When you have bookends like the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Peterson and the 6-3, 270-pound Lockhart, it means two things. One, you have a mighty big library, and two, you have a mighty good football team.

Peterson and Lockhart worked hand in hand during Catawba’s wildly successful 2000 season, which saw the Tribe go 11-1 and finish fifth in the final Division II poll. If you double-teamed one, the other one got you. And when Peterson went down with an injury late in the season, that just meant that Lockhart doubled his effort to take up the sack slack.

The bookends did something else together this week. Both were named to the Associated Press Little All-American team. Peterson, a second-teamer last season, was named to the first team. Lockhart made second team.

“There aren’t any young men more deserving than those two,” said a proud Bennett, who has had a first-team selection four straight years. “They are outstanding people and outstanding citizens and have outstanding character.”

They are also outstanding football players, with next-level possibilities. Peterson no longer has the cast on his wounded leg and is rehabilitating his injury. The grunting noises you hear emanating from Catawba’s basement weight room are caused by Lockhart, who is diligently working to get bigger and stronger.

The bookends have a real chance to hear their name called in April when the NFL conducts its draft. Both are slated to play in the upcoming Cactus Bowl, although it isn’t certain Peterson will be far enough along to take part.

Bennett spread around credit for the development of the dynamic duo like Mitch Ellis spreading aerials all over Kirkland Field.

“Give credit to our defensive line coach Jimmy Tomsula for all the work he did with them and to (defensive coordinator) Richard Kent for putting those two in positions in which they could be successful,” he said. “Give credit to Richard for recruiting Radell and credit to Jamie Snider for recruiting DeVonte. And give credit to their high school coaches.”

That would be Clinton’s Bob Lewis, who coached Peterson, and Rusty Jester, the current Piedmont coach, who had Lockhart at Charlotte’s Independence High.

“Most of all,” added Bennett, “give credit to their mothers, because they made ‘em what they are — fine young men.”

That would be Diane Lockhart and Deborah Peterson.

When deserving mainstays like Peterson and Lockhart are honored it’s a happy time, but it’s also a time for sadness — because somehow, some way, they have to be replaced.