Clint Thompson
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.
