Football came easy to the Terry brothers.
The younger brother, Eli, used to watch an older brother, Bryant Obie, come home from football practice at Hoboken High School.
“He used to bring his football equipment home,” Eli Terry said. “That’s what got me started. I wanted my own equipment.”
Eli Terry joined the football program at the Jersey City PAL.
Devin Terry, 18 months the older, then followed suit.
“I would see him going to play football and that made me decide that I wanted to give it a try,” Devin Terry said. “I realized then that I was pretty good at it. For me, it was pretty easy.”
At first, it was an easy decision where the Terry brothers were going to go to school. Although Devin is older, they are the same year in school.
So Eli first headed to Lincoln, while Devin went to St. Anthony.
And yes, the two brothers faced each other two years ago.
“He went to block me and gave me a nice forearm to my stomach,” Devin Terry said. “I really didn’t want to hit him when I knew he was going to run the ball.”
After two years, Eli Terry decided to leave Lincoln and transfer to St. Anthony.
“Coach [Ed] Stinson was here,” Eli Terry said. “He coached my older brother at Hoboken. I knew about him and I knew all about the backs who once played for him, like Tyrell Dortch, Keeon Walker, Rashard Casey. I’ve seen films on them. I was excited to be a back like them.”
In fact, Eli Terry knew Dortch before he knew Stinson.
“He came and talked to us when I was at the Jersey City PAL,” Eli Terry said. “He talked about football and playing at Michigan State and getting hurt there. I was excited to meet him.”
So the Terry brothers finally decided to unite and play for Stinson and the Friars.
“It felt great,” Eli Terry said. “We’re the Terry brothers. We’re a package. We come together. There’s two of us, two great players at the same time.”
“I was first excited for the team, because I knew we were getting a great running back like him,” said Devin Terry, who is a fine offensive guard and linebacker on defense. “But I knew he was going someplace where I didn’t have to worry about tackling him.”
And Devin is taking on the role of being a big brother there.
“I knew that if he gets hurt, my mother would blame me,” Devin Terry said. “I didn’t want to get her mad.”
Gidget Terry doesn’t have to worry these days, because Devin is leading the blocking for Eli and the pairing has been downright lethal for the Friars.
Last week, the Friars played a huge game against rival Hudson Catholic and the Terry brothers led the way for the Friars to get the big victory.
Eli Terry carried the ball 36 times for 255 yards and scored three touchdowns. Devin Terry had 12 tackles, seven of which were of the solo variety, three of which were sacks. Devin also kicked a 27-yard field goal and made three extra points in the Friars’ 30-20 victory.
And for their efforts, the Terry brothers have been selected as The Hudson Reporter Co-Athletes of the Week for the past week.
Stinson cannot sing the praises of the Terry brothers enough.
“These are two of the all-time best kids I’ve ever coached,” Stinson said. “In terms of players, in terms of people, in terms of students, they are complete in terms of both the academic and athletic standards.”
Stinson pointed out that Eli Terry was just named a member of the National Honor Society.
“That’s the best thing that could happen,” Stinson said. “It makes my cause. It’s beautiful.”
Devin Terry said that he loved watching his little brother run with the ball.
“I was amazed, because once I made a block, he was gone,” Devin Terry said. “I honestly didn’t realize he was that fast. It was like he knew when someone was going to make a tackle and he just kept going. When he’s running with the ball, it gives me added motivation to block for him. It makes all the hard work worth it, because every time he touches the ball, I know he’s going to score and we’re working together.”
Devin Terry likes being a defensive player.
“When I play defense, I feel unstoppable,” Devin Terry said. “I feel invincible. I can take my strength out on the other team.”
Stinson believes that if Devin was just a little bigger, he would be a major college prospect.
“I wish I had a few more inches,” said Terry, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 265 pounds. “I guess I’m stuck with it.”
Devin Terry has received a handful of college offers, the best coming from the University of Delaware, who is very interested in acquiring Terry’s services.
His little brother has no offers as of yet, despite his gaudy numbers. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Terry has rushed for just under 1,000 yards in nine games and scored 13 touchdowns.
“I’m a little surprised,” Eli Terry said. “I thought I would have a few offers.”
However, Terry missed most of last season with an injured shoulder, a broken thumb and an injured hip flexor.
“I was banged up a lot last year,” Eli Terry said. “So every game this year, I felt like I had something to prove, to show everyone I was a good running back. This whole year, my motto has been to try to stay healthy. I could have had a big year last year if I stayed healthy.”
Eli Terry has recovered enough to enjoy a big senior year with his big brother, right there, blocking every step of the way. He didn’t mind getting the ball as many times as he did against Hudson Catholic.
“We knew we had a chance to take control of the game,” Eli Terry said. “Coach Stinson sees if we have a chance, he’s going to attack it. I like it when Coach depends on me. It feels great to get that kind of chance. Devin’s a great blocker. He’s fast and explosive and gets me a chance to get going. He’s definitely the best lineman.”
Devin Terry likes the fact that if you’re going to try to beat St. Anthony, you have to take care of two Terry brothers.
“I haven’t noticed another team that has brothers like us,” Devin Terry said. “We have a special bond. I’m committed to blocking for him because he’s my brother and he’s my teammate. It’s something I’m very grateful for. We’re pretty good together.”
The Terry brothers look to be good again this weekend when they take on Marist in the opening round of the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 1 state playoffs. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.