​Oct. 29—EAST GRAND FORKS — Chay Boespflug wanted to try something new.The East Grand Forks senior played football until eighth grade but stepped away during his freshman and sophomore years, focusing on soccer instead.Ahead of his junior year at East Grand Forks, though, Boespflug considered a return to the gridiron.”I was like, ‘Why not try kicking?'” Boespflug said.Boespflug joined the football team last season and took on kicking duties. This offseason, he began taking more reps on both offense and defense during practice.”I think he had a blast and realized, ‘I want to do more than just kick,'” Green Wave head coach Ryan Kasowski said. “He was on our scout team last year, and we were like, ‘We’ve got to get this kid to do more than just kick.'”Boespflug is doing much more than kicking this season.He’s developed into one of East Grand Forks’ top cornerbacks and is taking snaps at wide receiver as well.”A lot of those soccer guys, they’re still my boys,” Boespflug said. “Great guys, miss them to death. But these guys right here, this is family. You’re not going to get this back ever in life. You’ve just got to take it in minute by minute, every single day.”Boespflug has three catches for 44 yards and five interceptions this season.”Chay’s been that guy for us all year at corner,” Kasowski said. “He’s just a solid player for us. If you look at his size and stature, I think the receivers probably outnumber him as far as height and weight go. But he has the heart that you can’t measure.”Boespflug was instrumental in Tuesday’s Section 8AAA tournament quarterfinals. He came away with two of the Green Wave’s four interceptions as they cruised to a41-15 victory over Park Rapids.”I’m so happy for Chay,” senior Jaxon Stassen said. “He didn’t play freshman or sophomore year, but he’s back, and he’s been such an impact player for us, making so many plays on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. It’s just so fun watching him play.”Boespflug still handles kicking duties, too. He kicked four extra points against the Panthers.Boespflug is hoping to extend his senior season, but to do that, East Grand Forks will have to beat an opponent that has had its number over the past two years.The third-seeded Green Wave (7-2) will travel to second-seeded Perham (8-1) for this Saturday’s Section 8AAA semifinals.The Yellowjackets beat East Grand Forks 12-6 earlier this season. Last year, Perham defeated East Grand Forks in the regular season and again in the section quarterfinals.Each game has been decided by 14 points or less.”It means something to us,” Boespflug said. “We all play different sports, and they’ve got our numbers. We’re due, we really are, and I think everybody in that locker room knows it. It starts (Wednesday). We come out, watch some film, we’re going to practice all the way til Saturday. Right when we get on that bus Saturday, we’re ready to go.”There is perhaps no greater antidote than a rivalry win.Grand Forks Central defeated Grand Fork