wolfette
12-07-2006, 05:44 AM
Davis has only missed the playoffs once in close to four decades. For a community of 2,600, that is an incredible achievement. One would think that the Wolves benefit from an influx of players moving in to be a part of this successful program, but that isn't the case.
The strength of the Wolves is their tradition, their work ethic and, maybe most of all, their dedication to the team concept. The Davis lives by the code of the wolf pack, that a Wolf is only as strong as the pack and the pack is only as strong as each Wolf.
This year is a prime example of the tradition of the Davis football program. Now, that the Wolves have brought up the freshman to the high school team they are suiting out in the neighborhood of 70 players. Of that number, 12 are brothers.
Having six pairs of brothers in a school is odd enough, but to have six pair on the football field at one time is almost unheard of. But it is the leadership of the elder brothers and the seniors on the field that mean that the Wolves will take the field next year with players that know what is expected of them when the opening kick off takes place.
It's hard to get these Wolves to talk about themselves but after some prying I finally got them to loosen up and talk about the importance and significance of having their siblings on the field with them.
"I am glad I am getting to share this experience with my brother (junior split end Riley Harpole)," senior tight end Curtis Harpole. "It is fun being able to experience it with someone."
In the case of the Harpoles, they are close in age. But in some instances the big brother is a senior while little brother is a freshman. This is the case with Seth and Aaron Coffey.
"I think it's good to be on the field with my big brother," Seth said. "It's nice when I can be on the field and congratulate him when he comes off the field after a good play."
"I think it's something that I hope my little brother looks up to, like I can be a role model for him," said Aaron, senior tight end/defensive end. "Hopefully, it will set a goal for him to achieve as he gets older."
Davis is big on tradition and having the siblings on the field is one way the Wolves pass on those traditions. From tapping the door as they take the field to gathering in front of their stands and honoring their fans after every game, it's these traditions that add to the success of the Davis program.
"When I came up as a freshman it was the seniors that worked harder and showed you what to do," Aaron said. "Now, that we are seniors we have to take on that role and it prepared us."
In the case of the Rogers brothers, they have been on the field together most of the year. Junior Austin has been the all around guy for the Wolves, playing several positions as injuries have dictated. Younger Jerico came up as a freshman, and has been a stalwart at linebacker for Davis since early in the season.
"It's kind of weird to look up and see Jerico on top of me when we make a tackle," Austin said. "It's a great thing to have him out there with me running around the field. It's the first time we have really got to play together. It neat to be able to high five each other when we do something good, to give each other pep talks."
But the question has to be asked, has big brother had to ever dress down little brother during a game?
"No, but I have had to calm him down a few times, Austin said about Jerico. "He needs to be straightened out every once in a while, he is a little hot headed. I just have to look out for him a little."
In the case of the Lochridge pair, when one leaves the field, the other takes his place. Senior Josh is the starting fullback, while younger brother Caleb is his back-up.
"It's been easier on us because if I see him doing something wrong I know how to approach him, and tell him how to correct it," Josh said. "I can give him pointers if I see something he needs to be doing, it's make it a little easier."
So, how does the younger sibling take the criticism?
"Like any younger brother I might get mad for a second, but I realize he's been there longer than I have -- and he understands the position better," Caleb said. "This is just my second year at fullback, so it helps a lot to have him there to help me."
When talking to Easton and Seth Healey, the conversation automatically goes to the senior Easton's new mullet hairdo.
Since big brother did it does little brother have to follow suit?
"That is not my look!" Seth said.
For the Healeys, playing for the Wolves has been a family affair for generations.
"My dad played on the field with his brother, and now I get to do the same with my brother -- so that is important," Easton said.
"It's cool because Easton knows everything or more than I do," Seth said. "But this is probably the only time I would admit that though."
Finally we get to the quarterback and halfback. Senior LaQuentin Black calls the signals for the Wolves while little brother Quincy lines up as halfback in the Davis wishbone attack.
Twenty years ago it was their dad, Bryant Black, that was running up and down the field on opposing offenses. Now, he gets to watch his two oldest sons as they dissect their opponents.
"We have always played basketball together, but we didn't have youth football when we lived in Ada so we were never on the field together," LaQuentin said. "Being able to come back to Davis and knowing my daddy played here has been special. He has a smile on his face every time he hears our names or if we make a big play."
The Marietta game was special as older LaQuentin was able to connect with brother Quincy on two big scoring passes, a rarity in the Wishbone offense.
"It was pretty cool having LaQuentin throw those passes to me," Quincy said. "I have never gotten to catch any touchdown passes from him, and it is better when it's your brother. It's a family thing."
So, have there ever been times where the brothers have gotten into spates on the field?
"I got onto Quincy in one game because he got burned on defense during a pass play," LaQuentin said. "I forgot he had just got moved from linebacker to secondary but that was the argument we got into."
"It was pretty annoying, I don't like having to hear it from him," Quincy said. "But I can take the criticism at times. But when the heat is on, you don't want to hear from anybody, especially your brother."
The Rogers brothers had one instance that stood out in their mind.
"One time in the Marietta game Austin let this big guy come plowing through and he about ripped my head off," Jerico said. "I am sure he did it on purpose, being a little selfish.
"I had to make fun of him," Austin said.
"But I took him down a couple of times afterwards, at home," Jerico said.
