Nate Davis will try to duplicate a feat twice accomplished by his older brother, Jose, in 2002 and 2005 Saturday night in San Angelo, Tx.
That would be winning an indoor football championship as the younger Davis will lead Amarillo against Rio Grande Valley in the inaugural Lone Star Football League's "Texas Shoot-Out" Championship Game inside Foster Communications Coliseum.
Jose, who re-wrote the passing record books at Kent State University and is entering his fourth season as head coach of his alma mater (Bellaire), led the Ohio Valley Greyhounds to the 2002 NIFL title, and was named MVP of Indoor Bowl II. He was also a member of the Arena Football League champion Colorado Crush three years later.
Article Photos
The Venom (9-4) and Magic (7-6) have played twice during the regular season, with the Magic prevailing by scores of 60-42 early in the season prior to Davis's arrival. Then, RGV outscored Amarillo 74-73 despite Davis throwing nine TD passes.
"It will be an entirely different game," Davis said of Saturday's showdown between two of the top offenses in the LSFL. "When we played them the second time, the two defensive backs they had then are now on our team. So, I've been watching a lot of film to see what their new guys tendencies are ... how they react to different situations and what my reads should be."
The game will pit the two of the highest scoring offenses in the league as Amarillo is No. 1 at 58.9 points per contest. Rio Grande Valley is third at 54.4. (Ironically, No. 2 was the Houston Stallions at 56.9 after seven games before they folded).
Conversely, the Venom (5th-51.2) and Magic (6th-54.4) also rank near the bottom in scoring defenses, something that both quarterbacks - Davis and RGV's Billy Garza - should be drooling over.
While Davis, the former Bellaire High and Ball State University signal-caller, has completed 193 of 343 passes for 2,666 yards, 58 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in just nine outings, Garza, a former University of Illinois quarterback who eventually transferred to Texas A&M-Kingville is 265 of 515 for 3,498 yards, 68 TDs and 27 INTs in 13 games.
Davis has several go-to wide receivers in DuVaughn Flagler (100-plus catches, more than 1,300 yards and 30-some TDs); Doug Williams (65-800-16) and Anthony Clark (60-810-19).
Amarillo advanced to the championship encounter with a 56-42 triumph over West Texas in one semifinal, while Rio Grande Valley was rallying past Laredo, 50-47, on a Garza touchdown pass to Ryan Lincoln with a mere nine seconds remaining in the game.
Pre-game festivities include a massive tailgating party and several concerts by Texas-grown entertainers.
Check Monday's edition of The Times Leader for results of the game.
North can be reached at knorth@timesleader-online.com
