"In time of test, family is best." - old proverb

DRUMMOND - Some small ranching communities in Montana may have to look high and wide to scrape together enough high school-aged boys to field an 8-man football team. But not here. Not under the shade of the Trojans' family tree.

Much of Drummond's success this fall can be traced to the stockpiling of two families: The Mannixes and the Bignells. It sounds funny, but nearly half of the Trojans' roster can be divided into one of these two camps - more than enough for one Class C football team.

The anologies between football teams and families are plenty. Pro organizations are owned by families. College coaches talk about finding that same cohesive feeling during fall camp and on the recruiting trail. Archie, Peyton and Eli know a thing or two (or three) about family. But this...

"This might take it to another level," longtime Drummond coach Jim Oberweiser said. "You always hear about that with football teams ... how close you get. You go through adversity, hardships and victory together. It solidifies friendships and memories. It does make it like a family. But this takes it to the next level. It is a family within a family."

Four Mannixes and four Bignells join the Trojans' tradition of strong family roots in the region. Surnames like Reynolds, Verlanic, Cochrell and others helped pave the way for a Drummond Dynasty that boasts four state championships in the last six years. It's hard to explain the phenomenon, even for the players.

"I don't know. There has just always been this attitude about football here," said Neil Mannix, Drummond's senior quarterback. "They go out and win every day and we love it, but I don't know. I can't explain it very well."

The Trojans (8-0) face Joliet on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a quarterfinal game in Drummond. Should they win, the Trojans earn another home game for the semifinal round. Anything beyond that likely means a road trip.

Oberweiser joked earlier this season that he put the oldest Mannix and Bignell boy in charge of roll call when boarding the bus.

"Neil just counts up all the Mannixes and I count up all the Bignells," said senior Parker Bignell, Drummond's leading receiver. "Everywhere we go it seems like we have at least half the team with us right there."

Of course, there is plenty of experience on the second-ranked Trojans' roster. Most of the 12 seniors suited up - some played - on the last Drummond team that won a state title in 2007.

"I'm nervous and excited. I don't want (Saturday) to be our last game. I want to go to the state championship," Parker Bignell said. "It's going to be a huge game for us. ... We have to come ready to play some football."

Drummond football fans have come to expect that from the Mannixes and Bignells, even though most know the clans come from outside the immediate area.

The Mannixes hail from Helmville, which is a good 25-minute drive to Drummond over a recently paved road between the two townships. Bert and Darlene Mannix, the matriarch and patriarch of the family, live in Helmville near four of their children and their spouses: sons Randy (and Mo), Brent (and Stacy), David (and Peggy) and daughter Rene (and Gerald Lyons). A fifth daughter, Annette, lives in Lincoln with her husband Earl Gardner.

"It's a pretty central place," Neil Mannix said.

In fact, the four Helmville families all live within three miles of each other, but don't mind making the commute to Drummond for school and athletics.

If it sounds confusing, that's because it is. Sometimes the Trojans run a play and only Mannixes touch the ball.

Senior center Jordan Mannix, the youngest son of David and Peggy, hikes the ball to Neil, the oldest son of Randy and Mo, who hands off to Bryan, who is the only son of Brent and Stacy. If the Trojans' punishing junior fullback/middle linebacker scores on the play then Joe, a sophomore kicker and the middle son of Randy and Mo, attempts a PAT with either Neil or sophomore Ben Lyons, their cousin, as holder.

Sounds fun, too. Doesn't it?

"I kind of take it for granted sometimes," Neil said of playing with family. "It's been like that the whole time because we've all been playing together since we were fifth-graders, pretty much. But if you think about it, it's pretty cool."

The long snapping duties, however, belong to the Bignells, who moved from Avon to a bigger ranch in Hall five years ago. Joe, whose playing days at Montana State are well documented, and wife Patty house the other half of Drummond's dynamic family duo.

There's Parker Bignell and his younger brothers Nate, a junior end, and Mac, a freshman quarterback, and finally sister Frankie, who's an eighth-grader. Their cousin, junior Tyrel Bignell, still lives in Avon with his parents Lisa and Sam.

"And as if that's not enough, (the Bignells) brought another young man into the house," Oberweiser said. "He's a gifted athlete, but nonetheless invited him into their household and said 'we'll move over. We'll make room for another one.' That's neat."

Sophomore Darius Pool and his sister, Rhianna, just recently moved in with Joe and Patty Bignell. The Pool kids were living with their grandparents Walt and Barb until they decided to relocate to Arizona this September.

"They just wanted to stay up here and my parents really love them, so they wanted to keep them up here, too," said Nate Bignell. "Darius is a great athlete; really fast. He's good at basketball, too, and my dad is the basketball coach. We're glad he stayed; he fits in."

"He goes by Pool," said Parker with a smile, "but we say he's a Bignell."

Between the two families, Oberweiser could form a team entirely of Mannixes and Bignells - and he did. Earlier this season against Victor, for one series in the third quarter, the Trojans trotted out every Bignell and every Mannix on the field at the same time.

"They all pretty much went to their normal spots," Oberweiser said. "I don't remember if we scored, but it was pretty cool."

That begs the question, can the head coach remember all his players' names?

"I'm going to say yes," said Oberweiser, "but if the kids were over here, they'd be raising their eyebrows at me because I do get them mixed up."

Again it's easy to see why. When Oberweiser first started coaching at Drummond three decades ago there were Mannixes and Bignells on the roster back then. Surely this season has to be special, a one-time influx of family-football?

"Never say never," Oberweiser said. "It's hard to say. I can't imagine in the future where we have these types of large families yet again. ... But then again I coached some of their fathers, so you never know."

"I really am lucky," he added. "I've had a unique perspective watching them. They're all great to coach. Real polite kids. They're a family on and off the field."

Nick Lockridge may be reached at 523-5298 or at nick.lockridge@lee.net.