Josh and Noah Dreher have more in common than just a last name. The passion that the two brothers share for the game of football is rivaled only by their competitiveness and commitment to hard work.

As soon as they first took the field together for Bourgade Catholic, coach Marcel Lopez knew he had two special players on his hands.

“They’re two of the hardest working kids we have on the team,” he said. “During the summer they’ll work at their job and then come to practice. I know they’re exhausted but they give me 100% no matter what.”

Hard work is nothing new for the Drehers, who grew up playing backyard football with their older brother Luke.

“He threw the ball pretty hard,” Josh Dreher said. “We had a lot of young kids in the neighborhood and we would just play pickup games in the road.”

Eventually, the brothers graduated from neighborhood pickup games to 3A high school football, where they have each made their mark as impact players for the Golden Eagles. Josh, a three-year starter at running back, has logged over 2400 rushing yards during his career at Bourgade while Noah has recorded 334 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his sophomore season.

“[Josh] is beating me in receiving yards but I’ll get back up there,” Noah Dreher said.

In addition to hard work, the brothers’ success can also be attributed to their unique chemistry, which is apparent on just about every single play. Whether it’s a handoff to Josh or a deep ball to Noah, the brothers find a way to elevate one another’s play every time they are on the field.

“We both have a connection,” Noah Dreher said. “When he’s going for a run and I need to block for him I know he’s behind me.”

Though competitive by nature, the Dreher brothers rarely have disagreements, unless Josh plays Christmas music at their house during Halloween.

“We get along with each other,” Josh Dreher said. “I tell [Noah] his mistakes and he tells me my mistakes and we learn from it.”

Josh and Noah’s accountability and compete level has served them well during their time at Bourgade. Both brothers became starters as sophomores and they both earned prominent roles in the Golden Eagles’ dynamic offense almost immediately.

Although this will be their lone season together at Bourgade, the brothers are relishing the opportunity to play on the same team.

“This is pretty much the first time,” Noah Dreher said. “I think it’s just amazing. It’s an awesome feeling.”

The brothers’ play was a key factor in Bourgade Catholic’s five-game winning streak this season. Josh averaged almost a hundred yards per game over that span while Noah’s big-play ability was a constant headache for opposing defenses.

While the brothers will no longer be playing together after this season, they have been instrumental in building a winning culture at Bourgade Catholic and have set a new standard for future Golden Eagles to live up to. Thanks to their contributions, Bourgade’s football program should be in good shape for years to come.