NEWPORT - Most football teams talk about developing a brotherhood among the players.

        A good part of Newport Central Catholic High School's team has a head start.

Seven sets of brothers suit up on Newport Central Catholic High School's football team — bound for the Class A state championship against Danville on Friday at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        With seven sets of brothers on the team, NewCath goes for the Class A state title against defending champion Danville at noon Friday at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville.

        Three sets of brothers are starters: the Smiths, senior quarterback Jeff and sophomore linebacker/receiver Kevin; the Kallendorfs, senior lineman Jake and sophomore lineman Pat; and the Grimms, senior lineman Rob and junior lineman Josh.

        Half of another tandem, junior Shawn Kelly, is a starting receiver. Watching him is freshman Ben Kelly.

        The other duos are: the Horans, senior John and freshman Clay; the Johnsons, junior Ben and freshman Brian; and the Walzes, sophomore Michael and freshman Adam.

        NewCath head coach Bob Schneider doesn't think a lot about having so many relatives on his roster, though he called it “unusual, for sure.”

        But does playing football with your sibling cause a rivalry?

BROTHERS

Seven pairs of brothers are playing for the Newport Central Catholic football team:     Jeff and Kevin Smith, of Fort Thomas     Rob and Josh Grimm, of Woodlawn     Jake and Pat Kallendorf, of Dayton     Shawn and Ben Kelly, of Cold Spring     John and Clay Horan, of Fort Thomas     Ben and Brian Johnson, of Bellevue     Michael and Adam Walz, of Newport

        “You'd think it would draw you apart, but it draws you even closer,” Jake Kallendorf said.

        Pat Kallendorf said brotherly love does not necessarily extend to the football field, though things are just fine.

        “We don't get along on the field; I make mistakes on the field, holding or jumping offsides,” said Pat, who lines up next to Jake. “We do a lot more things together. We go out a lot more.”

        The Kallendorfs, of Dayton, Ky., have also received the most grief from people outside their family.

        “We played PeeWee ball together,” Jake said. “We got a lot of stuff from people about not going to Dayton (High School). It wasn't too bad; they do it in a joking way.”

        Jake and Pat are not above a little teasing. Like before Wednesday's practice, when Pat said Jake never makes any mistakes on the field.

        “He's pretty much afraid (to say anything),” Jake said.

        Countered Pat: “I'm not afraid.”

        The Smiths, of Fort Thomas, may be the closest of the brother duos. Jeff has been a two-year starter, while Kevin is finishing his first varsity season.

        “We share a room,” Jeff said. “Our family's very close.”

        Quarterback Jeff Smith said a brother as a receiving target is a good thing.

        “It gives us confidence in each other,” Jeff said. “When we have a bad play, we know exactly what the other wants to hear.”

        In addition, the Smiths have a leg up on family memories. In last week's 59-8 semifinal win over Paintsville, Jeff threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns, while Kevin scored three touchdowns — one on a run, one on a pass interception and one on a reception.

        Kevin's final TD, a 20-yard pass from Jeff, was the highlight: It was the first time Jeff ever threw to him for a score.

        “My mom (Kathy Smith) always wanted a Smith-to-Smith touchdown pass,” Kevin said.

        All 14 brothers say stories from this season will be something they'll tell their grandchildren. Jeff Smith isn't thinking that far ahead just yet — he's thinking about the 23-9 loss to Danville in last year's Class A final.

        “We're a lot more ready,” he said. “We ain't scared this year.”
       

Terrifying gunman shot dead by cops
Butler developers go west
Coroner: Patty didn't fight
Heimlich's legacy: 'Across-the-board cheapskate'
Bengals box won in drawing
Clergyman accused of soliciting
Council renames Avondale street
Drug campaign hopes to make danger 'obvious'
Mediation proceeding questioned
Procedure marks step in fight against diabetes
Schools take diversity lesson
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: War games
Book gives kids' views
Brothers accused of scheme
Jury listens to two confessions in death of inmate
Lebanon council to discuss severance packages
Meters may not return
Lab finds lots of fear, false alarms - but no anthrax
Man testifies against former sheriff
Two meningitis cases unrelated
Art shows journey of cathedral
Callahan: Ky. outlook bleak
Family ties at NewCath
Inaction could kill apartment plans
Ky. grads' ability as workers studied
Public gets peek at project