At one point during Elmwood Park’s homecoming football game against Guerin on Friday, Sept. 30, linebackers Dom and Frank Cadetto teamed up for a quarterback sack. The shared sack was nothing new for the two seniors, who have shared just about everything in life as fraternal twins.
They were much happier to share in a 47-0 Metro Suburban Red win with their teammates, the first victory of the year for Elmwood Park.
“We really did deserve that win because we’ve worked so hard this season,” Frank Cadetto said. “We haven’t had good results. The win really boosts our confidence, and hopefully it carries us through the rest of our games.”
With 13 combined tackles, the brothers did their part for the Tigers (1-5, 1-1), who also got three interceptions returned for touchdowns from Andrew Rosales, Zach Rivera and Alex Lopez. Running back Xavier Vega added 150 rushing yards and three touchdowns on nine carries behind standout linemen Angelo Lobrin and Dillon Shouse.
The Tigers, whose five losses came to opponents with a combined record of 24-6, were also able to avoid the penalties and mistakes that plagued them in close losses to Ridgewood and St. Joseph.
“We were shooting ourselves in the foot in those games. We couldn’t get on a roll,” Dom Cadetto said. “Friday was a great win against one of our rivals.”
In his third varsity season, Dom Cadetto is second on the team in tackles as a 170-pound stack linebacker in a 3-5-3 system.
“He’s one of our captains, and he has come into his own,” Elmwood Park coach Dylan Mack said. “He probably put on 15 pounds of muscle since last year, and he’s a key cog in our defense.”
Frank Cadetto operates a little differently from his brother.
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At 145 pounds, Frank is smaller than his brother. Where Dom is more stoic and analytical about the game he loves, Frank thrives on a high-energy mentality and a love for controlled chaos.
“I love this game so much, and I want to see everyone excited and pumped to play it,” Frank Cadetto said. “People should truly want to be in the game, and that’s why I try to bring that kind of energy to the field. I want everyone around me to know we’re in this game together.”
Their different demeanors have been obvious since the fraternal twins were young.
“I’ve always had more of a serious attitude than Frank,” Dom Cadetto said, “but we go well together. He’s the funny guy, and I’m more serious. And we push each other. We have our sibling moments, but we work really well together.”
The brothers owe a debt of gratitude to older brother Geno Cadetto, who was a linebacker on Elmwood Park’s 2012 team that won a conference title.
“Ever since Frankie was a kid, he replicated whatever Geno did,” Dom Cadetto said. “Geno is beyond smart when it comes to football. We both learned a lot from him.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press