Mid-Del Player of the Week: James Davis, Carl Albert
James Davis of Carl Albert celebrates after sacking Lawton MacArthur QB Dylan Warner
It’d be easy to pick Tre Porter or J.T. Realmuto and be done with it but James Davis was all over the place Friday in Carl Albert’s 51-19 blowout of Lawton MacArthur. Davis stands not too far above five feet tall but certainly makes any team taking him lightly pay.
On Lawton MacArthur’s first play on offense, after Carl Albert already led 17-0, Davis sacked Highlanders quarterback Dylan Warner. Davis didn’t let up there, either, consistantly making plays on defense and making sure there would be no Lawton MacArthur comeback.
“The kid is phenomenal,” Carl Albert quarterback J.T. Realmuto said. “He might be the smallest guy on the field but he doesn’t play like it.”
I was talking with a writer before the game as the team’s captains went out for the coin toss. I pointed out Davis to him and said, “That guy starts … on the defensive line.” The writer said, “I bet those MacArthur players are laughing.”
“They won’t be laughing very long,” I said, relaying a story James had told me early in the season about defenders shutting up really quick once the game started.
And they certainly weren’t. Davis made that sack on the first play and never looked back.
Other contenders:
Cole Eddy, Midwest City: Eddy had a 36-yard touchdown reception from Greg Austin in Midwest City’s 21-16 win over Putnam North on Friday night.
Tre Porter, Carl Albert: If Davis’ start was perfect, so was Porter’s. Porter took the handoff from J.T. Realmuto on the Titans’ first offensive play and took it 39 yards for a touchdown. By the time the game was over, Porter had three touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving. He had 15 carries for 164 yards and one catch for a 26-yard touchdown.
J.T. Realmuto, Carl Albert: After the game, Realmuto undersold his role in Carl Albert’s offense. “All I had to do early was turn around and hand the ball to Tre,” he said. And while the Titans probably would’ve still won if that’s all Realmuto did, he did so much more. He finished with 19 carries for 167 yards and three rushing touchdowns, including one of 50 yards. He also threw the pass to Porter for the score.
Sterling Wright, Carl Albert: Yeah, I know, there are a lot of Carl Albert names here but it’s hard to leave any of them out after the beating they dished out Friday night. Wright, like Porter and Davis, started things off on the right foot. His might’ve been even better than Porter’s and Davis’ starts, though. Wright took the opening kick, which Porter let bounce by him, picked it up at the 5 and took it 95 yards for the touchdown. Wright’s return set in motion a series of events that saw the Titans leading 17-0 before Lawton MacArthur ever controlled the ball.
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I love that you gave this to James. Not because he is the litle guy, but because he is a really good football player and he will put a hit on you like he is 200 lbs.