by Malcolm Butler
Ladd and Nicholas Thompson are not twins. Far from it.
Nicholas, the middle of three boys, plays on the offensive and defensive line for Cedar Creek. Ladd, the baby boy of the family, plays … well just about every position for the Cougars.
And if you ask their coach Matt Middleton, he will tell you they are about as opposite as two brothers can be.
“You probably wouldn’t know they were brothers if you didn’t know they were brothers,” said Middleton. “They’re two completely different personalities. They aren’t even close.”
Ladd and Nicholas echo their coach’s opinion.
“Oh my gosh. We are so different,” said Ladd, who also stars for the Creek baseball team during the spring. “He thinks he’s right no matter what. It’s his way or the highway. He doesn’t care who you are. He’s going to give you his opinion. Whether it’s a good opinion; bad opinion. He thinks he’s right.”
Sounds like a little brother, doesn’t it? What does big brother think?
“He likes to please people,” said Nicholas about Ladd. “He’s a big teddy bear. A polite guy. He’s not going to talk back. He tends to go with the flow.”
Ladd is a junior for the Cougars. He plays safety and wide receiver. He’s Creek’s back-up quarterback. Even punts and serves as the holder for PATs and field goals.
“Ladd is a really good athlete,” said Middleton. “He does a lot of good things. He can play multiple positions.”
Nicholas is the anchor of the Creek offensive line, serving as the Cougars center. He has also played some defensive end during his career, although Middleton is hesitant due to his value on the O-line.
“Nick is one of our more athletic lineman,” said Middleton. “That’s what he does, but he’s a great athlete. He hasn’t played as much defensively because he plays such a huge role at center for us. He is so important to the things that we do.”
When asked to describe each other on the football field, both Ladd and Nicholas were a little more complimentary … even if it may have pained them to do so.
“He’s definitely a football player,” said Ladd. “He’s got that mean streak to him. He’s definitely gritty. Growing up we were both gritty with each other. That comes out on the football field. He’s ready to get after whoever’s across the line from him.”
“He brings a whole different mindset to the field,” said Nicholas. “He’s a multi-sport athlete, and he’s great in all of them. He brings speed. He brings size. He’s got some of the best hands on the team. He can catch a football … as much as I don’t want to admit it. But he can.”
Middleton said it’s not uncommon for the two to find themselves in a brotherly skirmish on the practice field.
“They are oil and water with each other,” laughed Middleton. “It’s no big deal to break them up every once in a while. They are good kids and we are lucky to have them.”
Nicholas said that goes back to their days growing up.
“We would always wrestle in the living room or throw the football around outside,” said Nicholas. “There were many, many, many a day where all we would do all day would be play football or wrestle. We are either tight tight or we are butting heads. You never know what a day may bring.”
Regardless, they both have an appreciation for getting to “butt heads” with the opponents while playing football together on Friday nights.
“I enjoy it,” said Nicholas. “My sophomore year me, Ladd and (oldest brother) Landon all got to play together. It’s always fun playing with your brothers.”
“It’s definitely cool,” said Ladd. “It’s not something everybody gets to do. He’s the deep snapper and I’m the holder (and punter) so it’s pretty cool whenever we’re snapping it to each other whether it’s at practice or in the game. It’s cool to share moments on the field with your brother.”
The Cougars dropped their season opener to Glenbrook last Thursday night and face a challenging Vidalia team this coming Friday night, once again on the road.
Win or lose, one thing is for sure: the Thompson boys will be making an impact for the green and gold. And neither is content with the 0-1 start.
“We came into the season with high expectations, and they are still there,” said Ladd. “We have had a few setbacks. But I think we’ve proven against people like Evangel and Sterlington that we can play with anybody if we are playing our type of ball.
“I think everybody on our team still believes. It’s really up to us to define where we go. I think everyone knows what we’re capable of and we just have to go out there and prove it.”
“We have no other option but to get better,” said Nicholas. “We have to get in better shape. We have to be more disciplined. The whole nine yards because there’s no other option, but for us to get better.”
