Biography

Power, performance and perfection describe the kicking career of Bishop Feehan High School’s Joe Riley. Riley took an unconventional route to reach the gridiron at Holcott Drive. As a starting midfielder and one of the top scorers on Bishop Feehan’s varsity soccer team as a freshman and sophomore, kicking a football off a tee was the farthest thing from Joe Riley’s mind until some friends on the football team asked for his help.

Under the tutelage of kicking Coach John Fiatarone, father of Hall of Famer Dana Fiatarone (Feehan ’95, Holy Cross ’99) Riley quickly learned how to kick a different kind of “football.” At 5'9", 188 pounds, Riley was built like linebacker and had the power of a fullback. Feehan knew that he was special when in his first game, a 32-0 rout of St. Bernard’s of Fitchburg, he kicked 4 PAT’s and narrowly missed a 43 FG attempt. Riley was just warming up.

Consider these subsequent accomplishments his junior year: 6 PAT’s and 2 field goals in a 50-7 victory over rival Attleboro; 3 PAT’s and 25yd FG in a 24-15 victory over Coyle; 2 FG’s (28 and 19 yards) and 3 PAT’s in the EAC championship game at Somerset. Or better still, how about a 22 yd. and 32 yd. FG, the latter with: 02 on the clock to earn Feehan a 13-13 tie with Boston College HS. For his efforts Riley was named a Sun Chronicle and EAC All Star All Star with 31 consecutive PAT’s and 8 FG’s for 55 points. In addition he had 8 kickoffs for touchbacks and 15 punts inside the 10.

As they say “the best was yet to come,” and with a solid year of experience Riley’s senior year began with 2 PAT’s and 50 yard punt to the 8 yard line to help Feehan down a tough NA team 14-7. In a 41-14 victory pay back victory over Rockland, Riley kicked 5 PATS and his punting kept them pinned inside their 20 all afternoon, while in a 20-12 victory rover Dartmouth, Riley kicked a 38 and 41yd FG and 2 PATs. Against Attleboro his 29 and 37 yd. FG and 3 PATs gave Feehan solid 27-7 victory. His booming 50 yard punt and 5 PAT’s laid Somerset to rest 41-14 in the EAC title game.

Feehan finished its regular season with a sparkling 9-0-2 record and a semifinal date with undefeated and # 1 ranked Duxbury HS. In arguably one of the greatest high school kicking performances in Massachusetts history Riley kicked one PAT and 4 FG’s: 12, 34 and 36 yards and then the final kick - a pressure packed 22 yarder in sudden death OT to earn Feehan an incredible 19-16 victory. In the Div. IV title game a week later against Pentucket, Feehan won handily 24-0 as Riley kicked 3 PAT’s and 1 FG to help complete an undefeated season at 11-0-2.

Riley was named a Sun Chronicle All Star, The Ro-Jack’s Player of the Year, An EAC All Star, a Boston Globe 1st team All Scholastic and was selected to play in the prestigious Shriner’s game.

Riley went on to The United States Military Academy (West Point) where he kicked for the Cadets for 4 years. After earning a degree in Civil engineering, he was commissioned an officer and has served a 16 month tour of Iraq before returning to Missouri where he is presently stationed as a Company Commander.