Photo

Photo by: William D. Lewis

Jeremy and his twin brother, Jimmy, above right, a wide receiver and linebacker, have been instrumental in helping the Warriors’ reach the Division IV, Region 13 final Friday against Creston Norwayne.

By JOHN BASSETTI

bassetti@vindy.com

BROOKFIELD

Twins are a beautiful thing, even when the parents don’t get much sleep for the first year or so.

Now that they’re seniors, Jimmy Quinlan and Jeremy Quinlan are keeping Daniel and Stefanie Quinlan busy as players on the undefeated Brookfield football team.

“Our parents come to every game,” said Jimmy, a wide receiver and linebacker. “They haven’t missed anything and we both play football, basketball and baseball.”

The next chance for the twins’ parents to watch their sons is Friday night at 7:30, when the Warriors (12-0) meet Creston Norwayne (12-0) in a Division IV regional final.

Both Quinlans are two-way players — and then some.

Jimmy also plays the kickoff, kick return, punt and punt return teams and is holder for his brother on point-after kicks and field goals.

“I try to do it all,” said Jimmy, whose twin brother plays quarterback and free safety and does the punting.

Jimmy (6-foot-3, 190) has the school record for tackles, which he set against Ashtabula Edgewood. Jimmy now has 440 for his career.

Occasionally, there’s a twin-to-twin pass play.

“It happens sometimes,” Jimmy said. “It seems like we’re on the same page. When I come out of my route, he usually gets me the ball and then I try to get as many yards after the catch for him.”

In the recent win over Manchester, Jimmy had a role during Ryan Mosora’s interception before halftime.

“I threw a block in there,” said Jimmy, who is one minute older than Jeremy (6-2, 180).

Jimmy recalled last year’s loss to Norwayne.

“I remember them being real fast and they passed all over,” he said of the 42-7 loss. “We’ve worked on stopping the pass and stopping the physical runner they have so we should be alright.

“They threw a lot [last year] and, if a couple breaks went our way, it could have been a different outcome because there’s a chance we could have scored near the end of the first half. Losing that momentum hurt us starting the second half.”

He recalled one play when QB Adam Wallace scored up the middle.

“I went outside and he faked me out up the middle for like an 80-yard TD,” said Jimmy Quinlan. “That’s one play I’d like to have back.”

Brookfield will have most of last season’s players back in another attempt to challenge Nowayne’s high-powered offense.

“We have almost everyone back,” Jimmy said, noting that key players lost from the 2011 team included guard Aaron Gillis, linemen Cory Mild and Mark Hiner as well as WR/OLB Brandon Mosora.

Signs of the payback factor are evident at Brookfield, where a team picture shows the long-faced Warriors after the Norwayne loss.

“That’s given us motivation through the week,” Jimmy Quinlan said.