In this case, Diamonds are a coach’s best friend.
Geneva juniors Tommy and Will Diamond — two-thirds of triplets that include “older” sister Maddy — could have been trying to one up each other Friday night.
They often do in their backyard. This time, though, the game was at Burgess Field as the host Vikings played Glenbard North in both teams’ DuKane Conference opener.
“We’re very competitive,” Tommy Diamond said. “I hate it when he does something better than me. I’m always trying to beat him in everything.”
The Diamond brothers sparked the Vikings to the 14-10 victory with a series of big plays.
Tommy, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound outside linebacker, got it started for undefeated Geneva (3-0, 1-0) with a sack against Glenbard North (1-2, 0-1).
Will, a 6-2, 180-pound free safety, followed by intercepting a pass late in the third quarter.
Tommy then came up with an interception of his own early in the fourth.
It prompted Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen to ask them, “Is this a competition? What’s the winner get at the end of the year?'”
The rivalry culminated with Will picking off another pass in the final two minutes.
“I want to make sure he doesn’t get more than me, but I’m super proud of him,” Tommy said of his brother. “He stepped up and he delivered. We needed him that game.”
Eli Curry added a fourth second-half interception for Geneva.
“We’re 3-0 for the first time in seven years,” Tommy Diamond said. “I’m happy with what we’ve done so far, but we’re still hungry for more.”
Tommy is second on the team with 14 tackles. He has 13 solo tackles and two for loss to go with the sack and two interceptions.
Will has seven tackles, with six solo stops, to go with his two interceptions.
Tommy, who also sees spot duty at tight end and has one touchdown reception, got a leg up on Will last season.
Called up to the varsity when Geneva made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, Tommy came off the bench in the first game. Due to injuries, he started the second-round loss to St. Rita.
“I kept hearing his name, ‘Tackle by Diamond, tackle by Diamond,'” Thorgesen said of Tommy, who had 14 tackles, three sacks and a couple tackles for loss. “That’s a crazy stat line for a first varsity start against a team that finished as state runner-up.
“I think that jump-started his offseason. He worked like a man and really, really committed himself. He’s a basketball player as well, but he worked his tail off in the weight room, getting bigger and stronger, and is making a lot of big plays for us.”
It helps explain Tommy’s weight advantage over his “younger” brother.
“I walked away from that game with a lot of confidence,” he said of the loss to St. Rita. “Before that, I didn’t know how good I was at football.”
Will Diamond also plays lacrosse and so does sister Maddy.
“Will is in the right spot,” Thorgesen said. “He’s getting better and better, day by day, week by week. He’s kind of a ball hawk. The thing that stands out? He flies around.
“We saw that in him as a young kid, and it’s something we preach to our defense. Tommy does it, too. It’s cool having two brothers on the defensive side and making plays.”
After losing 16 starters to graduation, Geneva starts 16 underclassmen.
“I think a lot of people were doubting us because of how much we lost,” Tommy Diamond said. “But a lot of people have stepped up.”
