CORINTH — Many times while watching a Lake Dallas football game this season, the public address announcer says the last name Waller.

Usually, it’s no big deal for a fan to hear a name over the loudspeakers.

DRC/David Minton

The Waller trio, linebacker Josh (11), running back Tyler (21) and Logan (5), shown earlier this wek at Falcon Field in Lake Dallas, have helped power the Falcons, who will face Everman in theClass 4A playoffs tonight.

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When Falcon fans hear ‘Franklin’ they know its star quarterback James Franklin.

When they hear McGee, they know it is wide receiver threat Tyler McGee.

But Waller?

Fans have to think a little harder, but they have three choices – senior linebacker Josh Waller, juniorrunning back Tyler Waller or junior linebacker Logan Waller.

“Sometimes I get a tackle and someone will tell Josh nice play,” Logan said. “But it is nice to hear the name Waller a lot. That means we are making plays.”

Tyler and Josh are brothers and Logan is their cousin.

“It has been awesome playing with my cousin and brother,” Tyler said. “You learn a lot. I have learned to be more aggressive because of it. I also have learned how to avoid tackles better because I have had to avoid them a lot of times growing up.”

While it sometimes may be difficult to tell the Waller trio apart, it is easy to see all three have been key contributors for Lake Dallas (10-1) as the Falcons head into their Class 4A area round matchup with Everman at 7:30 p.m. today in Bedford.

“They are all very instinctive football players,” said Lake Dallas coach Michael Young. “All Wallers play like that. Some guys you have to really coach to do everything, but these guys really know football. They all have a nose for what is going to happen.”

Tyler Waller has quietly racked up almost 1,000 yards rushing this season while playing in Franklin’s shadow. He also is averaging almost nine yards per carry in 113 attempts.

“He is a great instinctive running back,” Young said. “What is amazing is how great of a blocker he is. He probably is our strongest kid pound for pound.”

Last week he rushed for 155 yards in the Falcons’ playoff win against Birdville. But he will not play for the rest of the season because of a torn ACL he suffered last week.

“I shouldn’t have made that cut back on that long run,” he said. “But I’m still part of the team. I’ll do my part from the sidelines.”

Josh and Logan play side-by-side as two of Lake Dallas’ run stopping linebackers. They rank second and third on the team in total tackles behind standout defensive stopper Drew Hamilton (103 tackles, 69 solo).

Logan has totaled 79 tackles (44 solo), while Josh has piled up 57 (35 solo).

“Josh and Logan may not be the biggest or the fastest,” Young said. “But they are as physical as any other linebacker out there.”

Both linebackers also have made big plays this season when it comes to turnovers.

Last week Logan made a key interception to set up Lake Dallas’ first touchdown of the game.

“Waller’s know how to make big plays,” Young said.

Josh’s interception may have been the biggest play of the season for the Falcons. It happened in the closing minutes of Lake Dallas’ game against Ryan when he intercepted Raiders quarterback Scotty Young’s pass to seal the win for the Falcons.

“I think we make big plays because we have had to make them our whole lives,” Josh said. “We know how to cope with the big situations. Growing up we were always the best players on teams. So we know how to handle the big situations.”

All three players have been playing in the Lake Dallas pipeline since they were younger and watched Logan’s brother Adam play football as a Falcon while growing up.

They have been competitive since they were kids whether it was baseball, football or board games.

“We have been playing our whole lives together,” Logan said. “And it has been fun the entire time.”

Josh said it was nonstop sports growing up.

“We have always been playing something,” he said. “We have always been together. We have made championship runs together in every sport and it really has been pretty awesome.”

Josh said the rivalry has been a friendly one throughout the years.

“Me and my brother would always go up against Logan in sports,” Josh said with a laugh. “We always won because, you know, we are better.”

So,who is the best out of the three?

“I can’t answer that,” Logan said. “We all are pretty good.”

How did they get so good?

“It’s from growing up with parents that cared about sports,” Tyler said. “We learned so much from them and after a few years it just kind of turned into natural instinct. I blame our parents for all these skills.”

When the trio suits up tonight against a 9-2 Everman team, Josh said he hopes it is not the last time.

“It has been an honor to play with them,” Josh said. “It has been special. This is the last year we are going to play together and it is kind of sad to think about and say bye to this. I want to go to the championship with these guys. We have to keep winning. None of us are ready for this to end.”

MATTHEW MUENCH can be reached at 940-566-6869. His e-mail address is mmuench@dentonrc.com .