Chacons Can Create Double Trouble for Fullerton’s Opponents

FULLERTON —  Daniel and David Chacon of Fullerton High School have had opponents seeing double for three years, but the twins added a new twist to their repertoire last week.

Daniel, the Indians’ starting quarterback for three games, moved to running back in the team’s option attack. He replaced David, who moved to wide receiver in an effort to boost the passing attack.

Daniel, who is 23 minutes older, was averaging 12.1 yards per completion before being moved to running back, where he gained 79 yards in 13 carries in a 17-13 loss to El Dorado. David, who had rushed for 295 yards in three starts, proved he can catch, too, with three receptions for 89 yards against the Golden Hawks.

Versatility is the name of the game for the 17-year-old brothers. It has been that way since they were 7, tearing up Pop Warner football and leading Fullerton to three Orange Bowl appearances for the county championship.

David, who is 10 pounds heavier, had always been a running back. As a sophomore, he broke into Fullerton’s starting lineup at cornerback, and last year, became a starting running back. He also is the kicker and leads the team with five touchdowns.

Daniel became a varsity starter at cornerback in the fourth game of his sophomore season. When he played quarterback, he said he knew where David would be on the field on most pass patterns.

“We think alike on the field,” David said. “Daniel knows where I am and can throw me the ball without calling the play.”

Daniel insists it’s true.

“We’ve been playing together for so long, we’re always there for each other with a block or to help make a tackle,” Daniel said. “We can communicate without talking.”

But off the field, the two teen-agers have different tastes in girls, music and academics. Their interests are as different as their facial features.

“Funny, but most people expect us to be identical twins,” David said. “I met a girl the first week of school and I told her I had a twin brother. I pointed out Daniel to her and she said, ‘That’s your brother? You don’t look anything alike.’ ”

Daniel, who is enrolled in honors classes at Fullerton and hopes to become a physical therapist, has a 2.5 grade-point average. He plans to continue playing football in college.

“We were always taught that size doesn’t matter, you play football with your heart,” said Daniel, who weighs 140 pounds and, like his brother, is 5 feet 7.

David has a 2.9 GPA but admits he’s enrolled in “easier classes than Daniel.” David, one of the top hitters in the Freeway League last year, is hoping to pursue a baseball career in college.

One thing the twins share is a car, which sometimes leads to disagreements when it comes to who gets to use if for dating.

“We argue a lot,” David said. “We always think we’re right. We never fought much as kids, but we do have arguments.”

They also share a sense of humor. When Daniel was asked to complete the following, “I Hope I Never Have to . . . “, he responded: “Live in the streets.”

David responded: “Go to Orange County Jail.”

The twins wore identical clothing as infants but established their own identities in elementary school. They watched their older brother, Mike, play for Fullerton’s Central Conference championship team in 1984.

“We used to go to Mike’s practices when we were 11 and the players looked huge,” David said. “I thought, ‘I’m never going to be big enough to play football in high school.”’ He was almost right.

“Both are extremely good athletes,” said Pat Ward, Fullerton football coach. “Daniel never left the field last week and David only came out for a few plays. They’re both very nice kids, the kind you’d like to have over to your home for dinner.

“Sometimes, they’re too nice. There are times I’d like them to be a little more serious on the field and show a little more intensity.”

The twins might get some intensity from the large following they attract for each home game, beginning with tonight’s against Valencia (4-0). The Chacon family is among biggest supporters of Fullerton (1-2-1) and the twins’ mother, Veronica, is a vocal booster.

“You can pick her out in any crowd,” Daniel said. “She’s always yelling for us. It’s great that you can count on our family being there for every game.”