Outside of cage drills in football practice at Creighton Prep, twin brothers Charmar and Ahmar Brown have been on the same side as long as they can remember.

They share similar interests and the same tastes in food (hot wings and seafood top the menu). They both got into football at the same time, lacing their shoes for the Little Vikes. They love video games, especially Madden.

They’re almost mirror images of each other.

“He’s a little more strict, I’m like the goofy type,” Ahmar says.

Aside from bloodlines, their biggest bond is football. It brings them a lot of joy.

So imagine what Friday will be like when the Brown twins take the field for a showdown with No. 2 Bellevue West knowing they each have significant roles for the No. 4 Junior Jays this season.

Call it a twin billing.

The brothers have big hopes for themselves and for their team, a contender in Class A.

After a breakout junior season running the football, Charmar is expected to be one of the state’s top workhorse backs this fall. After playing in a backup role last year, Ahmar is slated to start at outside linebacker.

They’ve been working a long time to share the spotlight.

“It’s super-fun,” Charmar said. “Seeing (Ahmar) make plays, it drives me to make plays, too, just seeing the energy.”

The Browns have never been short on energy. They began playing football when they were 7 years old. Grandma — she had a really strong arm, the twins note — fired passes to the boys. Their father played at Omaha North.

Charmar always wanted to play running back while Ahmar loved catching the ball before he liked hitting better by his freshman year of high school.

Ahmar, at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, doesn’t have to worry about tackling his brother on Friday nights. It’s not easy.

The 6-0, 205-pounder rushed for 1,067 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. He averaged nearly seven yards a pop.

After a big summer that led to multiple Division I offers, and later a pledge to FCS power North Dakota State, Charmar seeks a bigger fall. He said he wants to become the second back in school history to rush for 2,000 yards.

A star-studded and experienced offensive line that includes Nebraska recruit Sam Sledge and Princeton recruit Rocco Marcelino will do its part to open the lanes for the shifty back.

Ahmar, meanwhile, said he’s been watching more film and spending extra time in the weight room in preparation for a bigger role on the team.

The best part about being twins?

“You don’t have to say much to understand each other,” Charmar said.

Nobody knows Charmar better than Ahmar, and vice versa. So who better to ask about scouting reports on the Brown brothers?

Ahmar is “very physical,” Charmar said. “I mean, he looks for contact. He’s not scared of anything. I don’t know why, but I just feel like he likes pain. And I feel like he just wants to be the best self he can be on the field.”

Charmar, meanwhile, “puts his head down and gets to work and doesn’t talk much. He’s a very humble guy (and) a shifty back. He’s a great leader and he pushes his teammates.”

Creighton Prep opens its season at 7 p.m. Friday at Omaha Burke Stadium against Bellevue West. For the Junior Jays, it will be the first step to a crucial season. For the Brown twins, who have also wrestled in high school, it’s one last fall together on the field.

Under the lights. That’s as fun as it gets for two tied together by the same birthday and football.

“We just need to come out as a team, be loose,” Charmar said. “Have fun with this because it goes by fast.”

Coaches Corner: Creighton Prep’s Tim Johnk