's only loss was on Oct. 24 to CPA, 35-14. DCA avenged that loss in the playoffs, 21-13. … Also on Friday, Huntingdon will play David Lipscomb for the 2A state title at 8 eastern. In Saturday's championship games, Covington will play Fulton in 3A at 1 p.m., Hillsboro will face Morristown West in 4A at 4:30, and Germantown will play Riverdale in 5A at 8. … The state championship games will be televised by Nashville WUXP Channel 30 UPN Affiliate, Chattanooga WFLI Channel 53 WB Affiliate, Knoxville WBXX Channel 20 WB Affiliate, and Memphis Time Warner Cable Channel 6.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)