<body><div><p>Darius Townsel, a junior at Curie High School, grew up playing football in the backyard with his twin brother, Demetrius Jr. Those carefree days, filled with laughter and competition, remain some of Darius’s fondest memories.</p><p>“I remember this one time, he made me cry,” Darius said with a grin after the Condors’ 52-8 win against Senn.</p><p>“They used to make fun of me like that. And I was like, now I gotta do something about that.”</p><p>Football is more than just a game for Darius; it’s a tribute to his brother. On May 17, 2020, while visiting family in Gary, Indiana, the brothers were passengers in a car when someone fired shots into it.</p><p>Demetrius was shot and killed.</p><p>The loss left Darius brokenhearted, and gave his athletic career a new purpose.</p><p>“I’m playing this whole thing for him,” Darius said.</p><p>Darius didn’t play football during his freshman year, and for a time, he was unsure about which sport to commit to. This year, he missed much of Curie’s preseason practices while working a summer job, but once school started, he dedicated himself fully to the team.</p><p>“I take football as my first sport, even though I (also) play basketball,” Darius said. “I feel like I’m more athletic in football and people tell me to take it as my first choice because I’m not 6 foot, I can’t make it in the NBA.</p><p>“But I take this as my first choice because I also do this for my twin brother, who I lost due to gun violence in 2020. So I also do this for him and the team. I ain’t selfish, I’m a team player.”</p><p>Curie’s first-year coach, Jarve Lewis-Bey, said he’s witnessed Darius’s commitment and growth firsthand.</p><p>“Darius was a kid who worked this summer,” Lewis-Bey said. “He would come to practice periodically, but when he saw he had a chance to make a difference, he committed himself after he stopped working. And it’s showing.”</p><p>On Thursday night at Rockne Stadium, Darius shined in every phase of the game, making plays all over the field.</p><p>At running back, he ran seven times for 91 yards and three touchdowns.</p><p>On defense, he made multiple tackles for loss.</p><p>And on special teams, Darius recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a fourth touchdown on the night.</p><p>.</p><p>Lewis-Bey, who didn’t know about the murder of Darius’s twin brother until this season, now sees a young man who’s turning tragedy into triumph.</p><p>“Adversity, either it’s gonna break you or it’s gonna make you,” Lewis-Bey said. “Pressure busts pipes or it makes diamonds.”</p><p>For Darius, it’s making diamonds.</p><p>Beyond the field, he’s using the story of his brother’s death to help others, backed by former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte’s charity, What’s Your Forte Foundation and Community Justice Action Fund. Together, the organizations named Darius with a Community Justice Influencer Fellowship.</p><p>Darius said he accepted the honor “because of my twin brother.”</p><p>“I wanted to let people hear my story and know that they’re not alone in this,” he said. “I want to help people who need the help.”</p><p>And on the field, Darius plays with the same determination he once felt in those backyard battles with his brother, turning his pain into purpose.</p><p>Thursday night, he ran, tackled and scored touchdowns for the Condors and Demetrius.</p><h2>Local News</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=22MBcE_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=22MBcE_0vmGbLAs00" width="1024" height="768" ></figure><h2>Twin Bond Never Dies: Darius Townsel Plays Every Down for His Slain Brother </h2><p>Spread the loveDarius Townsel, a junior at Curie High School, grew up playing football in the backyard with his twin brother, Demetrius Jr. Those carefree days, filled with laughter and competition, remain some of Darius’s fondest memories. “I remember this one time, he made me cry,” Darius said with a grin after the Condors’ 52-8…</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1ULtuO_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ULtuO_0vmGbLAs00" width="1587" height="1130" ></figure><h2>Joliet Catholic forces tie on final play of regulation, beats Marist in 2 OT </h2><p>By Tim Cronin | September 24, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveThere were a lot of bowed heads in Marist’s post-game huddle after its Week 4 loss to Joliet Catholic. A few of them were shaking, trying to comprehend a stunning reversal of fortune. A few of them, unbowed, were looking skyward — perhaps for the answer to how the RedHawks could surrender