By LARRY HYPES

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

TAZEWELL, Va.—It’s a family tradition.

Fans were excited and the stands were filled with green and white Tazewell colors. It was September and the Bulldogs, led by their quarterback named Davis were 2-0, having just beaten a Bluefield-area team.

That was 28 years ago, following a Tazewell triumph over the Bluefield Beavers. Jesse Davis tossed a 46-yard scoring pass for the Bulldogs.

Last Friday night, Malik Davis helped lead Tazewell to a second victory in two games, as the Bulldogs stopped Graham 45-21. He scored three touchdowns, drilled a 37-yard scoring aerial, and ran for three two-point conversions.

Davis racked up 102 yards rushing and had 125 more passing, while directing a Dog attack that rolled to 480 yards overall, including 378 on the ground.

For his efforts, Davis earned the Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week award.

Nearly three decades after his father helped the Bulldogs get away to a quick start, the son knows what it means to carry the banner forward.

“Yes, being his (Jesse) son is a big deal in this town and I have some big shoes to fill,” says Malik, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior who has the same desire to win. “I hear about it now and I have heard it since day one, how good my dad was and how that team went on to win the state championship in 1986. It means a lot and I want to help my team do what the ‘86 team did.” In some ways, the current effort is even more impressive. For example, in the mid-80s, Tazewell came into the season with a proven record of success, having won seven games the previous year and 29 in three seasons combined before that.

In 2014, the two games Tazewell has won thus far equals the entire number of Bulldog wins in each of the past two seasons.

Both teams, however, can point to impressive starts and Davis the younger has certainly been busy. With 244 yards passing and three touchdown throws, combined with 294 rushing yards good for four scores, Malik has been the catalyst for the Tazewell offense. He also has run for three two-point conversions.

None of that (scoring) would have happened without the offensive line notes Davis.

“Alex Hayes, Andrew Comer, Jake Harrison, Robert Beavers, Dallas Peery — they are the starters up front and they make the offense work. I am so proud of them,” Davis said.

Hayes said, “All of us — Malik, too — we have stepped up and gotten stronger. His talent makes us all want to do our best. He always says we make good things happen and that is great, coming from your quarterback.”

Bulldog coach Shane Allen says, “Malik is always sharing the glory with the offensive line. I’m proud of that — he never fails to give the linemen credit for a job well done. It’s something special and tells you that our kids are working hard.”

Allen says that muscle up front is not just confined to the linemen.

“For a high school quarterback he (Davis) is big, 6-1 and 215 and he’s tough to tackle. Once he gets past the big guys up front, there are a lot of secondary players around here who weigh around 150-160 pounds.

“Some of them are not going to be thrilled about trying to tackle somebody who outweighs them by 40 pounds. That is one advantage.”

Davis has demonstrated toughness but he also has a couple of other advantages, according to Allen.

“Malik has a good burst of speed and he works hard in the weight room. More than that, he is not just a ‘thrower,’ but he can put a pass where we ask him to,” notes the Bulldog coach. “He does his reads well and that makes it tougher for other defenses.”

Davis says, “Winning this award is special, but what it really means is that our team is playing well. It is not just about me. We are doing better because we expect to.”

Those expectations were not born on the football field.

“We (team) have been together just about every day through the winter and this summer in the weight room,” he says. “After all that work, we have become a lot more like family and the guys don’t want to throw that work away. We have spent too much time lifting to let it go.”

Davis and his mates have demonstrated that in impressive fashion on several occasions but two stand out.

Following an interception and score by Virginia High to tie the score at 22-all in week one and then after another pick by Graham’s Roman Workman that ultimately resulted in a touchdown this past Friday, Davis came to the sidelines each time with a message for his coach.

“He (Davis) said. ‘Don’t worry, Coach Allen, we will get those scores back. I am not going to be tackled when it counts. We will get it done.’” Allen said.

“He made good on those promises and we did get downfield and he did get both touchdowns. Last year, we might have given up. This year, Malik has been a big factor in keeping us focused.

Quarterback coach Josh Thompson notes a work in progress.

“Malik has been here four years. He has battled adversity and become a positive influence,” he said. “As both a runner and a quarterback he has demonstrated determination and become a role model on the field.”