It don't take much time with these young men to see that their bond as family only enhances their bond as team mates, a trait that only makes the Wolves that much more cohesive as a unit.
The strength of the Wolves is their tradition, their work ethic and, maybe most of all, their dedication to the team concept. The Davis lives by the code of the wolf pack, that a Wolf is only as strong as the pack and the pack is only as strong as each Wolf.
This year is a prime example of the tradition of the Davis football program. Now, that the Wolves have brought up the freshman to the high school team they are suiting out in the neighborhood of 70 players. Of that number, 12 are brothers.
Having six pairs of brothers in a school is odd enough, but to have six pair on the football field at one time is almost unheard of. But it is the leadership of the elder brothers and the seniors on the field that mean that the Wolves will take the field next year with players that know what is expected of them when the opening kick off takes place.
It's hard to get these Wolves to talk about themselves but after some prying I finally got them to loosen up and talk about the importance and significance of having their siblings on the field with them.
"I am glad I am getting to share this experience with my brother (junior split end Riley Harpole)," senior tight end Curtis Harpole. "It is fun being able to experience it with someone."
In the case of the Harpoles, they are close in age. But in some instances the big brother is a senior while little brother is a freshman. This is the case with Seth and Aaron Coffey.
"I think it's good to be on the field with my big brother," Seth said. "It's nice when I can be on the field and congratulate him when he comes off the field after a good play."
"I think it's something that I hope my little brother looks up to, like I can be a role model for him," said Aaron, senior tight end/defensive end. "Hopefully, it will set a goal for him to achieve as he gets older."
Davis is big on tradition and having the siblings on the field is one way the Wolves pass on those traditions. From tapping the door as they take the field to gathering in front of their stands and honoring their fans after every game, it's these traditions that add to the success of the Davis program.
"When I came up as a freshman it was the seniors that worked harder and showed you what to do," Aaron said. "Now, that we are seniors we have to take on that role and it prepared us."
In the case of the Rogers brothers, they have been on the field together most of the year. Junior Austin has been the all around guy for the Wolves, playing several positions as injuries have dictated. Younger Jerico came up as a freshman, and has been a stalwart at linebacker for Davis since early in the season.
"It's kind of weird to look up and see Jerico on top of me when we make a tackle," Austin said. "It's a great thing to have him out there with me running around the field. It's the first time we have really got to play together. It neat to be able to high five each other when we do something good, to give each other pep talks."
But the question has to be asked, has big brother had to ever dress down little brother during a game?
"No, but I have had to calm him down a few times, Austin said about Jerico. "He needs to be straightened out every once in a while, he is a little hot headed. I just have to look out for him a little."
In the case of the Lochridge pair, when one leaves the field, the other takes his place. Senior Josh is the starting fullback, while younger brother Caleb is his back-up.
"It's been easier on us because if I see him doing something wrong I know how to approach him, and tell him how to correct it," Josh said. "I can give him pointers if I see something he needs to be doing, it's make it a little easier."
So, how does the younger sibling take the criticism?
"Like any younger brother I might get mad for a second, but I realize he's been there longer than I have -- and he understands the position better," Caleb said. "This is just my second year at fullback, so it helps a lot to have him there to help me."
When talking to Easton and Seth Healey, the conversation automatically goes to the senior Easton's new mullet hairdo.
Since big brother did it does little brother have to follow suit?
"That is not my look!" Seth said.
For the Healeys, playing for the Wolves has been a family affair for generations.
"My dad played on the field with his brother, and now I get to do the same with my brother -- so that is important," Easton said.
"It's cool because Easton knows everything or more than I do," Seth said. "But this is probably the only time I would admit that though."
Finally we get to the quarterback and halfback. Senior LaQuentin Black calls the signals for the Wolves while little brother Quincy lines up as halfback in the Davis wishbone attack.
Twenty years ago it was their dad, Bryant Black, that was running up and down the field on opposing offenses. Now, he gets to watch his two oldest sons as they dissect their opponents.
"We have always played basketball together, but we didn't have youth football when we lived in Ada so we were never on the field together," LaQuentin said. "Being able to come back to Davis and knowing my daddy played here has been special. He has a smile on his face every time he hears our names or if we make a big play."
The Marietta game was special as older LaQuentin was able to connect with brother Quincy on two big scoring passes, a rarity in the Wishbone offense.
"It was pretty cool having LaQuentin throw those passes to me," Quincy said. "I have never gotten to catch any touchdown passes from him, and it is better when it's your brother. It's a family thing."
So, have there ever been times where the brothers have gotten into spates on the field?
"I got onto Quincy in one game because he got burned on defense during a pass play," LaQuentin said. "I forgot he had just got moved from linebacker to secondary but that was the argument we got into."
"It was pretty annoying, I don't like having to hear it from him," Quincy said. "But I can take the criticism at times. But when the heat is on, you don't want to hear from anybody, especially your brother."
The Rogers brothers had one instance that stood out in their mind.
"One time in the Marietta game Austin let this big guy come plowing through and he about ripped my head off," Jerico said. "I am sure he did it on purpose, being a little selfish.
"I had to make fun of him," Austin said.
"But I took him down a couple of times afterwards, at home," Jerico said.
It don't take much time with these young men to see that their bond as family only enhances their bond as team mates, a trait that only makes the Wolves that much more cohesive as a unit.