‘I’ve coached brothers before, but this group is different’ | Friday night lights feel like home for the Hudson family
‘I’ve coached brothers before, but this group is different’ | Friday night lights feel like home for the Hudson family
DJ and Zion Hudson look to the sidelines instead of the stands to find their dad coaching and cheering them on.
PEACH COUNTY, Ga. — A lot of teams try to make their programs feel like a family. In Peach County, head coach Marquis Westbrook said the Hudson family takes it to a new level.
“I’ve coached brothers before, but this group is different,” Westbrook said.
The Peach County Trojans are on a hot streak. In their last five matchups, the Trojans’ offense averaged 49.6 points. Westbrook describes their offense as explosive.
“We’ve been able to run the ball and throw the ball and keep the defense off balance and we got weapons all around,” Westbrook said.
Two of those weapons are cut from the same cloth. Quarterback DJ Hudson and wide receiver Zion Hudson are brothers. They grew up playing together on the field.
“It’s fun,” DJ said. “It’s like playing in the backyard. You know we’ve been playing with each other ever since we were like four and five years old so it’s really just second nature when we’re out on the field.”
“It’s truly a blessing…And it’s just the chemistry we have together, it works on the field,” Zion said.
What really makes Friday nights seem like home, is having their dad, Don Hudson, on the sidelines.
“As a defensive coach I’m under the tent trying to make corrections and adjustments for what we do defensively and all of a sudden you hear the crowd roaring and you know I’m stopping right in the middle of what I’m doing trying to see my sons play,” Don said.
Dad coaching and two boys on the field has been the routine for awhile.
“Ever since I was born and ever since came out the womb he was talking about football,” DJ said.
The Hudson’s came to Peach County when Westbrook was hired. He said he’s grateful their on the same side of the field now.
“Feels a lot better when you have them on your side you know not having to game plan against them. I can imagine what other coaches struggle with,” Westbrook said.
Don was coaching at his alma mater, Northside, and his boys were just getting their high school careers started when he got the call about switching schools. He said he gave the boys the option to stay.
“‘You’re here, your friends are here. You want to stay here and play ball you stay here and play ball that’s totally up to you’…just them being them, [they] said, ‘Dad wherever you go we’re going,'” Don said.
With DJ being a senior, the routine on the field will come to an end soon.
“It’s sad,” Zion said. “I’ve been playing with them all my life, then next year he’ll be gone.”
DJ and the rest of the Trojans plan to make the best of the season with their eyes on the playoffs.
“We’re going to go win the state championship this year most definitely,” Zion said.
“We’re going back the old Peach County ways. We’re back,” DJ said.