Robert E. Lee's Keashun Davis (11) celebrates with quarterback Chance Amie (9) after the two hooked up for a long pass play. (Lang White / Correspondent)

A year ago, Keashun Davis did not score his first varsity touchdown until the sixth week of the season.

Two weeks into 2016, the senior has not one but two scores and leads the Red Raiders with eight catches for 162 yards.

Davis’ first touchdown covered 39 yards in a win over Marshall – with a 10-yard scoring strike coming last week in a win over Corsicana. Davis also has a 70-yard catch-and-run as the senior is averaging 21 yards per catch.

“He’s been great; he’s definitely a playmaker for us,” Lee coach Clayton George said. “He’s a deep-ball threat and someone you want to get the ball in his hands. I think Keashun has that inner drive to try and be the best he can be.”

In the spring of 2014, sophomore Keashun Davis decided to give football a try.

A basketball player for Robert E. Lee, Davis watched older brother Isjuwan Barker, then a junior, become a big-time receiver.

“He was like, ‘Come down here and see how you like it,'” Davis said.

Davis took Isjuwan up on his challenge.

As an incoming junior, Davis was a backup receiver on a loaded offense that was led by Barker.

So opportunities were few for Davis while the older brother went on to lead the Red Raiders with 37 catches for 652 yards and eight touchdowns, earning a scholarship to Cisco Junior College.

“I was able to just watch and learn from him. It was my first time playing football,” Davis said of his junior year. “To me, he was just a good, older brother.”

“I didn’t get the ball much, but I blocked a lot and I scored my first touchdown,” Davis said.

The modest Davis left out how his touchdown occurred.

With then-sophomore quarterback Chance Amie under center for his second start, the Red Raiders trailed Garland Lakeview Centennial 14-0 late in the first quarter. Davis had registered one catch for 9 yards in a varsity uniform up to that point, but on third-and-9, Amie rolled out and lofted a deep pass to Davis, who made the catch and took it the distance for a 60-yard score.

It was the spark REL needed to eventually rally back and win the game.

When Clayton George took over the REL football team at the close of last season, he said Davis’ speed and quickness caught his eye.

Davis made a couple catches in the Red and White game to flash some of the speed now on display each Friday night. In the scrimmage against Irving MacArthur, he made more catches. In the season opener against Marshall, the Red Raiders had only attempted one pass, but Amie faced a third-and-long.

Just like a year earlier against Lakeview Centennial, the Red Raiders quarterback spied Davis behind the secondary after a scramble and the senior did the rest for a 39-yard score.

Last week, Davis was REL’s go-to player with seven catches for 127 yards and a score.

Another member of the Barker family is leading Lee in receiving. Davis is not sure if he will play college football like Isjuwan, but is focused on improving and succeeding.

“Whatever the Lord lets me do,” Davis said. “I just want to (follow Isjuwan). He taught me and now I want to be better, so I can go and teach my younger brothers.”

RAIDER WRAP: Nacogdoches and Lee are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday for homecoming at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Tickets are $3 for student general admission and $5 for adults general admission. They can be purchased at the TISD Athletic Office (807 W. Glenwood) today and Friday. Tickets can also be purchased at Tyler Athletics (5520 Old Jacksonville) during normal business hours. All tickets at the gate are $6 with reserved section $8.

 

TWITTER: @CParryETFS