Brothers are perfect complement at QB for Spoto

RIVERVIEW — The quarterback situation at Spoto is equal parts odd and Orwellian. When senior James Brown lines up behind center in the Delaware wing-T formation, he knows big brother is watching. Big brother, after all, could replace him at any juncture. Jamar Burns, 14 months older than Brown, is sharing the job with his versatile sibling this season. When the Spartans employ the spread, Jamar takes the snaps. When they opt for the wing-T, James steps in and Jamar moves to running back. So far, the setup has worked splendidly. In last week's 28-21 preseason win against Newsome, the pair combined for 128 rushing yards and two TDs. "It is going to go on all year. It has to," said Spartans coach Dale Caparaso, who turned to the brothers when original starter J.B. Burgess was arrested in August on an armed robbery charge. "We found ourselves in an odd situation," Caparaso said. Odd, of course, is a relative term. And speaking of relatives, here's a closer look at what we like to call Spoto's sibling revelry.

Are they bona fide brothers?

Yes, 100 percent. Jamar said he took his mom's name when his parents divorced. They're in the same grade because Jamar had to repeat second grade at Boyette Springs Elementary. "Some people, we can lie to them," Jamar said. "Some people think we're twins. Some people don't think we're brothers, they think we're cousins. A lot of crazy stuff. … A lot of our homeroom teachers, they don't know we're brothers, and we're like, 'Look at the phone numbers on our (paperwork).' "

Worst sibling squabble

When they were around 10 or 11, the brothers were playing "tackle basketball" (tackle the shooter) with a handful of friends at their Progress Village home when James got a bit too rough. "Like, little kids, he was just swinging 'em," Jamar recalled. "And he grabbed the end of a broomstick and swung it and hit me in the stomach and knocked the wind out of me. I was chasing him around the house with a (tire) jack and I couldn't catch him because when you're scared you run faster."

Telling Jamar apart

He's faster, looks to be slightly taller than James, and is more likely to throw in what Caparaso acknowledges is a simplified spread attack. Jamar, 2-for-6 for 14 yards against Newsome, actually dabbled at the QB spot before this season. In the spring 2008, just before Caparaso was hired, Jamar was running a shotgun-style offense for the Spartans' interim coaching staff. "Jamar is such an intelligent football player and he's such a disciplined kid," Caparaso said.

Telling James apart

His hand-eye coordination is sharper. In the past, James has been Spoto's long snapper, kicker and holder. Caparaso also raves about his soft hands. "I'm not sure there's anything the kid can't do on the field," Caparaso said. "James does a lot of stuff good. I wouldn't put him in that 'great' category. He's not a great quarterback or a great receiver. He's just good at a lot of things."

How the brothers feel about the situation

"It doesn't matter to me," Jamar said. "If anything I'd rather my brother play because I have a starting (offensive) position already."

How Caparaso feels about the situation

"Our next step that we'll get into is we need James to completely master — as much as he can — the spread. And we need Jamar to completely master — as much as he can — the Delaware."