A Caroline Crossroads exclusive by Taft Coghill Jr.

Andrew Hughes is a bit torn this week.

One son, D.J. Hughes, is a senior running back and safety for Caroline High School’s football team.

Another son, Henry Hughes, is a junior fullback and nose guard for King George.

The Cavaliers and Foxes will hook up Friday night in the regular season finale at King George High.

“They’ve been talking trash to each other this whole season,” Andrew Hughes said. “This past weekend we went to visit a couple of colleges and it was trash talk the whole way up and the whole way back.”

D.J. lives with his mother in Caroline County. Henry lives with his father in King George County.

Andrew Hughes said he can’t pick a side to root for in D.J.’s final high school game.

He said he’ll sit in the middle of the field, and he’ll carry a split sign.

One side of the sign will support D.J. The other side will support Henry.

D.J. and Henry each see significant playing time on both sides of the ball.

“It’s hard, man, because with D.J. being a senior and Henry being here in King George with me, I feel like I’ve got to sit in the middle of the field,” Andrew Hughes said. “I’ll flip the sign, depending on who’s on offense.”

Hughes said his sons have a close relationship. They lived together in King George before D.J. decided to move to Caroline with his mother.

They were always on the same team when they played in recreational leagues.

Tonight is the first time they’ll face off.

“D.J. likes to let [Henry] know ‘I’m still the older brother,’” Andrew Hughes said. “And Henry’s like, ‘When I catch you, I’m going to put you out.’”