Quinn twins lead Marion into daunting schedule

MARION — They're brothers who line up across from each other every practice.

Sometimes that leads to Deshaun and Devin Quinn having verbal disagreements. Sometimes that leads to them having disagreements that turn a little more than verbal.

'Sometimes that's what brothers do. They fight,' Deshaun Quinn said.

'Ultimately, we make each other better,' Devin added. 'If he's slacking, I'm going to take advantage of him.'

The Quinn twins are 6-foot-5 senior offensive tackles and defensive ends who hope to help Marion survive what appears to be a brutal schedule. The Indians open with Mount Vernon and also have Cascade and Washington in non-district play.

Cascade should be one of the top teams in Class 2A, Washington was 3A's runner-up in 2013. The district schedule includes Solon, Cedar Rapids Xavier and Dubuque Wahlert, the latter two dropping from Class 4A.

Xavier was 4A runner-up in 2012 and 2013.

'I think this is the toughest schedule for anyone on our list that they've ever had. I truly do,' Marion Coach Tony Perkins said. 'I can't ever imagine 3A teams having schedules like this. It's crazy. Cascade's going to come out (ranked) 1 or 2, Mount Vernon has a great group, Washington is returning state runner-up in 3A, and then it's our district.

'So, yeah, it's a very, very difficult schedule. But in the same breath, I've told our guys, every school in the state, whether you are Class A or 4A, you are all the same age. It's about who outworks each other and who plays together.'

The Quinns — who open-enrolled in eighth grade from the Cedar Rapids district — were the first- and third-leading tacklers for Marion last season: Deshaun first and Devin third. They combined for 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

The boys are identical in appearance and what they bring to the football field, according to their coach.

'If you put two Tasmanian devils into a box, that's what you have in them,' Perkins said. 'They always go against each other in practice. They get into fisticuffs, wrestling matches, beat each other up every practice. That's who they are. They don't cut each other any slack.'

They admit that last part, in particular, is true.

'If I see him going half-assed, I'll yell at him,' Deshaun said. 'He'll yell back at me, and we'll start fighting.'

Yet they think that's a good thing.

'On the field, we have that temper that makes us better players,' Devin said. 'But off the field, we're genuine and nice.'

'I think Devin can be a little more ornery and angry,' said teammate Nick Kramer. 'Deshaun is a little more chill. But they both play smart. They are good kids. ... They've both got a lot of fire in them. They like to hit. They're big, they're furious, they're angry, they're good.'

The Quinns also play basketball at Marion and are members of the Indians' track and field program. They want to continue their football careers in college, though not necessarily at the same school.

Hey, they've been together for a long time.

'Coming to a new school, where you don't know anyone, you always have had someone there you can go through it with,' Deshaun said. 'We've learned stuff together.'

'The football experience here has been so different,' Devin said. 'Basically at Harding (Middle School), if you're good, you'll play. If not, they're going to forget about you. But here, Coach Perkins has a mind-set that he's going to get everyone better, no matter what it takes. And that's what we've liked about it.'

Perkins said he has no idea how many games his team will win. It doesn't have much depth and the schedule could beat up the Indians physically and mentally.

But the coach said he knows one thing.

'Great work ethic, this team. Great character and passion,' he said. 'They love the game. Our numbers are not going to be as high as some of the other ones, but they are going to give me everything they've got. No doubt.'

Coach: Tony Perkins (15th year at Marion/26th overall, 103-43 record/158-89 overall)

Last year: 4-6 (lost to West Delaware in first round of Class 3A playoffs)

Key returners: FB-LB Nick Kramer, OL-DE Deshaun Quinn, OL-DE Devin Quinn, RB Kory Walsh, L Eli Frazier, RB-LB John Carstensen.

Key losses: QB Trevor Hardman, WR-DB Quinn Cannoy, RB-DB Logan Fuller, L Drew Proska, LB Evan Kramer, L John Gorman.

Key to making playoffs: Stay healthy, don't get discouraged by losses.

Game to watch: The opener at Mount Vernon is an important tone setter. The finale at Cedar Rapids Xavier is the first time the schools have ever played in football.

Schedule

Aug. 29 — at Mount Vernon

Sept. 5 — Washington (IA)

Sept. 12 — at Cascade

Sept. 19 — at Solon

Sept. 26 — DeWitt Central

Oct. 3 — at Maquoketa

Oct. 10 — Western Dub.

Oct. 17 — Dubuque Wahlert

Oct. 24 — at CR Xavier

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