a…</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2THUg5_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2THUg5_0vmGbLAs00" width="1024" height="572" ></figure><p>Sandburg scores early, ‘D’ hangs tough to top Lincoln-Way West for third straight victory </p><p>By Jason Maholy | September 24, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveSandburg junior running back Luke Basiorka took the handoff off the right side and saw a lot of green in front of him. He burst through the hole and past a confused defensive back, and 89 yards later he was in the end zone celebrating with his teammates as the Eagles stretched their…</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0oHVwE_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0oHVwE_0vmGbLAs00" width="2039" height="1497" ></figure><h2>Nazareth bounces back from first loss of season with shutout of IC Catholic </h2><p>By Xavier Sanchez | September 24, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveNazareth has gotten off to slow starts each of the past two seasons, but in both years went on to win IHSA Class 5A state championships. Roadrunners coach Tim Racki challenged his Roadrunners to start the year strong by winning games earlier in the year. “Making history for being one of the worst…</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=24CcQS_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=24CcQS_0vmGbLAs00" width="941" height="1412" ></figure><h2>College Football | Saint Xavier triumphs after traumatic week </h2><p>By Jeff Vorva | September 23, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveThe Saint Xavier football team capped off a horrific week with a huge victory. Mason Santiago, a Cougars sophomore linebacker, was one of two men who died Sept. 15 in an early-morning crash on Interstate 80 in Tinley Park. Dealing with the grief of the loss of Santiago, a New Lenox resident and…</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3LQOkC_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3LQOkC_0vmGbLAs00" width="1024" height="678" ></figure><h2>St. Laurence makes history with title at Spartan Classic </h2><p>By Jeff Vorva | September 23, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveMaeve McNamara was so excited. She couldn’t wait to shout it out to the world. “We made history!” she yelled. The St. Laurence senior opposite hitters and her teammates were pumped up after winning the Spartan Classic on Sept. 21 by beating Lincoln-Way West 25-23, 25-14 in Oak Lawn. The Vikings have won…</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Z7LUV_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Z7LUV_0vmGbLAs00" width="1024" height="562" ></figure><p>A whole new ballgame | Area well-represented in inaugural girls flag football season </p><p>By Jeff Vorva | September 22, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveThe inaugural Illinois High School Association girls flag football season is in full swing and is providing a new avenue for female athletes across the state. With flag football becoming an Olympic sport in 2028, there is speculation its popularity will soar over the next several years. Girls flag football has drawn enough…</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2EMtZY_0vmGbLAs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2EMtZY_0vmGbLAs00" width="1024" height="819" ></figure><h2>Richards runs for 478 yards in win over rival Oak Lawn </h2><p>By Mike Walsh | September 22, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveBoth the present and the future of Richards’ offensive backfield were on full display in Week 4 as neighborhood rival Oak Lawn came across town. The Bulldogs ran for 478 yards and five touchdowns in a 68-12 victory over the Spartans in a South Suburban Red matchup Sept. 20 at Gary Korhonen Field. …</p><h2>Collin Bagley’s boot lifts St. Laurence over Carmel </h2><p>By Mike Walsh | September 22, 2024 </p><p>Spread the loveSt. Laurence senior kicker Collin Bagley doesn’t lack confidence, according to Vikings coach Adam Nissen. 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Twin Bond Never Dies: Darius Townsel Plays Every Down for His Slain Brother

Darius Townsel, a junior at Curie High School, grew up playing football in the backyard with his twin brother, Demetrius Jr. Those carefree days, filled with laughter and competition, remain some of Darius’s fondest memories. “I remember this one time, he made me cry,” Darius said with a grin...

Twin Bond Never Dies: Darius Townsel Plays Every Down for His Slain Brother

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