SLIPPERY ROCK — Cameron and Shane Cress wanted to remain a package deal.

Clarion University football coach Jay Foster had no problem with it.

“Frankly, I think they were overlooked in high school,” Foster said of the Mars graduates. “I was shocked they were even available to us.”

Now sophomores, the Cress twins are making their presence known as members of the Golden Eagles’ offensive line.

“We’ve been playing football together since we were 9,” Cameron Cress said. “We decided we wanted to continue doing that as long as we could.

“Things have worked out well for us at Clarion.”

They are roommates at Clarion. Cameron is a finance major while Shane is majoring in business management.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Cameron has been Clarion’s starting center this season. He was part of a shuffling of personnel up front, necessitated by injuries during camp.

Terrance Perfilio, one of two seniors on Clarion’s line, was slated to start at center this year. A preseason injury to right tackle Ryan Barrick forced Perfilio to switch to that position.

Barrick has since gotten healthy. But Cress hasn’t moved out of the center position.

“Cameron’s earned that spot,” Foster said. “Now we have a little more depth on our line.

“Shane got hurt during camp or he’d probably be starting at right guard for us right now. He was slated to be our starter there this season.”

Shane Cress has gotten healthy as well and has seen playing time at guard. He is 6-3, 280 pounds.

“He’s a little bigger than me,” Cameron said.

But the lighter Cress is catching up. He’s gained nearly 50 pounds since going to college.

“I think Shane was beating him to the dinner table at home and wasn’t leaving him much,” Foster joked.

“I’ve been in the weight room a lot, working out, and I’ve been eating better,” Cameron said.

Shane Cress was a Butler Eagle Sweet 16 selection during his senior year at Mars. The Cress brothers started on an offensive line that year that helped produce an 1,800-yard rusher in Austin Miele and an 1,100-yard passer in Eric Guzak.

Blocking for Miele in 2010, the Cress twins had to block Miele in Saturday’s 34-13 loss at Slippery Rock. Miele is a starting safety for The Rock and the team’s leading tackler.

Cameron Cress played right guard at Mars and had never played center before coming to Clarion.

“The biggest adjustment is having to snap the ball,” Cress said. “It seems like such a basic thing, but I have to concentrate on that part of the game before I can think of squaring up a block.

“I know I need to continue improving on my fundamentals. I’m not where I want to be just yet.”

Where he wants to be is on the all-conference team and perhaps become a Division II All-American in coming years.

“You’re going to be hearing a lot about the Cress boys at Clarion University,” Foster promised. “We’re lucky to have them both.”