Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mike Vlahovich: Brothers set high standard at Riverside

Mike Vlahovich The Spokesman-Review

When Riverside plays a Great Northern League football game, it’s conceivable at times that half the lineup could include players from three families.

Brothers Derek and Dustin Martin, Ryan and Jake DesRoches and Joey and Brian Scott, specialize for the most part. But all spell players on the other side of the ball from time to time.

Brian, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound tight end-defensive lineman is the only two-way starter – “He’s our next college player,” said coach Allen Martin.

The DesRoches are primarily defenders – Ryan at linebacker and Jake at safety – but both can play running back. Joey Scott, a lanky 6-3, plays wide receiver, tight end and defensive back. “He was a tackle last year,” said his coach.

Martin has a particular interest in his sons, third-year starting quarterback Derek and sophomore wide receiver Dustin, who play some defensive back. “It’s kind of fun that one throws to the other,” he said.

From his perspective as coach and parent, Allen Martin is uniquely qualified to discuss the unusual circumstance in which three sets of brothers play together.

“It’s been a while since this has happened,” Allen Martin said, “but I’m sure it probably has before between some of the large families we’ve had around here.”

With large families comes the expectation that as one athlete impacts a team, his younger siblings must certainly follow. The home-schooled DesRocheses, for example, are the oldest of eight boys, so the name is expected to be a Riverside staple for years to come.

Besides football, Ryan is a two-time state wrestling champion who has missed Monday football practices to visit colleges bidding for his services. Jake, a junior, was fourth in state wrestling last year.

The Scotts’ older brother, Robbie, and a sister, Amber (who is attending the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis), are 2006 graduates and were Riverside athletes. There was a time, said their mother, Annette Phipps, that she was watching freshman, junior varsity and varsity games in one year.

“It’s not always true if one is good the other will be,” Allen Martin said. “But you expect them to be when they come from athletic families. Kids who played before encourage their younger brothers. They know what to expect.”

His children are examples. Being an athlete himself, and a coach, he hoped his sons would follow suit and they have. From the time they were newborns, he said, they would be at his games. They grew up experiencing athletics from the coach’s perspective right down to watching film.

“By osmosis they were inundated with sports,” said Dad.

Martin turned down an opportunity to become assistant coach at Whitworth to coach them.

“Time has flat flown by. There are only three more games in Derek’s career,” he said. “It’s been very enjoyable and for him I’m sure at times it’s been difficult.”

All six brothers, added the coach, have near perfect grade-point averages. The Rams have won nearly as many football games as they’ve lost during their careers and still hold out hopes of a playoff berth in this, their final season together.

Scholars, athletes and teammates, they’ve done three families and their high school proud.