By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
For the past two seasons, the Dowagiac varsity football program has gotten to double its pleasure with Mike and Ryan Laylin.
The twins have helped the Chieftains post a 13-6 record and make a pair of appearances in the state playoffs.
While they are twins, they are anything but alike. They don't look the same because they are fraternal twins. One likes to talk, both on and off the field, while the other likes to let his actions do the talking on the football field.
Still, Mike and Ryan Laylin are two big reasons why Dowagiac has had a resurgance in its football program.
The competitive spirit of the two brothers, no matter what the endeavor, has pushed each to be better players.
Both would also like to continue their playing careers beyond high school.
Ryan is currently planning on attending Kalamazoo Valley Community College, although he notes that there are a couple of schools looking at him for football.
Mike will weigh his academic options as well as his football options after the season ends.
"School is really important to me," he said. "That's the most important thing because if you don't have a good education you have nothing to fall back on. I want to play football in college because it is a passion of mine. I am leaning toward the best sports scholarship I can get, but I will also consider academic scholarships."
Ryan is the talker of the pair. In fact, Mike said that he has been told that Ryan would talk for him when the two were little.
"Mike likes to hang out at home and I like to be out doing things," Ryan says. "Mike's just quiet all the time. I like to talk. I talk on the football field too."
The Laylin family is no stranger to football injuries.
Both Mike and Ryan have suffered them on the field, as well as older brother Rod.
Neither player said that they worry about it because it would affect their play.
"I've worried about it, but I don't let it bother me," Ryan said.
"Football is a contact sport and you can't worry aboutbeing injured," added Mike. "If you worry about it, you won't play to your full potential. After I got hurt, the first couple of games back I was hesitant. The doctors told me it would take a full to years to recover. Last year I was finally back at game speed."
Away from the field Ryan likes to go hunting.
"Ryan is more hobby oriented," Mike said. "He likes to be busy."
The two don't always agree on everything, partly because of their competitive nature. They did, however, agree on their favorite moment playing for the Chieftains.
"Paw Paw was big this year," Mike said. "I hate to lose at anything, so losing to them in the first round of the playoffs really bothered me. The Niles game was great, but we don't play them anymore. Paw Paw is our new rival, so putting it to them like we did was nice."
"The comeback against Niles last year was big, but this year? Beating Paw Paw was pretty nice," Ryan said.
Most Chieftain fans will remember the Niles game and Mike's performance.
Mike started out on the sidelines in street close due to illness, but got dressed during the game and turned in a sensational performance on defense, including returning a fumble for a touchdown.
The two also agreed that being able to play football together has been fun.
"It's fun when we are winning," Ryan said of playing with Mike. "Having a brother there to compete with and against has been fun. We got moved up to the junior varsity together and played two years and then we played two years of varsity together."
The Laylins hope to make a few more memories before this season is finished. Memories that will last the both of them a lifetime.