They have the same voice, same hair line, same jaw line. It’s the genetic makeup that Tony Edwards, Sr., has passed to his son, Tony Edwards, Jr., a standout junior lineman at Damascus.
That’s not all the father passed on to his son. As the offensive line coach at Damascus, Tony Edwards, Sr. dispenses instructions to Tony, Jr. The advice comes from a man who started three seasons at the University of Maryland (1983-85), blocking for celebrated quarterbacks Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, and Stan Gelbaugh.
Tony, Sr. says he never pushed football on his son. Off the field, they rarely talk the sport. But as the old sayinggoes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Tony, Jr. wears the same jersey number (72) worn by his dad.
“Their personalities are different. Tony coaches with a lot of emotion. He’s very passionate,” said Damascus head coach Dan Makosy. “Tony Jr. is a very quiet, polite young man. But it’s from the competitiveness standpoint that you see the similarities.”
But father and son are not an exact match physically. Tony Jr. (6-foot, 260 pounds) is five inches shorter than is dad. But less-than-prototype size hasn’t hindered Tony, Jr. Last year, as a sophomore, he was an All-Montgomery 4A choice for a 14-0 squad that won the 4A state championship. Tonight, when No. 7 Damascus (7-1) travels to No. 2 Northwest (8-0), Tony, Jr. will be key.
“He’s an athlete. He’s got great feet,” said Makosy, who has expanded Tony, Jr.’s role to defense this season. “Not many guys have started here as sophomores, but Tony has that kind of talent.”
Talent that is not limited to football. He holds a 3.82 GPA taking honors classes. His father values that more than his ability to bench press 300 pounds.
“It doesn’t matter what he does. I want him to succeed and be all he can be,” said Tony, Sr. “I don’t like reading ‘Tony Edwards, son of the Damascus line coach.’ Or ‘Tony Edwards, son of the former Maryland player.’ I would love for someone to say, ‘Aren’t you Tony Edwards’ dad?’”
It might happen sooner than Tony, Sr. expects.
The son also rises
» Tony Edwards, Sr.’s line coach at Maryland was Ralph Friedgen.
» Edwards played basketball and football at Wheaton.
» Edwards was signed out of college by the USFL’s Baltimore Stars but the league folded that summer and Edwards failed a physical with the Philadelphia Eagles.
