Neighbors are side by side at L-S

The two have been next-door neighbors in Sudbury their entire lives. They teach religious education classes at their Catholic church together, and share coaching duties on a youth basketball team.

“We’ve been hanging out since kindergarten,’’ said the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Krumsiek.

The pair have “a special bond,’’ said the 5-8, 190-pound Mullin. When he has some free time, he said, “I call Timmy up and go from there. If I’m ever bored, I call him.’’

Growing up, they played ball in each other’s backyards.

“We built makeshift forts in the woods behind our houses,’’ said Mullin. It doesn’t even matter that occasionally Tim, 7 inches taller, jokes about his best friend’s size. Mullin says he gives as good as he gets. Best friends can get away with that.

During games, there is almost a telepathic connection between the two. When one senses a double-team developing, “we communicate nonverbally with a tap of the helmet, or something,’’ said Krumsiek.

“I know he’s looking at the same things I am,’’ said Mullin. “It’s communicating without actually communicating.’’

Mary Krumsiek was pregnant with Tim when the family moved to Sudbury. Mary Mullin put 2-month-old Patrick in a cart and went next door to welcome the new neighbors. The boys soon became inseparable.

“Literally since they were born,’’ said Krumsiek’s dad, Jim. “Watching them grow up together has been great to see. Everyone knew each other in the neighborhood, but Tim and Patrick were remarkably close.’’

Mary Mullin, whose husband died in 2007, watched the boys’ friendship expand and realized it was special. Mullin has four children, the Krumsieks have five.

The Krumsieks helped Mary Mullin during some tough times.

“Mary was an angel,’’ she said of Tim’s mom. “Whatever we needed, she was there. She’s a very good cook.’’ The Krumsieks, Mary Mullin said, “were lifesavers.’’

Lincoln-Sudbury football coach Tom Lopez said the two boys “grew up together and have done everything together. They went on a retreat to St. Louis last year. They’re both great kids, almost too nice to be football players. They knock somebody down and help them up.’’

Krumsiek was named the Lineman of the Year in the Dual County League’s Large Division. Mullin is a team captain. They have at least two games left, this morning’s match and the team’s opening Division 1A playoff game Tuesday against Barnstable High.

Patrick Mullin said the term “best friends’’ never had to be mentioned because he has always had an unspoken link with Krumsiek. It was felt; it didn’t need to be announced. They took the same bus to school. Took the same classes. Double-dated to the junior prom.

“We had so much in common,’’ said Mullin. “Sports, obviously.’’

They were in the same First Communion and Confirmation classes.

After playing for Lincoln-Sudbury on a Friday night, Mullin and Krumsiek soak up more football on Saturday.

“We watch the film of our game and then the college games,’’ said Krumsiek.

Their Catholic faith is important to both boys. They began in CCD classes when they were in kindergarten. Now they head up a class for freshmen.

“We talk to the kids about always being yourself, be a good person, help others,’’ said Krumsiek.

Both are good students and plan to attend a Catholic college next year. Jim and Mary Krumsiek went to law school at Notre Dame after graduating from Holy Cross and Boston College, respectively.

Mullin won’t play football in college. Krumsiek may give it a shot, as a walk-on. Their college years may separate them but won’t result in a disconnect.

“They’re almost like brothers,’’ said Jim Krumsiek.

“We trust each other,’’ said Mullin. “I definitely get that we’re like brothers.’’

Lenny Megliola can be reached at lennymegs@aol.com.