Coupeville Sports

Riley Boyd with his biggest little fan, daughter Melody.

Riley Boyd’s biggest fan is still pretty small.

Her name is Melody and while she can’t cheer yet, seeing her tiny pink face in the stands is what drives the Coupeville High School senior to successfully juggle school, fatherhood, work and hauling in passes under the Friday Night Lights.

While becoming parents while still in high school is never easy, Boyd and girlfriend Britnie Korzan have large, supportive families and are putting the interests of their little one first. He plans to study to become a radiologist and is shaping his life to be able to provide for his daughter.

“I honestly believe my daughter Melody is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Boyd said. “I feel like I owe it to her, because she has made me the man I am today. I would much rather have many responsibilities, then none at all. She is behind every choice I make, because she is my number one priority.

“Of course, being a student and father is twice as hard; I just remember everything I do is for her, which keeps me motivated to never quit,” he added. “I never knew it was possible to love anything or anyone, as much as I love my daughter.”

His personal goal is to be to his own daughter what his father has been to him.

“I would have to say my dad has had a big impact on helping me be the person I am today,” Boyd said. “Every home game he is there supporting me. Every away game, he drives — no matter the distance — to my games and is right on the sideline rooting for me and my team.

“I hope to be as supportive and understanding to my daughter as he is to me.“

Boyd, who lists speed, stamina and the ability to stay cool in heated situations as his strengths, has bounced all over the field since he first took the field as a Coupeville Middle School player, seeing playing time at quarterback, receiver, cornerback and middle linebacker over the past six seasons. Regardless of where he has lined up, he has loved every minute.

“It just all has been an amazing journey,” Boyd said. “The friends I have gained — I couldn’t have asked for a better pack of Wolves to go to battle with every Friday night.”

As his final year on the gridiron plays out — he has at least three more games, with one at home (Oct. 19 vs. King’s) — Boyd has hopes of snagging some more long passes like the one he hauled in from Josh Bayne during the Homecoming game against Granite Falls.

A few more wins wouldn’t hurt, as well.

But, regardless of the final score of any one game, or the final record of his senior season, Boyd is playing for something more. His two biggest fans.

“Melody has not really affected my ability to play football because my girlfriend is amazing, and allows me to play while she takes care of Melody,” Boyd said. “But the best thing of all is when I look up in the stands on those cold Friday nights and see my two favorite girls there supporting and cheering me on.”

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