That also might be the worst thing. They know they have helped to mold you, and they're never quite finished.

For verification, spend a few minutes talking with Aaron Wilmer, a 5-10, 170-pound junior and a promising, already productive quarterback for George Washington High. And prepare to be amused.

Preceding Aaron as an Eagle were Thomas, a redshirt-sophomore linebacker at Millersville, and Damien, a freshman at Albright who is listed as a fullback/tight end.

Neither could be found among the spectators Saturday night at Northeast as Washington outlasted Northeast, 28-20, in what eventually became a Public AAAA Red classic, played before CN8 cameras.

Thus, Wilmer knew his brothers would be availing themselves of the on-demand option.

"They'll critique me. And they'll be pretty rough," Wilmer said, smiling. "They'll tell me every little thing. 'You missed a fake . . . You should have been looking at somebody else.' I appreciate it, though. Hey, I get on them when they do something wrong. It's the vice-versa thing.

"I love my brothers. They're doing well in college and I'm doing my thing here at Washington. Just keeping the Wilmer name intact."

Wilmer scored the Eagles' first two touchdowns on designed keepers, scampering 13, then 16 yards. Also, he passed 5-for-12 for 67 yards.

His first TD came on third-and-9 and had the look, somewhat, of a quarterback draw.

"Nah, that was just my peripheral vision," he said. "I got the snap and was supposed to go to the side. But I saw it [up the middle] and took it. I just read their defenders. It happens. My coaches let me take command."

Score No. 2 was a designed keeper to the right.

"The blocking made that happen," he said. "The line guys always do it for me. They hold it down." When asked whether he sees himself as more of a runner or thrower, Wilmer quickly responded, "I'm a dual QB. I can do both. If I feel the rush, I can take off. But being able to run also buys me more time to look for a secondary receiver."

In the summertime, chances for the trio to work out together were few.

"But when we could, it worked out perfect," Wilmer said. "Because I did the throwing, Damien worked on his routes and Thom-as got to cover him, since he plays defense in college."

Laughing every so often, Wilmer added, "Since Thomas is the oldest, he likes to tee off on me [verbally]. He's always saying, 'If I was as good as you, I'd be playing quarterback at Millersville.' He also says, 'You're the most handsome brother.' See, he wishes he could be me. Now I'm a little taller than him and that gets under his skin even more."

Wilmer's second TD started a third-quarter barrage that continued with scores by James Fowler (45-yard fumble return) and Omar Hunter (62-yard run).

Northeast began its comeback with a 26-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter, as junior Malik Stokes hit his brother, Tennessee-bound Je'Ron, who made a leaping catch on a right-corner fade.

The Vikings forced a three-and-out and drove downfield again for Malik Stokes' 1-yard sneak at 6:11. Camille Max recovered Tim Freiling's onside kick. Boom. Passes of 26 yards to Jarell Kennedy and 23 to Eric Brundidge produced TD No. 3 at 5:23.

Northeast had one last possession. Could it cover 63 yards in 48.9 seconds? Malik Stokes' first two passes fell incomplete. Then it was completion, spike, completion, spike, completion, spike, putting the ball at the 29 at 3.5. A left-corner bomb to Raheem Groce was broken up by Lorenzo Adams. Phew!

"We settled down. Got too calm," Wilmer said. "We should have put them away. It's my job to keep the offense on track."

By now, Thomas and Damien miiiiiight have mentioned that 100 times. Apiece. *