SEPTEMBER 3, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A17
these next couple years are going to be
the Copeland show,” Tyler said. “It is
really fun to be able to celebrate that.”
By the end of the six-game shortened
season, Tyler had 22 catches for 376
and fi ve touchdowns (all team-highs)
and Braiden was second on the team in
receiving with 16 catches for 246 yards
and four scores — Braiden also rushed
for 109 yards and two touchdowns on
the season.
What made the season all the more
special for the two brothers was that
it was not only their fi rst year on the
varsity team, but that they also got to
have their dad as their position coach
— Andrew has been coaching the backs
and receivers at McNary for the last
three years.
“There are moments in life that you
want to keep living over and over again,
and this is that moment for me,” said
Andrew, who graduated from McNary
in ‘95 and played for the Celtics foot-
ball team for four years. “It has honestly
been a dream come true. For me to see
them working hard and becoming lead-
ers among their peers has been special.”
As underclassmen during the 2019
season, Braiden played for the McNary
freshman team and Tyler was on the JV
team but had to miss the entire season
due to injury.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in
March of last year, instead of sleeping in
and binge-watching Netfl ix, both Tyler
and Braiden committed themselves to
a daily workout regimen with the help
of their dad — who has worked for the
Keizer Police Department for nearly two
decades.
“It helped that I grew about three
inches and gained about 30 pounds
from my sophomore to junior year.
I developed a lot just in that year. I’m
striving to be a college athlete. That is
really what drove me.” Tyler said.
“It was about putting in the work.
Our dad was making us work out every
day over the summers, getting stron-
ger, getting bigger, doing speed work
and getting out and throwing the ball,”
Braiden added.
Tyler and Braiden both have a goal
of playing college football one day, and
based on their skill and work ethic, they
are well on their way to reaching that
aspiration.
“I provide the opportunities, but at
the end of the day it’s their drive and
their willingness to do it. They both
want to play college sports and I think
they are putting themselves in a good
position to do that,” Andrew said. “They
have worked their butts off to get to
where they are at.”
Despite being one of the top receivers
in the area last season, Tyler has played
quarterback for nearly his entire foot-
ball career and will be returning to his
primary position for his senior season.
“It’s obviously an important position
to have on your ball club. We’re losing a
very good receiver with him switching
positions, but Tyler has a strong arm,
he’s a good athlete and a good leader for
us. I think he will excel at the quarter-
back position,” McNary head coach Jeff
Auvinen said.
After spending last season in an
internal competition with Braiden for
better stats, Tyler now will be the one
throwing instead of catching — and his
favorite target will likely be his brother.
“Last year it was all about who could
get more yards and who could score
more touchdowns,” Braiden said. “This
year there will defi nitely be a dynamic
change. But Tyler is a good leader.
He comes out here and makes people
better.”
“He is pretty easy to work with. There
is defi nitely a brother connection there,”
Tyler added “We have a special bond. I
can’t wait to see what we can do on the
fi eld this year.”
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