By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
This was it. This was the one play he was going to get, so Davodreck Davis was determined to get it right as the clock wound down in Friday’s Parkway-Covington Division I (non-select) playoff game.
As Davis took his place in the Panthers’ Victory formation, he stood out among the rest of the players. Not because of his size, but rather his lack of it. Davis is 5-foot-5 and 120 pounds (“probably more like 102 pounds” his coach would say later) and was lined up as the end on the right side. Beside him was Parkway offensive tackle Thomas Staton, who is 6-2 and 265 pounds.
Kinda hard not to notice.
While the excitement of the Panthers’ imminent 51-30 win was swirling all around Preston Crownover Stadium, the final play of the game might come across as insignificant.
Maybe it was, to many. But that’s the beauty of high school football, where hidden gems can happen before your very eyes and often don’t even get recognized. They are never as highlight-worthy as a long touchdown run and a key fourth-down stop.
Parkway had plenty of those against Covington. Quarterback Kaleb Williams completed almost every pass in sight, including two for touchdowns. Four players, including Williams, ran for at least 60 yards. Eight different players scored.
In addition, the Panthers also had Davodreck Davis and, more significantly, what he represented at his position for one simple easy-to-not-notice play.
“He’s really has great hands for a receiver,” Parkway coach Coy Brotherton would say after the game.
But that’s not why Davis was in the game, lined up and what amount to a tight end. He and a couple of other Panthers, who would otherwise never see the field, were rewarded for their effort during the week in preparation for the game.
“They just work hard every practice, so we put them out there for Victory formation as a reward,” Brotherton said.
“They enjoy it and have fun doing it when we practice it on Thursday. To be able to get him into a playoff game is pretty cool.”
When he was called from the bench for his one play after 129 previous plays had been already run, Davis knew where to go and what to do, even if he wasn’t quite sure whether to get into a two-point or three-point stance.
Not that it mattered.
“When they said ’Victory’ I knew to go out there,” Davis said. “Felt pretty good.”
This was his moment. This was a Division I playoff game and Davis got to play in it. Didn’t gain a yard and didn’t make a tackle. But he played.
No explanation or qualifier necessary.
“He will remember that for the rest of his life,” Brotherton said.
The Panthers will remember this night for several reasons, not the least of which is being able to get a playoff win for the first time since 2021. But for a while, even that seemed a little iffy.
Covington opened the game with a nine-play drive that resulted in a field goal, got a fourth down defensive stop and then scored on its next offensive play.
The Lions led 10-zip less than 10 minutes into the game and there was an air of is-this-happening-again starting to settle in on the Parkway side of the field.
But the Panther offense started rolling and tied the score at 16-all before a 15-play, 85-yard drive just before half put Parkway ahead to stay. The Panthers opened the second half with another score and even though Covington
kept hanging around, Parkway made enough plays on both sides of the ball to keep the score at arm’s length the rest of the way, setting the stage for Davis’ big moment under the lights.
“It was really a big challenge to keep their receiver (Jiwaun Brock) contained and keep him from getting outside,” said Parkway defensive coordinator Dillon Jackson. “They showed us some formations we hadn’t seen all year and gave us some issues early.”
“Even down 10-nothing, our kids never panicked or worried,” Brotherton said. “Just to be able to get a home win and be able to come back next week at home is pretty special for this group of seniors.”
The No. 6-seed Panthers (10-1) will be at home Friday night against 11th-seeded Hahnville, a 52-39 winner over Slidell.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com