By Robert Wilson
Hartfield Academy senior running back Xavier Davis is known for his speed and had two 50-yard plus runs against Jackson Prep Friday night in the MAIS Class 6A semifinals.
But the biggest runs were his three on fourth downs to keep Hartfield’s historic, 80-yard, 19-play scoring drive alive in the fourth quarter to give the Hawks their 17-13 victory over Prep.
In addition to his big runs on the winning drive, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Davis had 24 carries for 214 yards and one touchdown and caught one pass for a 7-yard TD for the game.
For his performance, Davis has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
Davis had eight carries for 28 yards – three of those on fourth downs to keep the drive live – on the winning drive. He also scored the winning TD on a 1-yard run to give Hartfield, playing its first year of Class 6A football, its second win over Prep this season.
Davis has 134 carries for 1,244 yards – 9.3 yards per carry – and 19 TDs, caught 10 passes for 97 yards and two TDs and returned six kickoffs for 263 yards and two TDs this season. That’s 150 touches for 1,604 yards, an average of 10.7 yards. He also has 13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception for a TD and 1 fumble recovery for a TD.
“Xavier played a great game, and I am proud of how hard he ran the ball,” Hartfield coach Craig Bowman said. “He trusted his blocking all night and it paid off. Xavier spent the off season making himself bigger, faster, and stronger. He worked really hard in the weight room with his teammates to prepare for this season. I have been so proud of his character and his work ethic all year long. Xavier’s best trait is that he is a team first guy. He has lot of humility and always attributes his success to the hard work of his offensive line and other teammates. Xavier is a pleasure to coach, and I look forward to what the future holds for him.”
Hartfield, 9-2, meets two-time defending MAIS Class 6A state champion Madison-Ridgeland Academy, 10-3, Saturday at 6:15 p.m. for the 6A state title at Mississippi College in Clinton.
