The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1177236
NOVEMBER 2019 ■ 95 back like he planned at Winston-Salem State. Larrell and Farrell were in just their second year apart from each other, after playing together through junior college at Louisburg. Farrell had surgery on July 12, 2018, and dutifully did every chemo treatment. He was back on the field for Winston-Salem State's 2019 spring practices, and Larrell's inspiration played a key role. "It's been a blessing to me to go through what I went through and playing at the pace that I'm playing at," Farrell said. "I inspire a lot of people on the team." When Farrell played his first game against UNC Pembroke, Larrell was there watching the 6-1, 228-pound Farrell rush 13 times for 109 yards in a 27-21 loss. "To know he was in the stands watching me play, it's like an extra boost," Farrell said. "A year ago, he was watching me be on the bench. It's special to me." Larrell looks back on that scary time period, and they only way he can describe his feelings for his twin. "When he hurts, I hurt," he said. "He feels bad that he couldn't be there for every chemo treatment, but loves that his brother beat his cancer. "Everything about him inspires me. Him beating cancer inspires me to this day." The three-day stretch from Oct. 10-12 of this fall proved to be a special one for the twins. When Lar- rell played against Syracuse Oct. 10, Farrell was able to attend. Larrell then returned the favor two days later and watched Johnson C. Smith at Winston-Salem State. Larrell posted six solo tackles, including a pair of sacks, in the Pack's 16-10 victory, while Farrell rushed for 57 yards in his team's 23-7 win. They normally stay in touch through FaceTime, but were happy for the time together when they don't normally get much of it dur- ing football season. "It's pretty awesome with how it worked out," Farrell said. "When I watch him play, I get butterflies because I want to see him do so well. "When I see him do well, I can't control myself. To see my brother dominate at that level — he worked so hard to get to Division I." When the twins' football schedules overlap, their mom will sometimes relay what is happening from one to the other. Lar- rell had the performance of his life Sept. 28, when he tallied 3.5 sacks and six tackles in the loss at Florida State to earn ACC Defen- sive Lineman of the Week accolades. Farrell played at Virginia Union that day and watched some of the game on the bus ride home, and then got updates from his mom in the second half. "I was so excited watching him and I saw the first two sacks," Farrell said. "Then I fell asleep. My mom called and woke me up and said he had another 1.5 sacks. I couldn't even describe how I felt after that." Murchison compiled 27 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in the first six games this season in the Wolfpack's new 3-3-5 alignment. He ranked fourth on the team in total stops, and led the way in both tackles for loss and sacks. Through games played Oct. 12, he tied for fourth nationally in sacks (1.17 per game) and 21st in tackles for loss (1.4 per contest). Like many seniors, he has NFL aspira- tions. He's happy to play potentially seven more games with his NC State teammates. He tries to be the self-described "aggres- sive and energetic guy" on the field. "We have fun together," Murchison said. "It's about business, but we have fun." Family is everything to the Murchisons. Nothing sums that up better than when the twins and their three siblings make return home for Thanksgiving and other holidays. Elizabethtown has a population of 3,583 and is home to Glenda's Just Dessert & Lunch Counter, run by Murchison's mother. "It's amazing," Murchison said. "I know by Monday, at least three people will bring in a paper to my mom, explaining, 'I saw your boy on TV. Oh, he did a good job.' "The community support is amazing. It's a small town and not a lot of people have made it out of there." If teammates from either NC State or Winston-Salem State have a chance to come with the Murchison twins for Thanksgiving or Christmas, they'll be in for a treat. "There is food on top of food," Farrell said. "There is turkey, mac and cheese, ham. All my siblings and family come to- gether and we host it at one house. Most of the time, it's our house. "We can also host it at the family restau- rant. It's very special and there's nothing like it." Larrell added there is more, usually stuff- ing, cranberry sauce, potato salad and home- made yams — and then there are the desserts. "You have pecan pie, sweet potato pie, key lime cake and Hershey bar cake, which I promise is one of the best desserts you will ever taste in your life," Murchison said. "Momma's cooking, you can't beat it." After epic performances like Virginia last year or Florida State this season, the calls, texts, Facebook mes- sages and whatever other ways there are to communi- cate come pouring in from his friends and family in Elizabethtown. He hopes to one day be in a position to give back to his community. Murchison hopes to in- spire like Desmond Bryant once did for him. Bryant went to East Bladen and then Harvard, playing in the NFL at defensive tackle from 2009-16 for the Oak- land Raiders and Cleveland Browns. "He had camps every year," Murchison said. "It's all God's plan, but if I can get to a place where I can come back and do a camp myself or pay for my high school's cleats, I want to take care of the community and let them know, 'I'm here. I'll be being active in the community.'" ■ Murchison's fraternal twin brother Farrell (left, along with their father) was diag- nosed with cancer in July 2018, but has returned to the football field at Winston-Sa- lem State this year. They both take immense pride in each other's accomplishments. PHOTO COURTESY MURCHISON FAMILY