It’s the last phrase on the X social-media account profile of West Aurora’s Bryce Riley.
“RIP Dad.”
Bryon Riley was the deadly victim of a shooting, but he’s never far from his son’s thoughts.
“Unfortunately, Dec. 31 of last year,” said Bryce, a junior running back for the Blackhawks. “He was killed in Chicago. I use that as motivation. Me and my dad grew up and this was our life.
“Every single time I was with him, there wasn’t a time we didn’t play football — in the house or backyard, if we went to the park. Football is my inspiration, and he inspires me to play football.”
Bryce Riley has been playing inspired football this season as the team’s leading rusher with 407 yards entering Friday’s 128th meeting of West Aurora’s series with crosstown rival East Aurora.
He also was the team’s leading receiver with 19 receptions.
Ball State recruit Mason Atkins then went out and did the heavy lifting for the Blackhawks in a 46-7 Upstate Eight West win over the Tomcats that extends their lead in the series 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 completions to start the game. He added six carries for 81 yards and two more TDs.
“We were on fire,” Atkins said. “It was really good to come out here and get our pass offense going. The last few weeks, we’ve had our run offense going and we’ve been running a ton.
“We really spread the ball to everyone. It felt really good.”
Senior running back Jonathan Ortiz was thrown 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 later tackled Ortiz in the end zone for one of two safeties for West Aurora, with the other coming on a punt snap out of end zone.
“Duncan was just flying around,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “We rolled 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 might 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 TD from Atkins.
“He’s a really versatile player now,” Atkins said of Riley. “He’s not just a running back. He’s a receiving back as well. He can do both things. We worked a ton on that in the summer.
“The touchdown was a rollout route. He just manned up down 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 just such an unselfish kid,” Eimer said. “Things that don’t show in the stat line is how well he blocks.”
Eimer also pointed out a 46-yard jet sweep by senior receiver Antonio Higgins that set up Riley’s TD catch.
“Bryce pancaked one of their defensive linemen,” Eimer said. “It just shows you the kind of kid he is. He can really do it all.”
Atkins also hooked up with 6-2, 215-pound senior running back Lesroy Tittle, the Nazareth transfer, on a 44-yard post route for a TD to open the scoring.
“It feels good to have another person to run with,” Riley said. “Me and Lesroy have been buds since middle school at Jefferson. We’ve always been in the backfield together.
“Him coming back is amazing. It feels like a brotherhood.”
While being interviewed, Riley reached under his jersey and shoulder pads and pulled out a chain with small gold frame featuring a picture of his dad.
“I always play with this on,” Riley said. “I keep it with me all the time. I make sure, whatever I’m doing on this field, it’s for him as well. Hopefully, I make it to the next level to keep going for him.”