Bryce Riley, West Aurora ease past East Aurora
That’s the last sentence on the profile of Bryce Riley of West Aurora’s X social media account.
“RIP Dad.”
Bryon Riley was the victim of a shooting, but he’s never far from his son’s thoughts.
“Unfortunately, December 31st of last year,” Blackhawks junior running back Bryce said. “He was killed in Chicago. I use that as motivation. My dad and I grew up and that was our life.
“Whenever I was with him, there wasn’t a moment when we weren’t playing football – in the house or in the garden, if we were going to the park. Football is my inspiration, and he inspires me to play football.”
Bryce Riley has played inspired football this season as the team’s leading rusher with 407 yards heading into Friday’s 128th meeting of West Aurora’s series with crosstown rival East Aurora.
He was also the team’s leading receiver with 19 receptions.
Ball State recruit Mason Atkins then came out and did the heavy lifting for the Blackhawks in a 46-7 Upstate Eight West win over the Tomcats that extended their series lead to 68-48-12.
Atkins, a senior quarterback, completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and four touchdowns for West Aurora (6-2, 4-1), including eight straight passes to start the game. He added six carries for 81 yards and two more touchdowns.
“We were on fire,” Atkins said. “It was really good to come out here and run our passing attack. The last few weeks we’ve been running our running attack and we’ve run a ton of them.
“We really got the ball to everyone. It was really good.”
Senior running back Jonathan Ortiz was thrown out for a 5-yard loss on the first play for East Aurora (2-6, 1-4). That stop was made by senior defensive tackle Kieran Duncan.
Duncan then tackled Ortiz in the end zone for one of two safeties for West Aurora, the other coming on a snap punt out of the end zone.
“Duncan was just flying,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “We went from there.”
East Aurora’s TD in the third quarter came on a 10-yard run by junior reserve quarterback Manny Martinez, who played in relief of starter Joseph Becker.
Meanwhile, the 5-foot-7, 160-pound Riley may have had a quiet night Friday, but he still managed to make an impact. He had two catches for 12 yards, with a 4-yard touchdown run from Atkins.
“He’s a really versatile player now,” Atkins said of Riley. “He’s not just a running back. He’s also a receiver. He can do both things. We worked on that a lot this summer.
“The touchdown was a rollout route. He just stood there on the goal line. He beat his guy and I got him the ball and he scored.”
But there’s even more to Riley’s game, according to Eimer.
“He’s such a selfless kid,” Eimer said. “What doesn’t show up in the stat line is how he blocks.”
Eimer also highlighted a 46-yard sweep by senior receiver Antonio Higgins that set up Riley’s TD catch.
“Bryce panicked one of their defensive linemen,” Eimer said. “It just shows you the kind of kid he is. He can really do anything.”
Atkins also connected with 6-2, 215-pound senior running back Lesroy Tittle, transfer from Nazareth, on a 44-yard run for a TD to open the scoring.
“It feels good to have another person to run with,” Riley said. “Me and Lesroy have been friends since middle school at Jefferson. We’ve always been together in the backfield.
“His return is incredible. It’s like a brotherhood.”
During his interview, Riley reached under his jersey and shoulder pads and pulled out a chain with a small gold frame featuring a photo of his father.
“I still play with it,” Riley said. “I keep him with me all the time. I make sure that whatever I do on that field, it’s also for him. Hopefully I get to the next level to continue for him.”
