Craig Murtha, Paul Cavin and Nick Drahozal sat in the stands in the UNI-Dome the last time the Xavier Saints played for the Class 4A football title, proudly watching their older brothers.

Daniel Vega was a little luckier than the others. He was on the sidelines that night as one of Xavier's waterboys while his brother wore the school colors.

The year was 2006 and they were in grade school when the Saints and their older brothers beat Southeast Polk, 21-6, for the state crown.

This Friday night the four "kid" brothers will get to play for a state championship of their own. This time, their older brothers will be watching them.

Murtha, now a star linebacker for the Saints, cheered for his brother Andy that November night in 2006. "I remember sitting right over there when they won it," Murtha said last Friday night, pointing toward the stands after Xavier beat Cedar Falls in the semifinals.

Vega had a slightly better view, roaming the sidelines with water bottles to help keep the big guys refreshed during the game. He has a vivid memory of that night and was able to share a special moment with his brother Domingo.

"The biggest thing was, after the game my brother and I shared a nice big hug," he said Monday in the Xavier gym before practice. "And I remember the locker room after the game. Everybody was really excited."

The 2006 Saints defeated Prairie, Cedar Falls and Bettendorf in the playoffs before topping Southeast Polk from the CIML in the finals. The 2012 Saints have also defeated Prairie and Cedar Falls on their path to the finals and now will face top-ranked Ankeny from the CIML.

Cavin remembers watching the Saints clip Bettendorf, 21-14, in the semifinals to reach the championship game.

"It was pretty crazy," he said. "It was a lot of fun to see that and watch that. It inspired me a lot."

Cavin said his older brother, Phil, has been a big influence in his life.

"I looked up to him all of my football career. He helped me out a lot," Cavin said. "I owe him a lot."

Drahozal remembers the sheer excitment of watching the 2006 championship game in the UNI-Dome. He was a fifth grader at the time and looked up to his brother David.

"I remember dressing up like him," Drahozal said. "I had face paint on and everything. I was wearing his jersey."

Andy Murtha is in medical school now at St. Louis University. Phil Cavin is working on his master's degree at the University of Northern Iowa after getting his undergrad degree at UNI. David Drahozal got an engineering degree at IPFW (Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne) and works for John Deere in Ottumwa.

Domingo Vega graduated from the University of Iowa and works for Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids. In an interesting twist, Domingo Vega now helps on the Xavier sideline during games with equipment, six years after his younger brother helped on the sideline as a waterboy.

Domingo Vega will be on the sideline in the UNI-Dome Friday night, doing his part to help the Saints win a ballgame. "He'll be there with me this time, instead of the other way around," Daniel Vega said with a big smile.

All four older brothers plan to attend Friday's game to cheer for their alma mater, root for their younger brothers and reminisce about old times. There's a good chance somebody will say something about what happened in the UNI-Dome six years ago.

"When they see each other at these games, they always talk to each other and stuff," Cavin related. "It's good to see that."