Canton Patch Athlete of the Week: David Neil

DAVID NEIL: Sophomore Tight End and now Field Goal Kicker

NAME OF TEAM:

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: “It takes a very special type of player and person to do what David Neil did for us. He has been a starter and has scored five touchdowns for us, so he was no stranger to playing, but being only a sophomore, he has been waiting patiently for his time to shine and Tuesday night was his time. He’s a very coachable player and great person and student that will now be remembered for doing something he never thought he’d have to do, but did it. We have a talented team and our usual set of heroes and we never needed a kicker. To have a player not usually one of the heroes, become one, as a kicker, who never kicked before is really special and that’s why it’s such a great game.” -Blue Hills’ Football Coach and Athletic Director Ed Catabia

WHY IS HE THE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK?: The had not attempted a field goal in four years and never really had a field goal kicker. This past Tuesday, the Warriors were in a 22-22 tie against East Boston in a Division-4A semifinal game at Franklin High School. With three seconds remaining in the game, Coach Ed Catabia called upon David Neil to do what he never tried to do before and that was to kick a field goal. The 6’2”-205 pound Neil is a starter, but as a tight end and defensive lineman. To make it even better, a successful field goal, from 26 yards out, would win the game and put Blue Hills back into the , after losing a year ago. Neil was chosen because two days earlier, at the end of a practice, he was just kidding around and was kicking field goals and actually made one from 30 yards away. Coach Catabia remembered, told Neil to get out there, and Neil’s field goal attempt was successful giving Blue Hills a 25-22 victory earning a repeat visit to today’s Super Bowl.

FAVORITE CAREER ATHLETIC MOMENT: “This week, kicking this field goal and playing in the Super Bowl and to know I had something to do with it,” said Neil. “My brother Patrick (21) also played football here at Blue Hills and he was on the team that lost to East Boston in the playoffs in 2007. It was also nice to help get a little revenge for my brother.”

THREE SPORTS: David Neil is a three-sport athlete. He feels his best sport is baseball, where he was a varsity player, as a freshman, last year. David is a catcher and a pitcher, but is versatile enough to play any position. He also is a forward on the Warriors’ basketball team. On the football team, not only has he showed his great kicking ability, but he also has collected five touchdown receptions as a starting tight end, and he can also play on the defensive line.

FUTURE GOALS: To go to a Division-1 College and play baseball. Meanwhile, in the classroom at Blue Hills, David is gaining experience in the field of Metal Fabrication.

WHATS ON YOUR IPOD: All kinds of music.

OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL: David enjoys spending time with his parents, brother and friends. Participation in three sports takes up a lot of his time.

THEME: Be ready at all times and in anyway that can help your team win, and when it’s your time to shine, be ready to shine!

FINAL WORD: “Thank you to my parents and brother for their support, to my coaches and teachers for believing in me and my family of teammates for being my friends and helping me to perform on the athletic field,” said David Neil, the Canton Patch Athlete Of-The-Week.