In his Braintree finale, Billy Silvia soars with record-setting performance

BRAINTREE — When Braintree decided to move its annual Thanksgiving game against Milton to Wednesday night because of the weather, Braintree senior captain Billy Silvia spoke up.

Silvia, junior lineman James Daly, and others, successfully petitioned to move the game back to Thursday morning.

And for Silvia, that made for an extra-special finale in his illustrious high school career, which he ended as the program’s career scoring leader. The senior finished with 256 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in a 35-21 Bay State Conference victory over Milton.

“For two years we’ve watched him do some unbelievable things,” Braintree coach Brian Chamberlain said. “He makes plays in big games, no matter who we’re playing. He’s a special type of player.”

Silvia sparked a momentum swing for the Wamps (7-4), who controlled the ball for nine minutes between the second and third quarters. His second touchdown came with the first half winding down, putting Braintree ahead at the break, 15-14.

Braintree received the opening kickoff in the third quarter and engineered a six-play drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Silvia. On the ensuing kickoff, Silvia booted a line-drive off a Milton blocker. The Wamps recovered the loose ball, leading to a 5-yard touchdown run by Sylvia.

“Getting the ball back right away really took the wind out of their sails and kept us going,” Chamberlain said. “Really a huge momentum change.”

Silvia added a fourth score as time expired in a 20-point third quarter for the Wamps. Silvia added a field goal and two extra points in a Thanksgiving performance for the ages.

“Wednesday wouldn’t have been the same,” Silvia said. “It’s the best moment of my life, honestly. High school football has meant the world to me and to be able to end it on Thanksgiving, we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

Milton finished at 7-4.

Dan Shulman can be reached at dan.shulman@globe.com.