Davis is also appreciative for backfield talent.

“With Juwan (Jordan), Jesse (Mountain) at wide receiver, Nick (Blankenship) at running back, and Corey (Brewster) at wide out, there are too many weapons there for other teams just to key on the quarterback,” he says.

Jordan, who caught a 37-yard scoring pass against Graham, adds, “Malik makes plays. He can get the ball to us and his running clears passing lanes when it’s time to throw.

Blankenship says, “It’s awesome to be in the backfield with Malik. We fake for each other, block for each other, and do everything we can to move the ball. He is a great teammate.”

Rugged Andrew Comer, who at 312 pounds is called ‘king of the pancake blocks’ by line coach Deacon Young, says, “It’s kind of a competition. Malik makes us (offensive line) better and we try to make him better, too. We all push each other out there.”

Tazewell principal Timothy Hollar comments, “Malik has shown everyone his skills on the field. What I see is his leadership in the halls every day, as well. He is a great young man and a positive force in our school. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor.”

Assistant principal Jim McGee adds, “Malik is such a steady force. Not only is he a pillar for the team — his numbers speak for themselves — but he is a tremendous leader in school.”

The town, starved for success on Friday nights, is beginning to believe that good times are here again. Malik Davis does, too.

After all, winning runs in the family.

Player of Week Honorable Mention

Week 2

Bland County (lost 34-18 at Rural Retreat) — Mason Christian 2 TDs rushing, 1 TD pass.

Bluefield (beat Princeton 40-21) — D.J. Stewart 11-151 rushing, 3 TDs. Corey Coppola 11-92 1 rushing, TD, 1-8 receiving. Carlos Reed 6-53 rushing, 4-46 receiving, TD. R.J. Bourne 7-32 rushing, 7-12-85 yds.-1-1 passing, TD.

Giles (beat Christiansburg 35-22) — Brian Mann 19-172 rushing, 3 TDs, plus 1-2-28 yds.-0-1 passing. Brett Whitlow 15-124 rushing, 2 TDs, plus 5 XP kicks.

Graham (lost 45-21 at Tazewell) — Dylan Cook 106 yds. rushing, 2 TDs. Roman Workman 91 yds. passing, 1 TD, plus intercepted a pass.

Grundy (lost 41-14 at Lebanon) — Jacob McNutt 26-89 rushing, 2 TDs.

Hurley (beat Eastside 42-12) — Tray Oliver, 16-211 rushing, 4 TD. Brady Justice 16-117 rushing.

Narrows (lost 42-32 at E. Montgomery) — Bailey Snidow 22-119 rushing, 40 yd. intc. return for TD.

PikeView (lost 26-0 at Independence) — Daniel Brown 9-31 rushing. Takota Bailey 3-18 receiving.

Princeton (lost 40-21 at Bluefield) — Jordan Jones 15-91 rushing, 2-23 receiving, 1-1-33-0-0 passing, 3 total TDs. Jay Palmer 18-89 rushing. Grant Rotenberry 1-33 receiving.

Richlands (lost 29-28 to Union) — River Michaels 8-12-78 yds.-1-1 passing, 22-76 rushing. Griffin McCauley 9-68 rushing. Cade Mullins 3-42 receiving.

River View (lost 55-32 at Buffalo) — Cody Howie 8-137 receiving. Michael Price 11-22 passing, 168 yd. Jordan Wilson 20-131 rushing, 2 TD.

Summers County (lost 18-14 to Liberty) — Greg Shrewsbury 15-87 rushing, 2 TDs. Caleb Harrah 4-81 receiving. Nathan Grimmett 10-23-128-0 passing, 8-48 rushing.

Tazewell (beat Graham 45-21) — Nick Blankenship 154 yds. rushing. Chris Hall 79 yds. rushing.

Twin Valley (beat Montcalm 49-20) — Austin Shortridge, 6-220 rushing, 3 TDs. Drake Presley, 38 yd. FG, broke school record. Twin Valley is 2-0 for the first time in school history .

Wyoming East (lost 24-15 at Westside) — Nik Walker 21-73 rushing. Casey Saunders 4-43 receiving. Aaron Griffith 7-12-63 yds.-1-1 passing.