MISSION — Sharyland High’s Alan and Alek Gonzalez tend to leave opponents with a case of deja vu on the football field.
The senior twins and four-year lettermen do it all for the Rattlers as starters at receiver and defensive back, or to put it simply, athletes.
The two take turns making plays for Sharyland carrying the ball, catching passes, picking off quarterbacks and stopping offenses in their tracks.
“When we were in eighth grade, we said we’re going to play varsity next year when we’re freshmen,” Alan said. “It ended up happening and it’s going to be our fourth year, our last year playing varsity here at Sharyland. Knowing that those coaches have had that trust in us since that young age, it means a lot to us.”
The duo helped Sharyland win a share of the District 16-5A DII championship last season, finishing 8-3 overall and 7-1 in district.
Alan posted 256 rushing yards, 592 receiving yards on 27 catches, 76 tackles and four interceptions for 12 total touchdowns last season. Alek had 352 rushing yards, 211 receiving yards on 18 catches, 72 tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and nine total touchdowns.
“The process, it’s been a long time coming and the coaches see if you have the ability to run fast, if you have hands, if you have hips to move, they know that you can play any position and trust us to learn the playbook, learn the position and learn how to play wherever they put you at,” Alek said.
Alan and Alek push each other on and off the field. Both are leaned on by players and coaching staff alike as team captains, an honor they wear with pride as a patch on their No. 1 and No. 4 jerseys.
What makes the brothers good football players?
“(Alek’s) competitiveness. He doesn’t let anybody make him feel like he’s less than. He’s a good competitor and that’s No. 1 that I could say about him,” Alan said of Alek.
“(Alan’s) work ethic. He’s always here on time, he’s another coach on the field,” Alek said about Alan. “That’s what makes him a good football player. It’s a team sport, obviously, so if you can teach the rest of the team how to do better, it’s going to bring the whole team together as one.”
After falling in the bi-district round of the playoffs in 2021, this year’s group led by the Gonzalez twins is determined to repeat as district champions while piecing together a postseason run.
“Us seniors are going to encourage the team to not miss reps, so that last push in the fourth quarter gets us to where we want to be — in the third, fourth round and be a team that gets put on a poster inside of our locker room,” Alek said.