Seeing double! Euless Trinity, Grapevine have twin linemen as playoffs get started
How often do you come across a high school football team that has twins starting at the same position?
Maybe 1 in a 100.
How about two sets of twins at the same position at the same high school?
Well at Euless Trinity, the Trojans are beating the odds.
Last season and the start of this season, Trinity had four starting offensive linemen, coming from two families, and all from the Class of 2022.
Jared and Jacob Foni, and Sa’ve and Polo TouTai make up four of the five starting linemen and if anyone knows anything about Trinity football, it’s that the Trojans love running the ball.
“Lot of people see us and think it’s a strange thing because they don’t really see that, but to us it’s just normal. We’ve been playing with [Jacob and Jared] since we were little, since pee-wee days,” Sa’ve TouTai said.
Jared Foni is listed at 6-3 and 295 pounds, and lines up at tackle.
Jacob Foni is 6-2 and 290 pounds, and is the starting center.
“We both started playing football at the same time in flag football when we were little,” said Jared Foni, who’s older brother Valentino Foni was the starting quarterback last season.
Added Jacob, “Just been very thankful to play with him, and playing with the same guys is something special too.”
Unfortunately, both TouTai brothers suffered ACL injuries early this year, leaving the Fonis to anchor the line. But at Trinity, that’s all the Trojans are known for...the line and running.
Despite being down a set of twins, Trinity is still among the leaders in the state in rushing yards. 4-star senior Ollie Gordon leads the Fort Worth-area with 2,000 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Last season, with both set of twins, Gordon rushed for 2,083 yards and 28 touchdowns.
“People talk about family and brotherhood within football and they take that to another level,” Trinity coach Chris Jensen said. “They’re brothers at home and they have the rest of their brothers on the team. No one does a better job than coach [Lamar] Kirk, our offensive line coach, at creating unity with that group.”
In 10 games this season, Trinity is averaging well over 350 yards rushing a game, a familiar recipe to its success.
The Trojans are 9-1 overall and won the District 3-6A championship. They open the playoffs against Keller (6-4) in a 6A Division 1 bi-district game at 7 p.m. Friday at Pennington Field.
“It’s that bond we have and it all started when we were younger,” Polo said. “We just all grew up in Trinity.”
Six miles north of Trinity is Grapevine High School and won’t you believe it, the Mustangs also have twins that are seniors that play on the offensive line.
That’s no joke.
Dylan and Drake Bequeaith have helped the Mustangs to an 8-2 record and District 4-5A Division 2 championship. They will host Wichita Falls (3-7) at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
“It’s a really unique experience. Not a lot of people have their own twin that plays on the same team and at the same position,” Drake Bequeaith said. “And to be district champs, it’s a cool feeling.”
Drake is listed at 6-5 and 260 pounds, and plays tackle.
Dylan is 6-2 and 225 pounds, and plays guard.
But both are committed to Kansas State. Drake will play offensive line while Dylan will play fullback.
“My whole family is excited. My older brother, he played football, he’s excited. My dad is excited. The whole family is super excited since we get to go together,” Drake said.
Added Dylan, “And we are from Kansas. We came down to Texas during the sixth grade. We still know a lot of people there and we like Kansas.”
The Mustangs are averaging 177 yards rushing per game and have scored 38 touchdowns on the ground.
“We knew coming into this year, offensive line wise, we were at least above average and could be great, and those two guys are at the core of it,” Grapevine coach Mike Alexander said. “Any time we can set your foundation with the o-line, it’s huge. The skill guys will come along, but if you don’t have an o-line, it’s tough.
And those guys are the hardest workers. They’re obviously talented, but when two of your better players are two of your hardest workers, it means everything.”
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
