Dethlefsen Brothers Occupy Lake Forest's Offensive Line

Each of them stands over 6 feet tall.

And they share the same last name.

Dethlefsen.

They are easy to spot as they make up three-fifths of Lake Forest High School's offensive line. Tyson, a 6-foot-1 senior, starts at center while his twin 6-foot-7 brother, Blake, starts at tackle, followed by Grant, a 6-6 junior, who starts at guard.

It's only the second time, and maybe the last, in their careers that they have all played on the same team. They will suit up for Saturday's second round Class 6A state playoff game against unbeaten Crystal Lake South (10-0). Kick-off is 1 p.m.

"This is the last season we will all ever play together.," Tyson said. "Our grandparents come to watch and our parents have been waiting a long time for this. Our dad loves it more than we do.  I'm sure it's one of the happiest times of his life."

This season has brought the brothers together closer than ever as each plan to go their own ways, in terms of college, after high school."This season means a lot to us," Grant said. "The only other time we have played together was when we were in fifth and sixth grade, when our dad was the coach of a football team. We played on the line there, too."

All season long, the brothers have fed off of one another and helped each other reach their potential as a group and individually. "It's definitely good to have your brothers on the offensive line with you," Blake said. "I know they are doing the right thing and if they aren't, I can grill them."

The offensive line is responsible for Owen Williams enjoying a 1,000-yard season and double-digit touchdowns.

"We've done a great job and Owen has really taken advantage of what we have given him," Tyson said. "Against pass defense, we have done a good job as well as the run defense.

"We communicate really well as a line during games," added Grant.

Quarterbacks Paul Carollo and Jordan Beck have also been an effective one-two punch thanks to the line giving them the time.

"They (offensive line) understand the schemes and are being coached really well. They are doing their best to execute and they are playing hard," said Scouts coach Chuck Spagnoli.

The competitiveness that usually surrounds sibling rivalries in sports was noticeable among the brothers, each one claiming to be the better athlete as soon as the question was asked.

"Me and Blake are pretty relaxed when playing sports, Tyson gets hot-headed so he has to be the more competitive one I'd say," said Grant.

When asked about their favorite football-related memory with one another, Grant joked that his occurred on Wednesday when he juked Tyson out.

"It was a cheap move," Tyson chimed in.

Grant's dream position would be quarterback because he has "a golden arm," while Blake claimed that he would love to be a wide receiver because his height would give him an enormous advantage. Instead of wanting to play offense like he is now, Tyson said his dream position would be linebacker "just to hit kids."

At the end of this season, Blake hopes are to play at a big school like the University of Southern California (USC), while Tyson is a fan of the smaller schools. Grant's turn will come in a year as he will be the only brother returning next season.