By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Nov. 21, 2001
WAYNESBORO After retiring from the Mississippi public school system, Tom Boszor was looking for a nice, little job to occupy his time. He found it over the summer at Wayne Academy, taking a defensive coordinator position.
Then came an unexpected turn. The Jaguars expected head coach left a week into preseason drills. Wayne Academy needed a head man and Boszor was that man.
Wayne has had an excellent tradition in football. The Jaguars won the Mississippi Private School Association Class A title in 1998 and 1999. This year, they ran off nine straight wins to ascend to the top of the Academy A rankings this season.
Then came a shocking 35-0 loss to arch-rival Heidelberg Academy, the defending state champion. The Jaguars, taking the runner-up spot from Academy 3-A, have since reeled off two straight wins including last week's 32-6 romp past West Memphis, Ark.
On Friday, the Jaguars will host Desoto Academy, Ark., in a Class A semifinal game. The winner heads to the state championship game next Thursday at Mississippi College in Clinton.
Wayne Academy returned to basics in the following week. Boszor runs a program based on hard conditioning work and a disciplined approach to the game.
That will to fight came in handy back in October when the Jaguars found themselves trailing Prentiss Christian 32-13 going into the fourth quarter.
Senior defensive end/tight end Jaret DuVall says Boszor's demanding work plan has paid off.
DuVall, who also kicks for Wayne, said he and his fellow seniors were determined not to let the Heidelberg loss define their season.
Boszor is assisted by Johnny Walker and line coach Stevie Jones. Boszor's son, Kelly, works as a student assistant. He is currently attending Mississippi State University.
Jeff Byrd is a sports writer for the Meridian Star. He can be reached at 693-1551 or by e-mail at jbyrd@themeridianstar.com.