Summers makes history with 430 yards, 5 TDs
Published 9:18 am Thursday, September 16, 2021
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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record
• Through three games, Davie quarterback Alex Summers is an impossible-to-believe 58 of 77 for 972 yards with no interceptions and 11 touchdowns, and there may not be words to describe just how awesome that is.
In Friday’s 51-34 win over Mooresville, the senior broke Chris Reynolds’ record for passing yards in a game with 430. Reynolds had 413 in a 45-42 win over North Davidson in 2016. The other two 400-yard games: Nate Hampton’s 411 in a 31-30 overtime win over Mooresville in 2019 and Hampton’s 402 in a 49-42 win over Reagan in 2019.
Summers fired five TDs to tie a record. That had only been done once, Reynolds tossing five in the 45-42 win over North Davidson.
Summers soared from eighth to tied for fifth with his 27th career TD pass.
“It’s an honor,” Summers said of the passing yards record. “Those guys (Reynolds and Hampton) went to college. To be on their type of level, it’s an honor.”
Summers is not going to put fear in defenses with his legs, although his scrambling ability is vastly improved, evidenced by his 16-yard run against Mooresville. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm. But his football IQ is way up there, he’s a savvy player and he can knock a can off a fence post.
“He does a great job of being on the same page as coach (Matt) Gould,” coach Tim Devericks said. “He studies film. He could align the scout defense; he knows the look we should be getting. For him to be that much into the game plan is just phenomenal. He’s making good decisions.”
• When Summers and Zymere Hudson hooked up for 85 yards, it was the longest Davie completion since 2013, when Cade Carney and Paul Folmar connected for 91 yards. It was one of running back Carney’s three completions that year.
• Hudson’s 197 receiving yards are tied for fourth in the Davie record book. Ben Ellis had 253 in a 48-36 loss to West Rowan in 2014. Cooper Wall had 235 in a 39-29 win over Page in 2016. Ellis had 200 in a 53-22 loss to Page in 2015. And Thadd Johnson had 197 in a 27-17 win over South Rowan in 1999.
• Maddox’s 2-yard scoring catch gave him 12 career TD catches, which is tied for fifth.
• Tate Carney, who exploded for 185 yards against Mooresville, rose from fourth to third in career rushing yards with 3,582. He’s tied for third with 16 career 100-yard rushing games. And he’s on the verge of breaking a major career record, the 67 TDs by Cooter Arnold from 2002-04. Carney’s three scores Friday gave him 66.
• Palmer Williams drilled his first varsity field goal attempt, thanks to a nice save by holder Coy James, who alertly pulled down a high snap. Williams is 20 for 21 on extra points.
• Davie’s air-raid attack featured several absolutely incredible catch-and-runs by Maddox, who had 105 receiving yards with two TDs called back. “It’s fun to make people fall,” he said. “But it’s easier if you just catch a bomb; you don’t have to do as much work.”
• Devericks had to manage a lot of moving parts heading into the game. Three keys guys were missing on offense. The defensive line’s depth was thinner than usual. And yet, it was Davie that came out of the gates and absolutely took it to the Blue Devils. “When you face adversity like we did and you’re able to respond, that develops mental toughness and that can help you down the line,” he said.
• The Central Piedmont Conference race begins Friday at Reynolds at 7 p.m. (All CPC games will start at 7.) The Demons are 1-2 after beating High Point Central (26-2) and losing to Northwest Guilford (41-21) and Southwest Guilford (27-6). Davie has won 10 of the last 11 meetings and leads the all-time series 24-14.