Brandon Boykin made what was arguably the play of the year for the Philadelphia Eagles and put himself near the top statistically in the NFL as a result.
His last-minute interception in the nationally-televised Sunday night game against the Dallas Cowboys Dec. 29 sealed the Eagles’ win and the NFC East title.
It also was his sixth interception of the season, tying him with two other players for second in the league behind Richard Sherman of Seattle, who had eight.
The second-year pro and former Fayette County Tiger was the only player from Fayette to reach the playoffs this season. The Eagles lost their first-round game to New Orleans.
Boykin finished the regular season with 47 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Sandy Creek grad Calvin Johnson was third in the NFL in receiving yards in 2013 with 1,492. He had 84 catches and scored 12 touchdowns in his seventh season with the Detroit Lions. Later this month he will participate in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl, and barring injury he will pass the 10,000-yard mark as a receiver next season.
One of Johnson’s teammates in Detroit in 2013 was rookie punter Sam Martin from Starr’s Mill. He averaged 47.2 yards per kick and compiled a 40.4 net average with 22 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Thirty-eight of his 70 kickoffs were touchbacks, and his 67.3-yard average on kickoffs was highest in the NFL. He also served as the Lions’ holder on field goals and extra points.
Kedric Golston of Sandy Creek played all 16 games this season for the Washington Redskins at defensive end, eight games as a starter, and finished the season with 21 tackles. This was his eighth season with the team.
Andrew Gardner, also from Sandy Creek, saw action in three games this year at tackle in his third season with the Houston Texans and fifth year in the NFL.
