Pennington brothers double down on competition on the field and off
- Staff
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 4
FLATWOODS, Ky. — Fans might think they are seeing double. Opposing defenses are seeing double trouble.
Senior identical twins Jayden and Cayden Pennington gave the Russell Red Devils two outstanding targets in a strong corps of receivers last season.
And when asked which one of you is the better receiver, they answered in unison.
“I am.”
Cayden said they like to debate a lot about who is better.
“We like to debate the different skills that we have and talk crap about who’s better,” said Cayden.
Although Cayden had the better season statistically, Jayden pointed out “statically yeah, it was him. If you look at the targets he should. It’s just how our offense worked out.”
Cayden led the team with 31 receptions for 706 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jayden caught 16 passes for 281 yards and 3 scores. Also in the mix was Caden Mitchel with 13 grabs for 316 yards and 5 TDs and the graduated Ben Totten with 276 yards on 18 receptions for 3 touchdowns.
“We’re both competing, trying to make each other better at practice, camp, games, whatever to help each other out,” Jayden said.
“We’re competing, but we’re making each other better for the team.”
Being competitors makes both players want to work to improve their game and help make the team better as well.
“We went to like eight camps just trying to get some new offers and new opportunities to go play and just get better for our team,” said Cayden.
There are some schools who are showing interest in the receivers including Kentucky Christian University and the University of Rio Grande.
“There’s a few schools I’d love to go to, but the opportunity is not there yet, just trying to work toward to get that opportunity. I just want to get myself out there more,” said Jayden.
There is the possibility that schools may want just one brother and not the other, or they may want to go their separate ways.
“I think either would be good,” said Cayden. “I think going to rival schools would be a really cool thing. Just play each other. I’m not sure if that opportunity is going to present itself or not. But, playing together or separately would be cool, especially if we got to play each other.”
“We’re pretty close. We do most things together. We do our own things, but we do a lot together,” said Jayden.
“I’d say we’re pretty close. We do most everything the same. We do the same sports, activities, just everything the same,” said Cayden.
Not only do they do the same activities, they also put up similar grades in school.
“Yeah, our grades, GPA, ACT are all about the same,” said Jayden.
Cayden said doing the same thing isn’t just because of being twin brothers. There is another factor.
‘We like to compete with that stuff. Everything is a competition,” said Cayden.
The brothers both run track. Cayden has been clocked at 11.1 seconds in the 100 meters and Jayden — who weighs 10 pounds more — was timed at 11.3 seconds.
But the two have taken up another sport with similar results. The duo are now playing golf.
“We’re trying to get better at that. It’s harder than football I think. It’s one of the most mental games ever,” said Cayden. “You do one thing wrong and you’re annoyed the rest of the round.”
Although the twin brothers’ golf game may be described as a double bogey, there is no mistake about what they do on the football field.
And you can double down on that.
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