A special win
Silver Lake’s Boyd plays for stepdad
Tanner Boyd may have had a heavy heart, but his will and spirit were far from broken.
Playing hours after his stepfather John Adams succumbed to stomach cancer, the Silver Lake quarterback turned in a gutsy performance that resonated through the Lakers’ football community. Boyd ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a pair of two-point conversion runs, in a 28-12 victory over Oliver Ames.
“It was an emotional day, but I knew I had to be there for my teammates,” said Boyd, who never entertained the thought of missing the game. “Even though (Adams) wasn’t there, I could still feel him out there with me and my teammates. That’s what helped us get through when we got tired and beat up at times.”
As soon as he learned the news of Adams’ passing, Silver Lake coach Chris DiGiacomo immediately reached out to Boyd. DiGiacomo told his quarterback to take all the time he needed to be with his family and not worry about the game at all.
“In some ways, I was hoping that he wouldn’t play and stay at home because I felt it was important for Tanner to be with his family,” DiGiacomo said. “But Tanner said he spoke with them and they all agreed that they wanted him to play. What that young man did (Friday) was pretty incredible, just remarkable the way he handled everything.”
That was due in large part to the relationship Boyd enjoyed with his stepfather. The two bonded through their love of football and that was one of the reasons Boyd wanted to be on the field Friday night.
“He did everything for me, he was always there when I needed him,” Boyd said. “He would drive me to lifting sessions, he was at all the games, and we all could hear him in the stands supporting the team.”
It was that support and love Adams had for the program that made the entire night all the more emotional. Athletic director Martha Jamieson said several players were in tears in the locker room after the win. DiGiacomo remains amazed by the maturity Boyd displayed in such a tragic time.
“No 17-year-old kid should have to deal with what Tanner had to deal with last Friday,” the Silver Lake coach said. “I’m just so proud of Tanner.”
Sweet 16
1. EVERETT (2-0): The folks in Central Mass. learned what people in these parts already know — the Crimson Tide are loaded.
2. CENTRAL CATHOLIC (2-0): Very impressive performance Saturday night against St. John’s Prep.
3. BC HIGH (2-0): Will Bowen has grasped the quarterback duties quite well in a short period of time.
4. XAVERIAN (1-1): Reports of Xaverian’s demise were, for one week, greatly exaggerated.
5. MARSHFIELD (1-1): Showed that they are indeed a legitimate contender for the Division 2 state title.
6. NATICK (2-0): Good coaching, good defense and a good running game equals very good results.
7. MANSFIELD (2-0): Great Scott, the Hornets have themselves a nice passing attack.
8. LEXINGTON (2-0): Survived an old-fashioned shootout against a dangerous Concord-Carlisle team.
9. TEWKSBURY (2-0): Another white knuckler for the Redmen.
10. READING (2-0): You just know the Rockets have been waiting a year for another crack at Lexington.
11. KING PHILIP (2-0): Defense paves the way to victory once again.
12. BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM (1-1): Banged-up squad was no match for Xaverian at the Hawk Bowl.
13. DUXBURY (1-1): Quarterback John Roberts had his hand in four touchdowns against Barnstable.
14. ST. JOHN’S PREP (1-1): Couldn’t get anything going offensively against Central Catholic Saturday night.
15. NORTH ATTLEBORO (1-1): Bounced back with a vengeance against Bishop Feehan.
16. DENNIS-YARMOUTH (2-0): This has all the potential to be Paul Funk’s best team since the Super Bowl championship squad of 2011.