Wade was a three-sport athlete for his entire high school career, member of the football team, the track and field team, and the cheerleading squad.
It was one of the most trying weeks any high schooler would go through, with teammates and students attending Wade's funeral the following Friday and then suiting up for a key divisional game that night against Foxboro.
From StoughtonPatch's Jeffrey Pickette, following the game:
As Stoughton High football senior captains Mike Connelly, Adam Leonard, Andrew Kelly and Aaron Mack made their way to midfield for the coin toss prior to the start of Friday's home game against Foxborough, Leonard and Kelly held a black #56 jersey, belonging to classmate David Wade, a lineman on the team who tragically died last Saturday.
Coach Greg Burke carried Wade's helmet on his way out from the locker room.
Wade's jersey and helmet were then placed on the Stoughton bench.
A teary-eyed Burke held this same jersey and helmet during his postgame interview following Stoughton's 20-0 win, a victory the team dedicated to Wade and his family.
"You can't get any tougher than this week when you lose a family member, a senior, a leader, a super kid," Burke said.
Wade, 17, a senior at Stoughton High School, died on Sept. 29 after he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest at his Turnpike St. home, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said. Wade was shot by his 21-year-old brother in what was reported as an accidental shooting.
Less than a week later, his teammates took the field against Hockomock League Davenport Division foe Foxborough, a mere eight hours after attending his funeral Friday morning.
Stoughton ran out onto the field under a sign held by cheerleaders which read "Do it for Dave" and then delivered its most inspiring effort of the season, shutting out Foxborough.
"This week was probably the hardest week all year, focusing on school work, our friend passing and the game - one of the most important games of the year," Mack said.
"Tonight was just a tough night. We said goodbye to our friend just this morning. We came out here and we wanted to do it for Dave, that was the ultimate goal," Connelly said. "Coach Burke put '56' on the board [before the game] and said now [Wade's] one of our departed brothers. We have a saying 'this is for our departed brothers' at the beginning of the game. Now we added one more and we wanted to do it for him."
The Black Knights posted their second shutout of the season, shutting down one of the league's most explosive running backs in Kiivone Howard. Burke and senior Marcus Middleton both said postgame that canceling the game wasn't an option and as Middleton said, "We knew Dave would want us to come out here."
ESPNBoston High School's Scott Barboza described the scene:
The enduring image at Anthony L. Sarno Field Friday night came after Stoughton’s 20-0 win. The Black Knights players, coaches, parents, student fans – almost all clad in black and orange – milled about the field.
None of them seemed to know how to leave. None of them seemed interested either. The gridiron, that comfortable cocoon, a patch of green earth and a little slice of heaven insolated from the inevitable coldness of the outside world, was consoling. It was apparent that as soon as the crowd thinned reality would come crashing back. Maybe in the walk back to the car, maybe on the drive home, maybe before shutting the lights off for the night, maybe Saturday morning.
On Friday morning, Stoughton football player David Wade, 17, was buried. Friday night, his football teammates played a game worthy of tribute.
But it’s the thereafter that’s unnerving.
What happens when we’re all alone?
Wade’s presence was all over Sarno. The Black Knights kept Wade’s uniform, replete with helmet and gloves, on their bench. A decal with Wade’s No. 56 was affixed to back the back of each player’s helmet. T-shirts with the “56” were printed. The number was also spray painted onto the grass in a giant shield near one of the field’s entrances. The crest with a 15-foot high ‘S’ in the middle and Wade’s number was outlined with yard lights.
A moment of silence was observed before the National Anthem. The game ended with Stoughton head coach Greg Burke walking over to gather Wade’s belongings from the bench. Even as Burke was swarmed by media postgame and fought through tears during local television interviews, he clenched the helmet and jersey in his left hand.
StoughtonPatch's Jeffrey Pickette talked with dozens of people about Wade:
He is remembered by his peers and teachers as well-liked, kindhearted and good-natured - someone who was always happy, supportive and smiling, junior Alex Charette said.
"David Wade was a son, a brother, a friend, and a Knight. He was one of the first people I meet when I moved to Stoughton and entered [the O'Donnell Middle School] at the start of sixth grade. He was always so positive and never really had anything bad to say about anyone. David was always up for a good time and could put a smile on anyone's face," senior Chris Madden wrote in an email. "I've sat next to him everyday at lunch and it's going to be hard not seeing him anymore. I only hope that we can all remember him as he lived, and the Wade family can find happiness in this difficult time."
History teacher Mollie O'Connell, who had Wade in his junior year for American Studies, remembers a student with a passion and excitement for history. But more importantly, O'Connell remembers "what a great kid he was."
"The life of a high school student is all about me. That was never Dave. He was always so polite, so gentlemanly, so mature," she said. "He touched so many different groups in school...he could get along with everyone."
"Dave Wade was one of the nicest, hardest working kids that I knew, anything that was asked of him he did and then some," Brett Hoffman, fellow senior and member of the football team, wrote in an email. "He was a great friend, teammate, and all around person and he will be greatly missed."
#15: Hockomock Duo Both Eclipse 1,000 Points
#14: Hockomock Gymnasts Excel
#13: Mansfield Slays The Streak
#12: Hock Teams Return to the Finals
#11: Milford Basketball Takes The Central Title
#10: Canton Lax Has Historic Season
#9: Taunton Wins First Hock Title