Local Sports
Davis emerging in Central's veer offense
THOMASVILLE — Entering this season, there was an unknown surrounding Thomas County Central's bread-and-butter offense. The Yellow Jackets have since turned to “Hot Dog,” and he’s delivered.
Filling a void at running back, sophomore James Davis, nicknamed “Hot Dog,” has emerged as a valuable commodity in the Yellow Jackets’ split-back veer, tallying 327 yards and four touchdowns.
“We’re pleased with what he’s done. He’s helped solidify in there and give us a complement to Curtis (Brooks),” Central coach Bill Shaver said.
Entering this season, Brooks was Central’s lone returning starter in the backfield. Brooks’ experience and leadership has been key in Davis’ development.
“With Curtis in the backfield, he’s been keeping me in shape,” Davis said.
Shaver added, “(Davis) has helped solidify what we’ve got going on there because he’s a versatile back. Of course, when you’re talking about a sophomore, you’re going to get some good and some bad,” Shaver said. “We got the same thing out of Curtis last year. (Davis) should just continue to improve.”
Davis is a perfect complement to Brooks because he plays and is built just like him.
“Size wise, they’re very similar,” Shaver added. “That was the thing that was most attractive when we decided to put James in there in the Cairo game. They do complement each other very well. They are both equally as good on the dive and the pitch. They're both good pass receivers. We don't have to worry about just trying to do the passing to one guy or doing the pitch to one guy and the dive to one guy. That way we can be balanced. James had a couple of those games this year. When they didn’t look at him quite as much, he was our leading rusher a couple of those games.”
Against the Syrupmakers in the second week of the seasaon, James rushed for 45 yards, including a 22-yard jaunt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the start of an up-and-down season for the sophomore. He was the team’s leading rusher against Hardaway with 76 yards. However, in the season finale against Bainbridge last week, with Brooks sidelined due to a thigh bruise, Davis was held to just 34 yards.
“James, I guess, has had a typical sophomore year. He's had some good games and he’s had some not-so-good games,” Shaver added. “We were hoping he would have stepped up Friday night with Curtis out of there. It was a little bit of the opposite. I didn’t think he stepped up the way we wanted him to. It was almost like his security blanket, Curtis, wasn't back there with him. Instead of him stepping up being the featured guy, it looked like he almost backed down a little bit.”
The next chance for Davis to step up is Friday night when Central opens the Class AAAA playoffs against Alcovy.
“Hopefully, he’ll have Curtis back there with him and he’ll feel better about what’s going on,” Shaver noted.
Brooks should be ready to play Friday night.
- Local Sports
-
-
Singletary: No hard feelings
Six years after being removed as Colquitt County head football coach, Mike Singletary, now an assistant with Thomas County Central, will face off against the Packers tonight at Thomas County Stadium.
-
Bulldogs wary of Hornets
The Bulldogs are 15-0 against the Hornets in a series dating back to 1922.
-
Warriors hope to ground Eagles
Coming off a 2-9 season, Brookwood showed in its season opener last week it has improved.
-
Cairo defense ready for Bainbridge veer
This will be the eighth time Cairo coach Tom Fallaw has coached against Ed Pilcher.
- Clint Thompson's picks
-
THS concerned with excess fumbles
The rushing yards are adding up for the Thomasville Bulldogs — so are the fumbles.
-
Rivalry set to be renewed
A rivalry dating back to 1978 will be renewed Friday night.
Playing in its first home game of the season, Thomas County Central will host Colquitt County at Thomas County Stadium. -
Special teams miscues for the Bulldogs
Special teams miscues were prevalent Friday night for Thomasville in its loss to Thomas County Central — especially in the punting game.
-
Jackets' 'D' to face major test
The task doesn’t get easier for Thomas County Central’s defense.
A night after his team defeated Thomasville 20-17, Central head coach Bill Shaver was in Moultrie on Saturday to watch South Panola, Miss. play Colquitt County, Central’s next opponent. What Shaver witnessed was a Packers offense that was very impressive in a 65-35 defeat against one of the top teams in the country. -
Link to TCC-THS video
For video highlights of Friday night's game between Thomas County Central and Thomasville go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HCXMJ-PTGA
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
