Former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky is one of the reasons senior twins Christos and Nicolas Alexandros are playing side by side on the offensive line for Lockport.

Christos has been all-in for football since second grade, but Nicolas didn’t enjoy it as much, giving it up for two years. He regained his love for the game watching the maligned Trubisky.

“I fell in love with the Bears in seventh grade, and I was a big Mitch Trubisky fan,” Nicolas said. “I came back to football in eighth grade and fell in love with it.

“When I got to high school, the love just grew more and more.”

The Alexandros brothers have loved putting it all on the line for the Porters, who are No. 9 in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings.

Indeed, Lockport will feature an offensive line this season with the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Christos at left guard and the 6-1, 275-pound Nicolas to his right at center.

For Nicolas, his rejuvenation came in 2018 when the Bears’ season ended in disappointment with a 16-15 NFC Wild Card loss to Philadelphia. Cody Parkey’s 43-yard field-goal attempt hit the upright and crossbar in what is known as the double doink.

“I said if we made that kick,” Nicolas recalled, “we were going to the Super Bowl.”

Since then, the brothers have experienced superlative moments of their own.

Christos, who is older by a minute, was a starting lineman for Lockport’s 2021 Class 8A championship team. He’s the only starter remaining from that group.

“It was quite an experience,” Christos said of the Porters taking the title with a 24-6 win over Maine South in DeKalb. “It was such a big crowd, and once we finally won, getting to hold the trophy was awesome.

“That’s why I want to get that feeling again.”

Nicolas was on the sidelines for that game but didn’t play. He did celebrate with the team and earn a medal. He also said he was proud of his “older” brother.

“I thought it was cool to be watching him,” Nicolas said. “He’s always been a role model for me, and it was great to see him win something like that.

“I experienced one state championship, and now, I want to experience one playing in it.”

Nicolas did win one in May. He was the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association’s state champion in the 308-pound division. He has benched 330, squatted 495 and deadlifted 515 as career bests.

Last season, the duo anchored the O-line for Lockport. While the twins stayed healthy and played every game, the Porters were plagued by injuries and had to scramble.

Veteran Lockport coach George Czart knows last season’s growing pains could lead to something good this year. He’s hoping the twins will be able to help lead another surge.

“Since Christos is a three-year starter, we like his leadership and the fact he has a lot of experience,” Czart said. “I like his toughness and grit and how mean he is … within the rules.

“They both have size and strength and great personalities. I enjoy talking to them. But on the field, they play hard, they play tough and they play the way offensive linemen are supposed to play.”

Both have offers from the Wisconsin-Platteville and St. Francis in Joliet. Nicolas has also drawn interest from Miami of Ohio and Elmhurst. They said they will wait until after the season to make a decision.

It’s up in the air if they will go to the same college, but for now, they enjoy being teammates.

“I can always rely on him every block,” Nicolas said of Christos.

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“It’s definitely nice having him right next to me,” Christos said of Nicolas. “It really makes us strong on the inside.”

Team: Lockport

2022 record: 5-5

Offensive leaders: Christos Alexandros, senior, left guard; Nicolas Alexandros, senior, center; Drew Gallagher, senior, quarterback; Tanner Benaitis, senior, receiver.

Defensive leaders: Jameson Clark, senior, middle linebacker; John Sherrod, junior linebacker; Matthaeus Foltys, senior, defensive end; Danny Stevens, senior, free safety.

X-factor: Matt Blazewski, sophomore, punter.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.