Cameron McDondle and Bernard McDondle are brothers but not twins, a clarification that football opponents of CSU-Pueblo are most happy about.
Facing one of the McDondle brothers has been challenge enough, let alone a second brother with the same abilities and performance results.
Cameron McDondle is a senior and the older brother. It would have been difficult to have faced two of him. He’s a strong candidate to win the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the player judged to be the best in NCAA Division II football.
Bernard McDondle is a sophomore, and while his statistical performance doesn’t match his older brother’s right now, he’s no slouch. Together, they lead the ThunderWolves (12-1) into Saturday’s quarterfinal game in the Division II playoffs against Grand Valley State (11-2). Game time is noon at the ThunderBowl in Pueblo.
While his statistics aren’t a match, Bernard McDondle talks for his older brother. Cameron doesn’t join pregame discussions about upcoming games.
“He just wants to focus on the game,” Bernard said of Cameron. “I usually talk for both of us.”
The brothers are of different size. Cameron is 5-foot-7 and 202 pounds, while Bernard is 5-9 and 171.
ThunderWolves freshman quarterback A.J. Thompson talks for both of them.
“You don’t realize how good they are until you are on their team,” Thompson said. “They just open up the field.”
Thompson believes Bernard does the talking for both brothers because he has the energy to answer the questions.
Cameron has applied plenty of energy on the field. His career totals stand at 5,845 yards and 56 touchdowns. This season he has 2,129 yards, which rank second in Division II, and 24 touchdowns in 12 games. Bernard has 1,431 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Both brothers missed a game this season because of injuries.
While Cameron McDondle probably would say that winning the Division II national championship last year was his biggest moment at CSU-Pueblo, Bernard McDondle picks this year’s title in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as his biggest moment so far.
“I wasn’t involved much last year so the conference title is biggest for me,” Bernard said.
Coach John Wristen calls the McDondle brothers “special players.”
“They’ve made me look good as a coach. Cam doesn’t like attention, but Bernard can handle it.”
Bernard McDondle, Thompson and Wristen all had the same message.
Cameron McDondle deserves to win the Harlon Hill Trophy.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or @irvmoss
