Kris Boyd makes key play in Texans’ win over Buffalo

By Elwyn Henderson

Gilmer’s Kris Boyd is beginning his 6^th season in the NFL and he is at his best in the early part of the 2024 season. With the assistance of his teammate D’Angelo Ross, Kris downed the last punt of the Texans-Bills game on Sunday at the Buffalo 2. The Texans defense forced 3 incomplete passes and after a punt and a return to the Buffalo 26, Houston set up with 14 seconds left and 2 plays later they won the game on a 59-yard Ka’Imi Fairbairn field goal as time expired.

We asked Head Coach DeMeco Ryans after that game just how big that play by Kris and D’Angelo was.

“That play was huge getting the punt down there. I think ‘D-Ross’ [D’Angelo Ross] and [Kris] Boyd were there making that play. Kris just has continued to play his technique. That’s the one thing he had to focus on. Just play cleaner for us and play his technique. When you play your technique and do what you’re supposed to do and be where you’re supposed to be you’ll make plays for us.”

We visited with Kris after the big win and asked outside of Jeff Traylor if Ryans was not the best coach he had ever had.

“I’ve got to put him in the category. Coach Canady and Coach Traylor, those guys started with me. I could never forget them. Those guys set the foundation and the standard for great coaches, not just because of who they are, but what they have produced. Their records show that as well and their accolades. I have had some coach fall along that line and I would definitely say he’s one of them. There’s a saying a lot of the players say, that ‘I wouldn’t mind running through a brick wall for him’ and I could say that about him.”

“Regarding my technique, we actually sit and take time to talk about it before practice, after practice, certain plays. Whatever he feels like he needs to tell me he will tell me and I will just listen. That’s all it is; humility, be humble and you can learn from anybody. A man of wisdom is a man who knows that he can learn from older or younger, no matter who it is, and that’s the type of approach I try to take with everybody.”

We then turned our attention to the big win and Kris gave God the credit.

“It’s a blessing man. I would say all glory to God. Keep your eyes on the prize, you know. That’s God. He’s the one that’s blessed us to be here. You’ve got to have in your head that you’ve got faith to give everything to God. You know whatever it is he’ll see you through it. That’s just a testimony for me because I was dealing with some things this week, injury or whatever it was, and you see I was able to go out there and make the play. I’m trying to like spread it, the faith, the love; whatever I can give to somebody.”

We asked Kris if he agreed that a lot of the Texans success this season and sitting at 4-1 atop the AFC South was due to the fact that both Ryans and quarterback CJ Stroud were strong Christians.

“Yes, sir, that’s definitely something that is a factor. I’m not just saying it, I know it. Whatever leader you have, the leader has to be consistent and humble, you know. You can tell that’s just the type of man he (Ryans) is. Every day he walks through the building he gives us the same person. CJ and the teammates, that faith thing, it runs deep. When we go out there you see that we have unity and we all believe.”

We couldn’t visit with Kris without asking his thoughts about the Buckeyes after the big upset of Brenham in the last game of non-district action.

“Y’all know the conversation we had when the doors were closed and it was just a heart-to-heart, big brother talk to y’all guys. I want to tell y’all I’m proud of y’all. I told y’all that I’m going to always congratulate y’all, but that’s just the standard. That’s what we expect. All you do is sustain that, keep going, build from where you’re at. Y’all already established your identity when y’all beat Brenham. That’s what y’all are; that’s the team we know y’all are. We believe in y’all, we’re behind y’all. I told y’all I love y’all. We’re brothers, so just keep going and keep building this organization. We’re leaning on y’all and we know you’ve got it. Zade (Taylor), keep doing your thing. I’m proud of you little bro. I love you. I’ll see you when I can, probably the bye week I’m going to come catch the game. Just keep making me proud like you always do!”

Kris has grown so much since he left Gilmer and the Army of Buckeyes is proud of the man he has become. Keep that Buckeye P R I D E rolling, man!