It’s not uncommon for football players to call their teammates “brothers,” but for brothers Jake and Beau Iovinelli, being teammates has helped them become stronger athletes and better friends.

Jake, a junior, and Beau, a sophomore, will be playing on the field together as fierce competitors for the next two years. Though Jake and Beau are in different grades, it doesn’t stop them from pushing each other and working to be the best they can be.

“They are really focused on being good players and they encourage each other,” their mother, Polly Iovinelli, said. “I think it’s great to hear them complement each other or other teammates.”

Polly said that other than when they were little, the boys haven’t played together, but have played individually for many years. The Iovinelli family is a huge football family, Polly said, and they all love watching Jake and Beau play.

“Their dad coached them since they could play,” Polly said. “They both started playing in second grade. We are a big family that loves football. Their gran gran and gramps don’t miss a game. Their sister cheers for Willow Springs and loves cheering on her brothers Friday nights.”

Jake said that because he and Beau are both on the varsity team, it’s very competitive, even though they don’t see each other very much during games due to their differing positions. In practice they face each other one-on-one almost every day to keep their skills up.

“It’s very competitive [playing on the same team as my brother] because we both play against each other because I’m a defensive person and he’s offense,” Beau said “We usually see each other, however in practice because we do DB one-on-ones [guarding the receivers], so I usually have to guard him and, you know, we’re constantly changing, sometimes I’ll guard him, then next practice he’ll work on his stuff.”

Though these brothers have competitive spirits, Polly said that they are close friends and have a good relationship, even when they are up against each other in practice.

“When they were little, front yard football games could get a little competitive, and we’d work on being good sports,” Polly said. “They might end up wrestling on the front lawn, but they always shook hands at the end. When they first started this season, we’d laugh at the Hudl video when Beau would cover Jake at practice. At dinner, they’d tease about how one had burned the other on a play.”

Jake said he tries to push Beau when he can and when he knows Beau can become better. Polly said that Beau is fortunate to have Jake as an older brother because he’s a good friend and helps Beau when he needs it. 

“Beau is pretty lucky, because Jake has always looked out for him,” Polly said. “Jake gives him good advice, will cook steak for him, and keeps him on time, especially when they need to get to 6 a.m. practices. I love that all my boys are close.”

Despite having a close relationship with his brother, Jake says he doesn’t let up on pushing Beau, especially when it’s crucial to the team.

“I push [Beau] on the games, you know, when he makes a mistake,” Jake said. “He had some touchdown scored on him last game and I went over there and said, ‘You better get your act together.’”

Beau’s brother’s support and assistance has helped him become a stronger athlete.

“It’s made me better [playing on varsity with my brother] because, you know, any time I’m playing with a person older than me I got to work on everything a lot more and get better,” Beau said.

Both brothers said they think highly of the other, and can see good things in each other’s futures.

“Yeah [Beau] does [have potential] because he’s pretty fast,” Jake said. “I think he does a good job for what his age is and for being kind of new to this position.”

Beau said that his parents make an effort to be equal with them and to not compare each other’s successes and accomplishments. Polly said though Jake and Beau are similar in some ways, they do have differing personalities that contribute to their positions and work ethic on the field.

“Jake and Beau have always had a good work ethic,” Polly said. “Both boys are smart, kind and personable. Beau is a little more aggressive, which is probably why he’s on defense.”

Jake and Beau have only been on the varsity team together for a few months, but they said they have already had memorable moments as brothers.

“[My favorite football memory with Beau is] going to the tunnel at the same time, and being on the field,” Jake said.

Polly said both brothers have learned valuable lessons from their time on the football team.

Each day our coaches are teaching my boys to prepare, work hard, study hard, and be a team,” Polly said. “All these things are going to help them with future success in whatever they do. I’ve noticed every game they run through by each other’s side. They are never at the front, usually middle to back of the pack.  When I see them come through the tunnel together and pat each other on the back, my heart is happy. They are out there together and doing something they love.”