Wilsons Provide Unique Version of Double-Teaming for Bolsa Grande

GARDEN GROVE —  The way Bolsa Grande High School football Coach Bill Holst tells it, even his assistant coaches were confused the first time they saw the Matadors’ twin threat in the backfield, Marcus and Maurice Wilson.

“The first time they (the Wilsons) were at a practice, I asked (backfield coach) Vern Nelson how the Wilsons had done,” Holst said laughing. “Vern said, ‘There’s two of them?’ ”

The Wilsons, 17, are identical--well, at least facially--and they are the main offensive weapons in Holst’s otherwise limited arsenal this season.

Maurice, the elder of the two by about 17 minutes, is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound tailback; Marcus is a 6-1, 200-pound fullback, although the positions are interchangeable depending upon what the brothers might decide to do.

“We share. If he gets tired I run for him and if I get tired he runs for me,” Marcus said. “Coach sometimes can’t tell the difference. He mostly laughs about it.”

Holst, in his third year of coaching the Matadors, is unaffected by the Wilsons’ free-lancing.

“It’s only bothered me a couple of times, but they are so equal, it doesn’t matter,” Holst said. “It probably makes the (opposing) defense think once in awhile, ‘Why are they switching?’ ”

The brothers are equally effective rushers but with different styles. Marcus is more of a straight-ahead, power runner; Maurice prefers to use shifty cuts and fancy footwork in the tradition of his favorite player, Marcus Allen of the Raiders. The brothers can cover 40 yards in about 4.6 seconds, making them valuable components of the school’s track team in the sprints and 440-yard relay.

Whatever their rushing methods, the Wilsons have been productive this year. Through Thursday night’s game, Marcus has gained 381 yards in 46 carries and scored three touchdowns, and Maurice has 366 yards in 48 carries and four touchdowns.

They also double up on defense, Marcus as a linebacker and Maurice as a strong safety.

Holst hopes the Wilsons each can surpass the 1,000-yard mark in rushing this season, which would be a first for Bolsa Grande since Damon Fisher, Travin Lui and Ricky Lepule each did it in 1987 while leading the Matadors to the Garden Grove League and Central Conference (now Division VI) titles.

Of course, if one Wilson pulls away too far statistically from the other, he might want to alter the game plan to help his brother catch up. That’s just part of their unselfish nature, Holst said.

“Earlier this year, Marcus ran the ball for about 25 yards and is on the five-yard line,” Holst said. “He got popped pretty good. . . . He was hurting pretty bad. I asked him if he wanted to score the touchdown or come out, but he said he would go to the sidelines only if I let Maurice score.”

Maurice also benefitted from Marcus’ generosity when jersey numbers were issued. Marcus chose No. 31 and let Maurice have No. 32, which they both wanted.

The Wilsons’ devotion to each other is apparent. They like to ride motorcycles together, attend the same classes and generally hang around with each other. And their heads shook in unison when asked if they would consider splitting up to play football at different junior colleges next year.

“We want to go as a package,” Maurice said.

That’s how they arrived in the world in 1973 in Orlando, Fla. The family soon moved to Orange County, where the twins played Pop Warner football through their years at Jordan Junior High near Bolsa Grande. They then joined the Matador athletic programs, much to Holst’s delight.

“They are fast, strong and do everything you ask them to,” Holst said.

But not always the way it was designed.