Davenport’s top-ranked Bulldogs took a week off during fall break, but they’re back in action this week as they start a three-game run toward the playoffs.
The Dawgs host Keota Friday in their final regularseason home game, then travel to Webbers Falls and Wetumka the following two weeks.
Davenport, Webbers Falls and Wetumka are all unbeaten and all play each other the next three weeks in games that will determine the final district pecking order.
“Webbers Falls has Wetumka this week, then we have Webbers Falls next week and then Wetumka the final week,” said Davenport coach Grant Powell. “These next three weeks are going to tell how our district is going to fall in line.”
Davenport is 7-0 overall with five shutouts and has allowed just two touchdowns all year. Wetumka has one non-district loss and Webbers Falls has two.
Over fall break, the Dawgs took a few days off and got an update on quarterback Chase Mitchell, who suffered a broken bone in his leg the previous week against Gans.
He is in a boot, but might be able to get back on the field sometime during the playoffs, Powell said.
For now, 5-11, 175-pound senior Aydan Stancell is the quarterback.
“He came in last year when Chase Mitchell went down with a hand injury,” Powell said. “He played three games for us and did a great job. He is a guy who is a running threat as well as a passing threat.
“He’s a senior who comes in with a good idea of our offense and is very calm.”
Davenport has been keeping the routine in practice since the win over Gans, and much of that has been a focus on accountability for everyone on the team.
“They’re playing for the next guy,” Powell said. “Top to bottom, they want those guys to do their job. The older guys, the starters they want the shutout, so when those younger guys come in the game, that’s the expectation the shutout.
“We want to outscore the opponent even when the 2s go in. If we’re up 50-0 and our second string goes in, we’re trying to win with our second string as well.
“Any time we can score and complete a shutout, we feel like we won with our 1s and our 2s. That’s been the expectation. From top to bottom, they’ve ran with it and hold each other accountable.