Black River senior quarterback Anthony O’Connor knows he’s picked the perfect play. The ball is hiked, the pass sails down the field and the receiver runs into the end zone for a touchdown.
O’Connor’s younger brother, Jacob, the Pirates’ sophomore running back, grabs his gloating brother in a headlock and takes him to the ground.
It’s not just Madden, any video game can end with the O’Connors rolling around on the living room floor in a bout of sibling rivalry.
“We don’t play pingpong in this family without it ending in a fist fight,” said the boys’ father, Dave. “Neither one of the boys likes to lose, and I think that helps out quite a bit.”
The boys’ competitive natures have shone through during a pair of victories this year by Black River. They hooked up for three touchdown passes in a 28-8 victory over Oberlin — the Phoenix’s lone loss of the season — and both turned in outstanding performances in a 35-6 win over Brookside last week.
“On the field, he’s easier to read than anyone on my team for me, at least,” said Anthony, who passed and ran for touchdowns, caught two interceptions and recovered a fumble against the Cardinals. “I’m pretty sure he feels the same way. We kind of know what each other is thinking, and it’s easier to make plays that way.”
The stats back up the statement. Even though Jacob is the starting running back, he’s caught 11 passes for 248 yards — 57 percent of the team’s total — and four touchdowns, double the amount he’s had on the ground.
“Anthony told me at the beginning of the season he had a lot of confidence in me,” said Jacob, who had an 85-yard TD catch, a 71-yard TD run and has kicked five extra points against the Cardinals. “On pass plays I know he’s looking for me. He told me if I mess up he’ll kick my butt.”
Butt-kicking does seem to be the theme in the O’Connor household, as Dave — who was Elyria High’s senior quarterback in 1983 — remembers the pair getting after each other during pickup games in the backyard.
“Boys will be boys,” he said with a laugh. “But they’ve always played well together. Jake’s always played with Anthony and his older friends, and I think that’s helped Jake a lot. Anthony’s always included him, and a lot of older brothers wouldn’t do that.”
Despite the sessions of physical combat, the brothers have developed a strong bond and are cherishing their final season together on the football field. Their time has been limited because Anthony missed the bulk of the preseason with mononucleosis, and Jacob was knocked out of the final two non-conference games with a concussion.
“When he had mono, I was worried he might miss a little bit of the season,” Jacob said. “When he came back, I was really happy because I just wanted to play with my brother during his final year.”
The lifetime of learning each others tendencies and developing perfect timing hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Pirates’ opponents or their head coach.
“They kind of complement each other,” coach Al Young said. “Anthony has played a lot of football for us over the years. Jacob is just getting started and we’re looking for him to do big things, too. We’re really fortunate to have them both.”
For four more games at least. With the season on the down slope, the O’Connor family knows that its time watching the brothers create big plays together is quickly coming to an end. Dave said he has taken more pictures of his sons this year than he has in the last 10 years combined.
“These moments that I get to share with my brother are some of the most special moments of my life,” Anthony said. “Getting out there in front of all those fans and being able to show how hard we’ve worked … it means a lot.”
Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com.

Players of the week 

YEAR: Senior
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 185
POSITION: QB
LAST WEEK: Eliopoulos completed 14 of 18 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns in the Comets’
41-19 win over Westlake last Friday. He also ran four a touchdown.
OTHER SPORTS: Basketball (forward) and baseball (utility infielder)
PARENTS: Lou and Barb Eliopoulos
BIO: Eliopoulos plays for Elyria Post 12 in the American Legion league during the summer, and enjoys lifting weights at home and at the school’s weight room. He also enjoys spending time with his friends and his girlfriend, going to movies and occasionally playing video games.
FUTURE PLANS: Eliopoulos wants to attend college in the hopes of earning a chemical or electrical engineering degree. He hasn’t settled on a school, but said he would enjoy playing baseball in college.

YEAR: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-8
WEIGHT: 155
POSITIONS: WR/CB
LAST WEEK: Logan hauled in four interceptions and caught a 31-yard pass during the Eagles’
41-18 victory over Vermilion last Friday night.
OTHER SPORTS: Basketball (point guard) and baseball (left field)
PARENTS: Bill and Carole Logan
BIO: Logan works for the Avon Parks and Recreation department during the summers and he and several other Eagles football players are currently refereeing a flag football league for kids in grades K-5 on Saturday mornings. He also enjoys going to the movies, or watching DVDs at home, with his friends, and playing Madden on his PS3 — both online and with friends.
FUTURE PLANS: Logan plans on attending Ohio State next year, and wants to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering.

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