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McKinney Boyd's turnaround from 0-10 to a playoff berth isn't just big news for the school, which is playing its second varsity season. It's an inspiration for any team that didn't make the playoffs this season.

Going from an 0-10 record to 7-3 the next season doesn't happen often. It usually takes a program at least a couple of years to recover from a winless season.

Even Plano, with all its tradition and resources, didn't make the playoffs the year after going 0-10 in 2003. Plano went 4-6 in 2004 before breaking out with a 13-1 season the following year.

But what Boyd did this season gives hope to all the players and coaches who have already checked in their equipment.

"I would hope so," Boyd coach Don Drake said. "I think that we've shown that it can be done. It would give you hope that you could accomplish the same thing if you were in a similar situation."

A cynic might say that not everyone can have quarterback Daryn Alves drop in their laps. The sophomore leads area 4A rushers with 2,115 yards and 24 TDs.

Alves led the freshman team to an 8-1-1 record last year before bringing his talents to the varsity. He's only 5-7 and 155 pounds – if he had a big lunch – but his impact isn't small at all.

"There hasn't been a week go by that the opposing coach doesn't go, 'You mean that's him?' " Drake said, chuckling. "But he's as tough a kid as I've ever been around."

Alves' contributions are no doubt a huge part of Boyd's success. But he's just one spark plug in a team engine that's had an overhaul since last year.

"The team's grown a lot," Alves said. "We have a senior class this year, and they didn't want to go out of high school knowing they were 0-10. They came out focused this year and ready to win."

Not only are there 20 seniors, Boyd also held its first spring practice this season. There was no opportunity to have spring drills prior to the 2006 season.

Drake was hired in January 2006 when the campus was still under construction. He didn't have a full staff that first spring and was doing well just to get future Boyd players from McKinney High and McKinney North together to have off-season workouts.

"We dedicated ourselves this summer and came out ready to work hard and go after what we wanted," senior safety Phillip Sears said. "Even though [last season] was tough, I saw a lot of bright sides. I knew that the future held something special."

The Boyd defense began to take shape last year when it switched midseason from a 4-2-5 alignment to a 3-4.

Boyd gave up 47 points or more seven times last season. This season, the most points Boyd has allowed is 42 to Frisco.

"Defensively, we have definitely made huge strides," Drake said. "Our kids are tougher and definitely play a lot harder."

One reason they play harder is that Drake demands his players measure their performance not by wins and losses, but by their own potential.

"One of the main things that we've tried to focus on here is not so much the scoreboard or the record, it's making sure we do the best we can when you get those opportunities," Drake said.

Drake said he's never placed expectations on his team to make the playoffs or win a certain number of games.

"Our focus, even last year as we were struggling through that season, was always, 'OK, what can we do to get better? How can we play better?' " Drake said.

By not limiting itself to certain expectations, Boyd has shown other programs that anything is possible.

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