Holliston Football Team Fulfills Promise To Families Who Lost Sons
HOLLISTON (CBS) - The Holliston Panther Football team will accept their high school Super Bowl rings on Saturday and they will see the completion of a six-year goal. A very special jersey will hang in The Hall at Patriots Place at Gillette Stadium.
"It was a powerful moment to get that done." said Holliston High School senior Nick Athy.
In 2008, two boys died within five days. They were different ages and died from different circumstances, but they shared a love of Holliston football.
Holliston football coach Todd Kiley was there and started the "Dream Goal. "We were doing these things to lift the spirits of these families," Coach Kiley said.
The "Dream Goal" was to win two high school football championships in each of the boy's names and be able to raise each of their jerseys at Gillette Stadium. The jersey of the state champion hangs for one year at Gillette.
In 2010 the team dedicated their big win to Joey Larracey. The junior died from an undetected heart condition during a football scrimmage. "You don't get over it but they do help us get it through it," said Jim Larracey, Joey's father.
The team still needed a title for honorary football captain, number 7, Timmy O'Connell. O'Connell was only ten years old when he died from Leukemia. He was in Kiley's gym class and helped out on the football sidelines starting when he was eight years old.
Six years after the deaths, the players didn't really know Joey or Tim. But yet they played as if they did.
"It's turned into this inspirational attitude these kids play with," said Kiley.
Over the years the team adopted saying like Joe's Way and Tim's Time.
"Once we got into high school it became a message," said Athy.
Timmy O'Connell's mom could not be more proud. "They really take with him all of his really good traits," said Joanne O'Connell.
When the team won the championship, O'Connell said she knew they would. She said it was just the right time. Tim was the second of four boys. Her eldest is a senior in high school and her third is a freshman.
"We knew there was something else to be done and we knew we could do it and we wanted to do it for the O'Connells and the community," said Zach Elkinson. "Just doing it for him and getting his jersey and celebrating him is awesome."
Even though the "Dream Goal" is accomplished, Holliston football will make sure number 73 and number 7 live on.
"You see what the families go through and it's nice that this was a positive and it's going to continue to be a positive," said Kiley
