NEWFANE — Colin Doxey felt as if half of him was missing when older brother Richard broke his arm. And when Colin later suffered a concussion, the brothers bought extra protection instead of giving up football completely.
Playing on the defensive line together was a form of bonding for the brothers, Richard a year older and in his senior year. Colin started playing football for Newfane Youth Football and Cheer because Richard was playing and now they are enjoying potentially their last season together.
After combining for eight sacks last season in three games, the brothers combined for six sacks during Newfane’s 2-0 start. Now having the opportunity to accomplish more together on the field, the Doxeys are excited to have that connection again.
“It makes me motivated,” Colin said. “But I feel kind of lost out there without Richie. I’m motivated because I’m playing for him. I want to be able to make up (for) what he’s not able to do and I feel like that’s vice versa.”
The brothers have put their own stamps in Newfane’s first two games. Colin’s opening-drive pass deflection marked the first of Medina’s five drives without scoring in the game while Richard posted a four-sack performance against Wilson.
The addition of the Doxeys in the lineup has made an impact, overall, the last two seasons. When both are in the lineup, the Panthers are 5-0 and allow an average of 8.6 points per game, with three of those wins coming when both brothers record a sack.
With Richard at 6-foot-1 and Colin at 6 foot, the brothers matchup height wise against opposing offensive linemen. But it’s their speed and wing-span that gives the Doxeys an advantage to pressure the quarterback.
“We’re a little bit skinnier, not as big as the linemen so we have a little bit more speed than them to get around them,” Richard said. “And if that doesn’t work, we have moves to get past them that they’re not expecting. And then once we’re past them, the other one’s coming as soon as the other one’s passing and the quarterback has no time to think.”
Playing on the defensive line is part of the Doxeys’ family tradition. It was their father, Richard Sr., that inspired the brothers to work in the trenches after watching him play for the Lockport Rage semi-pro team in 2011.
With their father now cheering them on years later, the brothers learned the basics of becoming a defensive lineman, including spin moves. Today, the brothers credit their father for helping them build a passion for the position.
“How I built those skills was my dad just going with me, with repetition and at practice, always trying my hardest,” Colin said. “I’ve never really been naturally good at anything, but you know, if I can put my mind to it, I feel like I can be good at anything.”
The Doxeys have been known for pressuring the quarterback in pass situations but can be used in multiple ways for Newfane’s defense. In the last two weeks, the Doxeys have contributed in the rushing attack and piling up the line of scrimmage, holding Wilson and Medina to an average of 135 rushing yards per game.
“They got that connection where it’s almost like they just know what each other’s doing without even having to talk about it,” Newfane head coach Chuck Nagel said. “They turn it on in between the snaps. … They make big plays, and they get up and they show it… I love seeing those guys get excited after big plays. And I think it’s contagious. I think the whole town enjoys it.”