Phyllip Thomas has been skeptical about the supernatural bond reported by many twins, but he's had a hard time denying there's something there between him and his twin brother, River.

"There was one point in the Wolcott game (last Saturday) where we were both playing safety," said Phyllip Thomas, a Ledyard senior. "They ran a play-action pass to his side, so everybody was rolling to the left. His guy ran vertical. My guy ran across the field. His guy was closer to me, and my guy was closer to him, so he took my guy and I took his guy.

"We knew what the other was thinking. ... It put us in the best position to defend it. Even though it wasn't in the game plan, coach didn't say anything. We didn't have to say anything to each other. We just knew."

The Thomases and Justin and Tyler Cheverier of Valley Regional/Old Lyme have both been twinning and helped their teams keep winning.

Justin and Tyler Cheverier and the Warriors play for the program's first CIAC state title against Ansonia in the Class S-Large final at Willow Brook Park at 10 a.m.

The Thomases and their Colonels teammates take on St. Joseph in the Class M-Small final at the same site (2 p.m.).

The Cheveriers are identical twins. Justin was born eight minutes ahead of Tyler.

"I hang that over his head a little bit," Justin said.

Justin is a running back and outside linebacker. Tyler plays left guard and inside linebacker.

The Thomases, who are receivers and defensive backs, are fraternal twins. River is 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds. Phyllip is 6-3, 190.

"A lot of people. ... they're like, 'Oh, I thought you guys were either cousins or close friends,'" Phyllip said. "I'm like, 'No, man, we're twins.' And they're like, 'Wow, I would have never saw it.'

"(Teammates Leo Clinton Jr.) and Rashan Young, as you can tell, they kind of look more like brothers than Riv and I."

The Thomases' differences extend to their personalities, too.

"We're exact opposites," River said. "I'm more of a contact person. I like to lift weights. He's all about finesse. He's more of a goofy kid, and I'm more the serious-type guy. I don't have the best sense of humor, and he makes a joke out of everything."

Phyllip said, "We kind of handle life just like we go through football. He's hard-nosed, to the point, stubborn. Doesn't listen to anybody. I'm more talkative, laughing, joking. I'm more open-minded than he is. ... I guess I'm a little bit goofy. I like making people laugh,"

Phyllip has 30 catches for a team-high 748 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions for the top-seeded Colonels (12-0). River has 30 catches for 623 yards and nine touchdowns, rushed for five touchdowns, and has a team-high four interceptions.

"River is that dynamic-type kid where any time the ball is in his hands, no matter where you give it to him, he's a threat to score," Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore said. "He's a little quicker, a little faster than his brother. They give you a little different attack point when they're on offense, and they complement each other well."

The Cheveriers, like the Thomases, have distinct personalties despite being identical twins.

"Justin takes a lot more serious spin on things," Tyler said. "I'm more laid back."

One big similarity between the two is their competitiveness.

"I want to beat him at everything and he wants to beat me at everything," Tyler said. "Whether it's grades, football, sports, anything. Who can finish their salad first."

Justin has 183 tackles this season and has a state record 662 career tackles. He's also rushed for 731 yards and seven touchdowns and scored on three catches.

Tyler has 102 tackles this year and leads the team in sacks (12).

"Justin has started since his freshman year, Week 1," Valley/Old Lyme coach Tim King said. "TC played quite a bit as a freshman and lettered, played pretty much both ways."

And that twin thing — the Cheveriers have it.

"It's actually scary sometimes," Justin said. "There was one time when we were younger, probably around five or six. ... He ended up breaking his thumb. I was complaining about my left thumb the whole day."

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED