DURHAM, N.H. - The Granite State has produced baseball Hall of Famers and Olympic athletes.

A little piece of New Hampshire's rock also belongs to a college senior named Mike Boyle.

"The first thing you notice about Mike is, he's a football player," said University of New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell.

Boyle is a starting wide receiver and return man. He'll come to the UNI-Dome Saturday when Northern Iowa hosts New Hampshire in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

A senior, Boyle's not quite a high-profile athlete nationally. The name's not in the game with a former New Hampshire catcher named Carlton Fisk or skier Bode Miller.

Nonetheless, Boyle has been part of the football landscape in his home state for a long time. A Plymouth, N.H., native, he played for a Pop Warner team that won a national title. Following his senior year in high school, Boyle earned Mr. Football honors as the best prep player in the Granite State.

Now, the senior wide receiver has contributed to a run of unprecedented success at New Hampshire. The Wildcats are in the FCS playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. This year, Boyle leads UNH in receptions (63), receiving yards (1,057), punt returns (6.5 yards per attempt) and scoring (72 points).

To Boyle, it's simply catching the torch passed by former Wildcat receivers like David Ball and Keith LeVan and quarterback Ricky Santos.

"I think I've had a pretty good run here," said Boyle, a 5-foot-8, 190-pounder. "Playing with some pretty good players definitely helped me as a player."

Boyle added, "We've had great leadership from the seniors since I've been here. …We've carried around a lot of tradition of hard work and blue collar-type football. It all trickles down from the head coach."

The leader of the Wildcat program believes Boyle has held up his end of the bargain.

"He's got an incredible knack for understanding what we're doing and how to do it," said McDonnell. "When he does it, he does it very well.

"Mike's been a winner since Pop Warner. His high school team was 44-0. There's a presence about him. He doesn't talk a whole lot, but our kids see his work ethic and how he handles himself when he plays. Leadership by that type of example is probably the best type of leader you can have."

Boyle is part of a high-powered New Hampshire offense that will appear in the UNI-Dome for the second straight season. A year ago, he caught four passes for 70 yards as UNI prevailed, 38-35, in a first-round playoff game.

It's time for the next round.

"We know going in it'll be a great atmosphere," said Boyle. "Last year, every seat in the place was filled. It was loud - fun to play there. Second, they have a very good football team."

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com