2 weeks Ago
Calvary defensive coordinator Mark Miller and his sons, Cole (2) and Luke (8). Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Stuffed with two adults and five kids – all Calvary Baptist Academy -- you would think the Miller house is full of wild rivalries and fights – especially considering three of the five play football for the Cavaliers. However, the oldest children -- Cole and Luke – have shared a room since they were toddlers.
Separated by just one year, they grew up together and they stick together. “They’re competitive, they want to win, but they don’t compete against each other,” father, Mark Miller said. “It’s more of, ‘Me and my brother are going to take you.
’ A team thing. Them against the world.” If you want one Miller, you get them all.
For years, the family – every one of them – piled in a car headed to the school on Linwood Avenue. Mark Miller is the Cavaliers’ defensive coordinator. His wife and high-school sweetheart at Evangel, Lindsey, is head coach Rodney Guin’s assistant.
Cole is a standout linebacker. Luke is a defensive back. Jake is a freshman.
Mollie is in middle school. The caboose, Anna Kate, is a fourth-grader. All the boys play football.
And they all play soccer. “It’s special to be walking around at school and see my mom,” Luke Miller, a junior, said. “I can visit my dad in between classes.
We have access to our whole family at any time.” Calvary’s Cole Miller tackles Episcopal’s Nathan Sanchez behind the line of scrimmage during a playoff game at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La., Friday, Nov.
29, 2024. The household has racked up 17 broken bones – and hopefully NOT counting, but nothing that’s kept a Miller off the football field for more than a couple of weeks. Friday, Mark, Cole and Luke will be a crucial part of the Cavaliers’ mission to return to the Superdome.
Calvary, the defending state champion, hosts Catholic-New Iberia in a Select, Division III semifinal. “I’ve had more fun this season than last season,” said Cole, who gets emotional when faced with the fact the time of playing with his brother is fading fast. “The whole team, too.
We’ve been together since the third grade. It’s like extended family at this point.” Calvary defensive coordinator Mark Miller instructs his players as the team prepares Tuesday, Dec.
3, 2024, for a semifinal playoff game this Friday at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La. Mark Miller said, without question, he gets more out of watching his kids than his playing days. Even though he won it all for the Eagles, Mark admits he’s left to chuckle when Cole and Luke fly around the field.
“I was a hitter,” Mark said. “Cole makes plays. He creates fumbles, picks balls off, punches balls out.
He’s always around the ball. If I died tomorrow, Luke could run the whole thing defensively. He picks up on things so quickly.
“It’s so fun to watch. It’s surreal. All I can do is thank the Lord for the opportunity to do this.
” What does Cole think is the best thing about being on the field with Luke? “Knowing sometimes I can mess up and he’ll be there just in case.” What does Luke think about Cole? “Most of the time I don’t have to be there. He’s got it taken care of.
” Cole admits there is one thing in his younger brother’s arsenal that is missing from his game. Calvary’s Luke Miller recovers a fumble during the Cavaliers’ game against Oak Grove at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La., Friday, Sept.
6, 2024. “I wish I had a girlfriend,” Cole said. Cole isn’t the only one who wishes Father Time would stop the clock.
“Mom is a wreck right now,” Mark said. Mark and Lindsey have often thought about exploring careers that provide a little more financial stability. “We can’t do that,” Mark said.
“We’re going to load up all seven of us coming to school every day as long as we can. We’ll make money later on in life. There are people with a lot of money that don’t get to do what we do.
“It’s not just about my boys, but they’re a big part about what we’re doing (at Calvary). We have a great program and two of our boys play an important part.” Luke leads the Cavaliers with 94 tackles.
Cole ranks with 78 tackles (19 for a loss). Both boys have one interception. At home, it’s either “all football talk or no football talk.
” On some game nights, the Millers are up until 1 a.m. watching film.
Calvary defensive coordinator Mark Miller and his sons, Cole (2) and Luke (8). Team Miller won’t fade after the Cavaliers’ final football game this season. Mark Miller coaches soccer at Calvary and the brothers will be three-fold on the pitch.
But as a group, Cole, Luke and Mark have at least one, maybe two more opportunities to make hay on the gridiron. Even about last year’s title, Cole and Luke cherish the time they celebrated in the end zone following a fumble-6 by Cole two years ago. See, no rivalry.
It’s a team. “I’ll get emotional over this, being (Cole’s) last home game," Mark said. "We’ve played and coached together since fourth or fifth grade.
I didn’t think both would be on the field together. This has exceeded all expectations.”.
