Throughout their lives, Aven and Teegan Shirley have always found different avenues to be competitive with each other.
As brothers often do, they must see who can be better than the other at something.
When they were younger, it involved them tackling each other in the attic, which would later turn into fist fights, or going against each other one on one running routes with their dad throwing the football.
More recently, they’ve found a competition in who can work the most hours at their jobs, make the most money, or even who is the better of the pair on the golf course.
“He gets the better of me a lot of the time,” said Teegan, a junior receiver and outside linebacker at Kiski Area.
“Yeah, I’m the better golfer out of the two of us, for sure,” said Aven, a senior receiver and defensive back.
In whatever outlet they find for their competitive natures, one thing has certainly been true; the two have built a strong bond.
“We’ve always had a chemistry between us,” Teegan said.
Added Aven: “It allows us to know what the other is going to do on the football field. All we need to do is look at each other and nod to confirm we each see the same thing.”
The dynamic the brothers have was on display last year, when both were starting safeties for the Cavaliers defense.
Combined, they made 130 tackles, 60 for Aven, including eight for loss, and 70 for Teegan. They combined for 10 pass break-ups and Teegan produced three interceptions.
Aven also recorded 48 receptions for 764 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in his first season at receiver.
“That was really special for us and for our family,” Aven said. “They could come and easily spot us both back there, didn’t have to look hard to find us.”
Both were named first team all-conference players on defense in the Class 5A Big East Conference.
“I didn’t expect that at first,” Teegan said. “A media guy texted me and asked for a picture for this all-conference thing. I was surprised. It was cool attending the ceremony and everything.”
“A big moment for our family,” Aven added. “Our goal is to accomplish that again this year.”
The Shirley brothers have been doing their part this offseason to help propel Kiski Area to the playoffs.
As leaders of the receiver group, they have taken it upon themselves to bring along the rest of the receivers, offering tips and advice.
“Anything we can do, little stuff that will help them out a lot,” Aven said. “Making sure they get the right depths on certain routes, leaning into defenders to get out of a break and using their hands to get off press.”
The duo’s coaching has brought the rest of the group up to speed, accelerating their learning of the new playbook installed by new head coach Colyn Haugh.
“They’ve started to learn the offense a lot faster,” Teegan said. “We’ve seen them improve every day.”
They are also doing their part to make things comfortable for a young quarterback room, making sure whoever wins the battle will be confident running the offense.
“Having a good relationship will help with that chemistry between the quarterback and the receivers. It’s been a lot of reps both during and after practices, “said Aven, who had played quarterback his whole life and was the team’s backup QB his sophomore year.
“We know each other’s strengths and what someone might need to work on,” added Teegan. “Once we keep getting those reps together, those weaknesses will become strengths.”
Both Aven and Teegan are liking what Haugh has brought to Kiski and are excited to get to the start of the season.
“It’s a lot different than past years, but in a good way,” Aven said. “Everything’s more detailed and we’re even filming our practices, so we can watch ourselves and make the necessary changes, sharpen tiny details that can turn a 5-yard gain into a touchdown.”
“I’m loving the energy at practice,” Teegan said. “Coach is always bringing that energy in everything we do. Defensively, we’re pursuing the ball a lot more. Everything is faster and smoother.”
The Cavaliers return nine starters on the defensive side of the ball, including another set of brothers, Nick and Braden Anderson.
What will be different for the Shirley brothers, is Teegan’s move from safety to outside linebacker. Neither seemed too concerned with the move.
“Even though I played safety last year, I was in the box a lot of the time,” Teegan said. “Yeah, it’s a new position, I’ll be covering the slot, but it’s pretty much the same, coverage-wise.”
It could even be more beneficial for the Shirley brothers and how they like to lean on and play off of one another.
When both were safeties last season, they split the field in half, and each had their own part to cover. But now, they could be playing on the same side of the field.
“He’ll either be on the inside of me or I’ll be on the inside of him,” Teegan said. “So, I can force the opposing receiver outside and he can pick him up, or he could force a receiver to the inside and I’ll cover him. Simple things like that we can quickly figure out.”
No matter where they play, the Shirley brothers will continue to stay on the same page mentally.
“We’re always watching film together, seeing how we can help one another out,” Aven said. “It gives us the confidence to say, ‘hey, I think you should do this here or this would help in a certain area.’”
Whatever decisions they make, Aven and Teegan have the same goal in mind as their brothers on the football team.
“We want to make the playoffs, win some playoff games,” Aven said.
Individually, Aven has the goal to set a new receiving yards record; he is just 600 yards shy of the previous mark. Teegan wants to lead the team in tackles.
And of course, in their last high school season together, they want those all-conference selections again.
“We’re definitely hoping to do some good things this year,” Teegan said. “Want to make the playoffs with him and once again make all-conference, that’d be really cool, twice in a row.”
After this season, Aven is looking to study business or management at any of the number of schools he’s looking at, or talking to, where he can continue to play football.
He’s been talking with Valparaiso, Baldwin Wallace, Allegheny, John Carroll, Mercyhurst and even went to a camp with New Hampshire.
“I would really like to play college ball,” Aven said. “I have some visits lined up and we’ll see how this season plays out.”
Who knows, maybe one day the Shirley brothers will build a chemistry on a collegiate football field.
“We’re not planning it,” Teegan said. “But if it happens, it happens.”