The twin brothers are offensive forces to be reckoned with as inside receivers with Horton High’s division one football team.
At 15, both brothers have been playing football for eight years. They’ve made the roster on the provincial football team and dedicated countless hours to honing their skills at a training facility in the off-season.
“They just have a genuine love for football and they put in the time. They put in the work,” said Horton Griffins head coachSteve Melanson.
Melanson commended the Hayes brothers for being strategic thinkers, even under immense pressure.
“The dynamic between Alex Hayes, Jack Hayes and (quarterback) Caleb Melanson is that they can just look at each other and change a play and they know exactly how to do it,” said Melanson, noting that most players seek more direction from the sidelines in order to accomplish such feats at their age.
“That’s very rare at the high school level.”
Versatile players
The Hayes boys are known as versatile players, willing to follow coach’s orders with no questions asked.
“They never complain about what they’re asked to do,” said Melanson. “I wish I had more of the Hayes boys.”
With the team recording two wins and two losses in the first month of play, Melanson was impressed with how more experienced players like the twins and his own son meshed with the rookies on the young team.
“These kids are believing in each other and they’re listening to the coaches,” said Melanson.
“Our team is a family.”
Both Alex and Jack have faced some challenges with the Griffins this fall. Alex, a standout receiver, has spent more time than ever on the bench while recovering from a back injury.
“(Alex) not playing right now is heartbreaking for us and it’s heartbreaking for him,” said Melanson.
Jack, on the other hand, was asked to rise to the occasion with his brother out of the lineup. Naturally, he obliged.
“He’s my leading receiver on the team and he plays defense as well,” said Melanson.
‘The exact same’
The Hayesbrotherssay there’s no place for sibling rivalries on the football field. They actually prefer playing on the same line.
“It’s good because we have chemistry. When I’m on the field and I’m trying to make a block or something I can trust that he’ll make a block too,” said Alex.
Jack concurs.
“It’s never been bad for us. We’ve always been on the same line… we’re pretty much the exact same,” he said.
The Grade 11 students get a thrill from bursting through a crowd during an offensive rush to make the crucial catch.
“If you ever get a touchdown it’s fun because all of your teammates run up to you… and it just gets you more excited to play the rest of the game,” said Jack.
Alex jokes that there’s only one thing going through his mind when knows the ball is coming his way: “Don’t drop the ball. Don’t drop the ball. Don’t drop the ball.”
Dedication
If they’re not practicing with teammates, the duo can be found strength training, building endurance or tossing a ball back and forth.
“If you’re doing something like an easy drill and you think it’s not necessarily helping you, just keeping doing it because it will help you in the long run,” said Alex.
Alex is focused on overcoming his injury and making it back on the field as soon as possible. He hopes to playCanadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)-level football after high school.
“I’ve never actually taken this much time off. It gets annoying, especially when it’s close game,” he said, adding that practice makes perfect.
As for Jack, he’s taking his football career one season at a time. Asked if he has any advice for rookies just getting into the sport, his response seemed almost automatic.
“Listen to your coaches.”
If you go
The Horton Griffins will play Oct. 10 at Acadia University’s Raymond Field in Wolfville at 4 p.m.
The twin brothers are offensive forces to be reckoned with as inside receivers with Horton High’s division one football team.
At 15, both brothers have been playing football for eight years. They’ve made the roster on the provincial football team and dedicated countless hours to honing their skills at a training facility in the off-season.
“They just have a genuine love for football and they put in the time. They put in the work,” said Horton Griffins head coachSteve Melanson.
Melanson commended the Hayes brothers for being strategic thinkers, even under immense pressure.
“The dynamic between Alex Hayes, Jack Hayes and (quarterback) Caleb Melanson is that they can just look at each other and change a play and they know exactly how to do it,” said Melanson, noting that most players seek more direction from the sidelines in order to accomplish such feats at their age.
“That’s very rare at the high school level.”
Versatile players
The Hayes boys are known as versatile players, willing to follow coach’s orders with no questions asked.
“They never complain about what they’re asked to do,” said Melanson. “I wish I had more of the Hayes boys.”
With the team recording two wins and two losses in the first month of play, Melanson was impressed with how more experienced players like the twins and his own son meshed with the rookies on the young team.
“These kids are believing in each other and they’re listening to the coaches,” said Melanson.
“Our team is a family.”
Both Alex and Jack have faced some challenges with the Griffins this fall. Alex, a standout receiver, has spent more time than ever on the bench while recovering from a back injury.
“(Alex) not playing right now is heartbreaking for us and it’s heartbreaking for him,” said Melanson.
Jack, on the other hand, was asked to rise to the occasion with his brother out of the lineup. Naturally, he obliged.
“He’s my leading receiver on the team and he plays defense as well,” said Melanson.
‘The exact same’
The Hayesbrotherssay there’s no place for sibling rivalries on the football field. They actually prefer playing on the same line.
“It’s good because we have chemistry. When I’m on the field and I’m trying to make a block or something I can trust that he’ll make a block too,” said Alex.
Jack concurs.
“It’s never been bad for us. We’ve always been on the same line… we’re pretty much the exact same,” he said.
The Grade 11 students get a thrill from bursting through a crowd during an offensive rush to make the crucial catch.
“If you ever get a touchdown it’s fun because all of your teammates run up to you… and it just gets you more excited to play the rest of the game,” said Jack.
Alex jokes that there’s only one thing going through his mind when knows the ball is coming his way: “Don’t drop the ball. Don’t drop the ball. Don’t drop the ball.”
Dedication
If they’re not practicing with teammates, the duo can be found strength training, building endurance or tossing a ball back and forth.
“If you’re doing something like an easy drill and you think it’s not necessarily helping you, just keeping doing it because it will help you in the long run,” said Alex.
Alex is focused on overcoming his injury and making it back on the field as soon as possible. He hopes to playCanadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)-level football after high school.
“I’ve never actually taken this much time off. It gets annoying, especially when it’s close game,” he said, adding that practice makes perfect.
As for Jack, he’s taking his football career one season at a time. Asked if he has any advice for rookies just getting into the sport, his response seemed almost automatic.
“Listen to your coaches.”
If you go
The Horton Griffins will play Oct. 10 at Acadia University’s Raymond Field in Wolfville at 4 p.m.
