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Last year, Pusch Ridge senior Tyler Shoaff was first team All-3A as a linebacker as the Lions won their second state championship. He led the team in tackles per game with 10.1, almost four more than the second-best tackling Lion, and he was third on the team in sacks (5).

This season, Pusch Ridge features even more Shoaff, in junior outside linebacker/running back Dylan Shoaff and sophomore inside linebacker/running back Cameron Shoaff.

“They’re just great kids,� said PRCA head coach Kent Middleton. “They’re really good athletes, they’re great kids, one’s only a junior and one’s only a sophomore, so they got real bright futures ahead of them.

“They’re playing really good football for us this year and they just got that football mentality, they just love to play the game and they’re athletic and they work hard,� he added. “So, they’re definitely on their way to do some special things.�

Dylan said it’s awesome playing varsity with his younger brother. They are 10 months apart and look like twins.

“Ever since I was in fourth grade, I played with Cam right next to my side,� Dylan said. “So, we’ve grown up right next to each other in football and in life.�

Dylan and Cameron are tied for fifth in the 3A East in rushing with 255 yards each.

Dylan and Cameron lead the team in rushing, and Cameron leads the Lions in tackles per game, 7.7.

Cameron is third on the team in interceptions. Cameron leads PRCA in rushing touchdowns with four, while Dylan is third with two.

“It’s a good time,� Cameron said. “Nobody I love more than (him), my brother’s 10 months older than me, so it was a good time, yeah.�

Cameron is sixth in the region in scoring with 24 points, while Dylan is 10th with 14.

Cameron is second in the 3A East in tackles with 54 and second with five sacks. Cameron is seventh in the 3A in tackles.

Dylan is listed as 5-10, 165 pounds and Cameron as 5-10, 170 pounds. Dylan’s uniform number is 10, and Cameron is No. 11.

Tyler Shoaff, who played middle linebacker and guard, was listed as 6-1, 200 pounds as a senior and wore No. 51.

“Great football player,� Middleton said of Tyler. “He was a hard-nosed, strong, hitting linebacker and he moved real well, he was a great football player first.�

Dylan and Cameron weren’t on varsity last year, but cheered on their older brother. Tyler was 12th in the state in tackles last year with 141 and second in 3A.

“I went up for playoffs last year,� Cameron said. “My older brother I love him to death, so, yeah, it was a good time, celebrating with him.�

The younger Shoaffs do remind Middleton of Tyler.

“They look exactly alike, that’s number one,� Middleton said. “Tyler’s a little bit bigger than them than both of them, taller, but no doubt they got the same genes so they’re they do a lot of the same things.�

Cameron said he and Dylan grew up playing “everything� together, and now, playing nearly the same positions, they help each other out.

“It’s fun, we can go home, talk about some run plays, what it is,� Cameron said. “Talk about some of the linebackers stuff we got to do.�

Last week, Pusch Ridge beat Sabino, 27-8, on the road in its first-ever win there. Dylan had a game-high 74 yards on 12 carries while Cameron rushed for 22 yards on six attempts.

“When you beat Sabino, it’s always fun, I mean, they got a great program and great history to their program and it’s always a big deal because especially, I don’t think we’ve won over here in a long, long time,� Middleton said. “So, this being our first time winning over here is really cool, but whenever you beat Sabino you know you’re on the right track.�

Pusch Ridge has another set of brothers this year in junior tight end/defensive end Nicolas Witt and junior offensive and defensive lineman David Witt.

“They’re brand new to football this year, they’re brand new to our school and they’ve done a good job,� Middleton said.