Coupeville Sports

Birthday boy Clay Reilly (with a cameo by big sis Amanda Fabrizi).

Clay Reilly, welcome to the big time.

The Coupeville High School junior has been kickin’ butt and taking names for three years now, as a football, basketball and baseball star, but this fall he moved to a lofty level.

One of the real bright spots during a somewhat dismal Wolf gridiron season, Reilly teamed with Hunter Smith to be lock-down defensive backs.

Teams scored a lot on the Wolves, but most of it came on the ground, as most other teams shied away from throwing into their coverage.

With Smith picking off a school-record seven passes, Reilly didn’t get as many balls to make plays on, but, when he did, he was highly effective.

He made off with his own interception, came within a fingertip of at least two others, and thoroughly discouraged opposing quarterbacks from trying to operate on his side of the field.

Perhaps better for Coupeville, however, was his emergence as the best punter in 1A.

The Wolves, who were working out the kinks in an offense featuring a host of young players, averaged nearly five punts a game.

Once Reilly took over the role midway through the season, his foot became Coupeville’s most dangerous weapon, as he piled up 1,156 yards on 34 kicks.

One of those exploded into the early evening sky, took a sharp bounce on his home turf and skidded to a rest some 70 yards later, giving his support crew plenty of time to haul tail down the field and keep the other team from even attempting to bring the ball back.

In a rough season for a still-developing squad, that punt was easily the most impressive play of the season.

Reilly being Reilly, he took off down the field after he let loose with the kick, wanting in on the tackle. He may be a punter, but he’s a hitter, first and foremost.

As he celebrates his 17th birthday today, the lil’ bro of former Wolf hoops star Amanda Fabrizi, is one of the best and brightest we have at CHS.

Will he return to basketball after taking a season off? Only time will tell.

Almost certainly Reilly will be back on the diamond in the spring, reclaiming his starting spot in the lineup.

He swung a wicked bat and displayed a laser arm as a sophomore, and, based on football, he has grown as an athlete.

As he celebrates his cake day, we want to wish him the best and thank him, for his refusal to quit, for his grit, for his willingness to pose for the camera, for the way he shines bright and reps Wolf Nation with class and style.

Happy birthday, Clay. Now go kick some more booty.