Seven Duos supporting each other on game day
There’s no bond quite like a sibling: sometimes a friend, sometimes an enemy, but always family. For these duos, football season is a busy time of practice and preparation as both take to the field for Friday night lights. Whether on the team, playing in the bleachers, or cheering from the sidelines, these siblings have got each other’s backs.
Photography by Kristina Armstrong
Senior, Offensive/Defensive Lineman | 8th Grade, Marching Band
Photo by Hacker Medias
Thaxton: I started at the age of 6. I loved it and kept doing it.
Thaxton: Go eat with the team, come back, sleep, get dressed, and pray before the game.
Thaxton: Going out and playing the sport I love.
Thaxton: Listen to the band and cheer on how great she is.
Thaxton: My sister giving me water on the sideline.
Thaxton: Keeping a positive attitude during bad times.
Keelyn: My love for music.
Keelyn: Going to the band room, warming up, texting my brother, and doing our halftime show.
Keelyn: Going out and acing our halftime show.
Keelyn: I go to every football game, mandatory or not. He works hard!
Keelyn: When my brother is on the sidelines and we start a song, he always dances.
Keelyn: He never gives up, even when times are tough.
Freshman, Running/Defensive Back | Junior, Offensive/Defensive Lineman
Troy: My dad introduced me to the sport when I was little.
Troy: Listen to music, stretch, and go through the plays.
Troy: This season I’m looking forward to helping my team through my position, getting tackles, and running the football.
Troy: By supporting him, no matter what happens.
Troy: His leadership. He’s not just a great football player – he’s also a great brother.
Tyre: A game night has a black sky, with lights beaming onto the field and crowds roaring.
Tyre: To me, football sets the tone for the entirety of the school year. It is the first sport to start and can show the trajectory of the other teams and events.
Tyre: I’m looking forward to how our team functions as a single unit. I’m hoping that the team will work together and not be selfish. I also don’t want them to be disrespectful to others, as we represent CCS as a whole.
Tyre: I admire his work ethic. He is one of the few people I know that will get more work done off the field, always wanting to get better. I hope my brother can make a name for himself while he is here, and I’m actually excited to have a brotherly duo.
Sophomore, Fullback/Middle Linebacker | Senior, Fullback/Middle Linebacker
Harley: My favorite part of Friday night lights is playing as a team and making lasting memories with my brother. Not only is Harry my older brother, but he is my best friend. Each game is going to be hard knowing it brings us closer to the last, and I’m not looking forward to that last game when the lights go out and we walk off the field together for the last time.
Harley: Harry said it best. We push each other every day.
Harley: My favorite memory is the first Friday night lights because it was a home game, and I was standing on the field next to Harry for the first time. Then, we went after a tackle together and heard our names being called – what a great feeling that was.
Harley: Harry inspires me by never giving up on or off the field. He is someone I look up to.
Harry: My favorite part of Friday night lights is getting to play alongside my little brother. My brother is truly my best friend and will always be. Knowing that this is my last season playing football with him is heartbreaking, but that just means we’ve got to appreciate every practice and game we have left together.
Harry: We push each other every day, whether it be in the weight room, on the field, or even at home. We make sure we’re good and have the right attitude.
Harry: What will always be my favorite memory is getting a tackle with Harley in one of the first Friday night lights we played together.
Harry: My brother has a rare blood disorder that used to prevent him from playing sports when he was younger, and him choosing to play now inspires me to not let any opportunity go to waste.
Junior, Football Team Manager | Freshman, Pep Band
Will: I work with the McCallie football team in a variety of ways. You can usually find me in the end zone filming games or in the press box.
Will: I love everything about football. I enjoy being part of the team, seeing the ins and outs of managing a team, and being on the sidelines on Friday nights.
Will: Thomas practices every night at home – I don’t complain too often about the noise.
Will: Friday night football games are one of the only things Thomas and I have in common, so it’s fun to both be there in our own way but supporting the
same team.
Will: Thomas pursues all of his interests at full throttle. I really appreciate that about him.
Thomas: I love music and joined the band in sixth grade. I quickly fell in love with playing the trombone (and guitar) and practiced all the time. I wanted to play as often as possible, so in the seventh grade I asked to join the McCallie Pep Band. This will be my third football season!
Thomas: My favorite thing about Friday nights is being able to play fun songs and hype up the crowd.
Thomas: Winning the state championship game last year was pretty awesome! It was fun to be a small part by being in the pep band and also seeing Will on the sidelines.
Thomas: Will is confident about who he is and who he wants to be.
Senior, Cheer | Sophomore, Running/Defensive Back
Emma: I’ve always loved the excitement and energy that comes with Friday night lights. I feel like the cheerleaders always play a big role in this, which inspired me to try out. I also enjoy supporting my team to victory.
Emma: I have lots of pregame laughs with my teammates. We cheer our hearts out all the way until the end.
Emma: My favorite memory with Caden is when we went to Waffle House with our friends after a game.
Emma: My brother has some of the best work ethic and determination of anyone I know. He works so incredibly hard both on and off the field. He inspires me to work my hardest to accomplish my goals.
Caden: I grew up watching Tennessee football, and it inspired me to play.
Caden: After school, we have a pregame meal and then go to the field house to get ready for the game.
Caden: I like the energy that Friday night lights bring, and I like playing in front of a big crowd.
Caden: I attend all of her cheer competitions.
Caden: Whether our team is winning or losing, she’s always cheering us on. This year will be a special year because this will be the last year I spend sharing the field with my big sister.
Freshman, Cheer | Senior, Cheer
Aubrey: Watching my older sister cheer for multiple years, I wanted to have the same experience.
Aubrey: I am very excited to perform our halftime dance and for senior night.
Aubrey: I remember seeing my sister in her stunts and dancing. It was really cool to see her accomplish something I know she worked hard on.
Aubrey: My sister inspires me to do better and be a better cheerleader every day.
Karleigh: Funny enough, I actually had zero interest in any sports, but when my best friends didn’t want to try out alone for the cheer team, I did too. When I made the team, I fell in love with cheer and have been returning each year since.
Karleigh: For me, I just love putting on a show! My team’s unique stomp-and-shake style is simply fun to do.
Karleigh: As her captain and sister, I always give positive feedback and tips for cheer while hyping her up when she deserves it. Even before Aubrey was on the team, she was always there in the stands doing the cheers with us on Friday nights.
Karleigh: Her presence, either on the team or in the stands, always motivates me to do my very best and be a proper role model for her.
Junior, Linebacker | Senior, Offensive Lineman/Right Tackle
Jackson: Trying to be better than my brother.
Jackson: Defense and a lot of yelling.
Jackson: The way it feels – it’s the best feeling ever.
Jackson: I push him to do his best.
Jackson: By being better than me.
Matt: I tried it and loved it.
Matt: Kickoff.
Matt: I make sure we’re being positive and helping the team.
Matt: The first game we played together.
Matt: Seeing him play makes me happy.