Kevin Davis
Kevin Davis was in the end zone so often during his high school football career, that it might be considered his home away from home.
The Matawan Regional High School star holds the Huskies’ team record with 65 career touchdowns and is also the school’s all-time rushing leader with 4,568 yards to his credit. Next year, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Davis is hoping to play in college, hopefully for a Division I school.
Davis was spectacular in his senior season, helping the Huskies to an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II play-off berth. Along the way, he ran for 1,818 yards and 20 TDs on 202 carries. Davis also grabbed 12 passes for 157 yards and two more touchdowns, returned an interception for a score, and took a kickoff all the way.
And in his final game Friday as a Husky, Davis rushed for 187 yards on 26 carries to help lead Matawan to a 12-6 come-from-behind win over rival Raritan in their annual Thanksgiving game. It was a fitting finale for special player.
"Having a runner like Kevin gives a team a tremendous advantage," Matawan coach Joe Martucci said. "Our kids know that if Kevin gets the opportunity to touch the ball, he can get into the end zone from anywhere on the field."
Davis became a fixture in the Huskies’ backfield in 1999, when he gained 1,100 yards and scored 21 times.
His outside speed clearly was a force to be reckoned with. The following year he rushed for 1,650 yards and scored 20 TDs. Matawan qualified for the state play-offs each season.
By his senior season, Davis’ approach had changed a bit. He no longer took unnecessary risks, and as a result became even more dangerous with the ball.
"When I was a sophomore, I was always looking to get outside, and that wasn’t always the right play," he said. "Now I’m a more patient runner. I’ve learned to wait for the opening and to take 5 yards when it’s there, rather than go for a big play every time."
Nevertheless, there were many big plays, and opposing defensive units did not relish the thought of Davis getting outside.
"Kevin’s biggest strength is that he can go inside or outside with equal effectiveness," Martucci said. "When he gets outside on a sweep, it takes three or four guys to bring him down. It’s extremely difficult to tackle Kevin one-on-one, unless you get him at the ankles. If you hit him from the knees up, Kevin doesn’t go down easily."
Davis says he enjoyed the pressure of being his team’s "go-to guy," but Martucci pointed out that Davis also did many other things for the team. As a captain, he was a leader on and off the field; Davis also did well blocking for backfield mate, Tom Corley, and took an occasional turn at cornerback.
"Kevin’s a real pleasant, easy-going kid, and people around town think very well of him" Martucci said. "As a coach, I like to see that. But he’s all business on the football field."
That should come as no surprise. Davis has been planning to play for the Huskies since he first stepped on the gridiron at the age of 6. His dad, also Kevin Davis, played for the then Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge, and two uncles played for the Huskies. His mother, Lisa, whom Davis termed his "best and loudest" fan, is also a Matawan grad.
Martucci said that Davis’ play attracted the attention of several collegiate recruiters, and that "Kevin has several good options."
"I can’t believe four years in high school went by so fast," Davis said. "It seems like just yesterday that I was a sophomore playing varsity for the first time. It’s time to move on though and, hopefully, I’ll be playing in college next season."
And if you ask his coaches, teammates and fans from Matawan, any team would be lucky to have him.