CANTON, Ohio — Being a younger sibling can sometimes be tough, especially when your older brother has a state football championship ring. But a pair of seniors on the Warren John F. Kennedy High School team are hoping to live up to their family’s legacy by winning a title of their own.
In the Valent family, football is everything.
“It’s a lifestyle for us,” Thomas Valent said.
So, it comes naturally for Thomas to play with his brother Patrick on the John F. Kennedy High School team.
“Being a twin, we have a special bond,” Thomas said. “And he’s a monster, too. But at home, he’s big, but he’s a teddy bear, I say sometimes.”
The teammates put in work on the practice field to prepare for a shot at the state Division VII championship title.
“We’re gonna do everything we can Saturday to get the outcome we want,” Patrick said.
What they want is a win. The matchup is deja vu for the Valent brothers. They faced the same team, New Bremen, in the state finals in 2020, but the final score was not what they hoped.
“We lost 31-nothing and ever since that day we’ve worked so hard to get back here and I’m so excited for this opportunity,” Thomas said.
“It means everything to be here and to have that chance to rewrite history,” Patrick said.
That rewrite would score them their own place in the history books.
Their older brother Gregory helped the Eagles win state in 2016, the last time the team won the title. Now it’s the twins’ turn.
“You always hear the noise like, your brother’s gotten it done, it’s your turn, you know?” Patrick said. “There’s a shrine of him, there’s stuff framed all over the house, so bragging rights. You gotta get to that.”
They’re hoping to use their previous playoff experience to their advantage.
“I’m not gonna lie to you and say it’s just another game, ‘cause it’s the state championships,” Patrick said. “It’s what you dream of since you were kids.”
It’s a dream shared by their teammates as well.
“I have 10 other brothers I’m playing with on this field, too, so it’s really, really special,” Thomas said.
The Warren John F. Kennedy Eagles will take on the New Bremen Cardinals for the Division VII championship title at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
