| NEWS!!! |
Peabody boy headed to Punt, Pass & Kick competition at Gillette Stadium!!!
PEABODY - When Darius Boyd first heard reports about the new turf field being put down at
Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the
11-year-old from Peabody was thrilled.
Sure, he's happy the New England Patriots have a better surface on which to play for the
rest of the season. But he's also glad he'll get to try it out himself Sunday when he competes
in the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick finals at halftime of the Pats' game with the Detroit Lions.
"I saw a story about the (new field) on ESPN and was really excited," said Boyd, who is a
sixth-grader at North Shore Christian School in Lynn. "The players had been slipping on the
old field. Now I won't have to worry about losing my footing."
Boyd is thrilled to take part in the 11-12-year-old PP&K competition. He also admits he's a
bit nervous. To quell those nerves, he's been working hard on his game, practicing with his
nine-year-old brother, Domenic, in their backyard.
"He's out there with me most of the time," said Darius of his younger sibling. "I kick off a tee
every day and play catch with my dad (Ben) whenever I can. I go out in my backyard to
practice punting every day, too, and I can see I've improved."
Darius started playing Pop Warner football for the Tanners' "E" squad when he was seven.
He is now the quarterback and free safety for the "C" squad that recently completed a
successful season.
"I started out as a running back, but halfway through the first season, they switched me to
quarterback," said Boyd. "This was my first time entering the Punt, Pass and Kick
competition."
Boyd went to Gillette Stadium with the Peabody Youth Flag Football program last July. He
had played flag football for the Peabody Patriots last fall.
In the initial PP&K competition, both Boyd brothers won their age divisions and advanced to
the sectionals last month, which were held at the Dana Farber practice field at Gillette
Stadium.
"Domenic was third and Darius won again," said the boys' mother, Karen. "Then we had to
wait to find out if Darius' score was high enough to make the finals, because there were nine
other sectionals held all over New England and only the top five were picked."
Recently the Boyds were notified that Darius had scored high enough to advance to the
finals, but have no idea what that score was.
The family received three tickets to the Patriots-Lions game, so Darius will have a cheering
section with his mom and dad on hand.
"It's going to be a thrilling day for our family," Karen said. "Darius is excited - and we will be
there for him."
A win means Boyd will go on to the Punt, Pass & Kick nationals, which will take place at
halftime during an NFL playoff game in January
By Jean DePlacido , Correspondent
Salem News
PEABODY - When Darius Boyd first heard reports about the new turf field being put down at
Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the
11-year-old from Peabody was thrilled.
Sure, he's happy the New England Patriots have a better surface on which to play for the
rest of the season. But he's also glad he'll get to try it out himself Sunday when he competes
in the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick finals at halftime of the Pats' game with the Detroit Lions.
"I saw a story about the (new field) on ESPN and was really excited," said Boyd, who is a
sixth-grader at North Shore Christian School in Lynn. "The players had been slipping on the
old field. Now I won't have to worry about losing my footing."
Boyd is thrilled to take part in the 11-12-year-old PP&K competition. He also admits he's a
bit nervous. To quell those nerves, he's been working hard on his game, practicing with his
nine-year-old brother, Domenic, in their backyard.
"He's out there with me most of the time," said Darius of his younger sibling. "I kick off a tee
every day and play catch with my dad (Ben) whenever I can. I go out in my backyard to
practice punting every day, too, and I can see I've improved."
Darius started playing Pop Warner football for the Tanners' "E" squad when he was seven.
He is now the quarterback and free safety for the "C" squad that recently completed a
successful season.
"I started out as a running back, but halfway through the first season, they switched me to
quarterback," said Boyd. "This was my first time entering the Punt, Pass and Kick
competition."
Boyd went to Gillette Stadium with the Peabody Youth Flag Football program last July. He
had played flag football for the Peabody Patriots last fall.
In the initial PP&K competition, both Boyd brothers won their age divisions and advanced to
the sectionals last month, which were held at the Dana Farber practice field at Gillette
Stadium.
"Domenic was third and Darius won again," said the boys' mother, Karen. "Then we had to
wait to find out if Darius' score was high enough to make the finals, because there were nine
other sectionals held all over New England and only the top five were picked."
Recently the Boyds were notified that Darius had scored high enough to advance to the
finals, but have no idea what that score was.
The family received three tickets to the Patriots-Lions game, so Darius will have a cheering
section with his mom and dad on hand.
"It's going to be a thrilling day for our family," Karen said. "Darius is excited - and we will be
there for him."
A win means Boyd will go on to the Punt, Pass & Kick nationals, which will take place at
halftime during an NFL playoff game in January
By Jean DePlacido , Correspondent
Salem News
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