A 14-year-old football phenom's dreams of gridiron glory were saved Sunday thanks to a Hail Mary of generosity from the family of an alum.
Tyriek Dodd received a $50,000 scholarship that will allow him to continue playing wide receiver for the Holy Cross High School Knights. After his father's death last year, the teen and his family had no way to pay his tuition.
The money came courtesy of the friends and family of Rudy Krizan, who excelled in both sports and academics at Holy Cross, and who died last year of pancreatic cancer at the age of 67.
Tyriek — who is already 6-foot-5 and 195 lbs. — shared his gratitude to Krizan's widow, Patty Reimerdes, and said he intends to make plays for his dad and Krizan.
"I have someone to play for now — my father and her husband — I have someone on my shoulder and I'm going to take that with pride," Dodd said.
"It feels like I know what I'm going to do because before I wasn't sure I was even going to go to school a couple months ago."
On Sunday, before the Knights triumphed 20-14 in overtime against the St. John the Baptist Cougars, Dodd met Reimerdes, 64, for the first time.
"I think this was a God thing — Rudy passes and his father passes," Reimerdes said. "This was meant to be."
Dodd's father, Clement Seymour Dodd Jr., died Feb. 5, 2015, at age 57, from sarcoma after three years of fighting the rare form of cancer.
The loss left the playmaker without his role model.
"He was only male figure I had in the family," said Tyriek, who has three older sisters.
"I'm the only son in the family, so he played a big part in who I am."
Tyriek's mother worried about how she would keep her son in the Catholic school in Queens after her husband died.
"I'm very proud of him. I can't put it into words as a mom, but I am very proud of him," said Natalie Dodd, 50.
"Receiving the scholarship is a blessing itself 'cause Tyriek is a bright, intelligent, loving kid and the scholarship he received let me appreciate more that people really see him how I see him as a mom."
Tyriek uses his father's early death as fuel on the field.
"It was very difficult for him and I feel like Tyriek used that as a push to continue to work hard both academically and in sports," said his sister Alieghcia Dodd, 23.
Knights coach Tim Smith praised Tyriek's big hands, team spirit, hard work in practice and coachability.
"I really think he's going to be an unbelievable football player," Smith said.
"A lot of people are going to be talking about this kid."
Smith recalled that Tyriek never once mentioned that his father had died. He didn't learn of the tragedy until Tyriek's mother confided in the coach about the financial strain the death had put on the family.
"I immediately tried to make efforts to try and help the family," Smith said.
"I think the friends and family of Rudy Krizan couldn't have picked a better kid."
Reimerdes said her husband — known by friends as "Rude the Dude" — would be proud to know a scholarship in his name is helping a teen like Tyriek.
"I felt Rudy when I hugged him," Reimerdes said. "Rudy would be so happy."
"Holy Cross was his family — Rudy was an only child and he felt like all these men were his brothers. The bond like you've never seen a bond at Holy Cross."
She said many of Krizan's friends were eager to contribute to the fund named for the well-read man.
"He would be so happy to know that this young man is playing football on the same fields Rudy played football and sitting in the classrooms Rudy sat in," Reimerdes said.
"We're two families that have become one."
One of those who contributed to the fund was Al Hagan, a former FDNY captain who was also president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association for many years until he recently retired.
Hagan recalled his reaction when he saw the towering teen who scored the scholarship.
"He's 14?" he exclaimed.
After chatting with Tyriek, Hagan said he couldn't have been more pleased with the choice.
"My friend Rudy was a great guy, and he would really have appreciated the hustle that Tyriek has," he said.
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