Lakewood St. Edward’s Levi Davis Prioritizes State Championship Over Individual Award
COLUMBUS, OH – Lakewood St. Edward’s quarterback Levi Davis finished fourth in voting for the Mr.Football Award on Thursday, but his focus remained firmly on leading his team to a state championship-a goal he achieved Friday night. Indian Valley running back Grady Kinsey ultimately won the award, with Shelby quarterback Brayden DeVito and Archbishop Moeller quarterback Matt Ponatoski finishing second and third, respectively.
Despite being a finalist for the prestigious honor, Davis told his coach, Jason Schroeder, that a team championship was his priority. “We talked about it, and he looked at me and he’s like, ‘Coach, that’s a cool team award. It’s an individual award, but it’s our team… but we want the one on Friday,'” Schroeder shared with reporters earlier in the week.
Davis confirmed his coach’s account after securing the state title. “I feel like all season and a lot of my time in high school, I’ve been through and seen a lot of individual accolades,” Davis said. “going through a season with your team and your guys every day and wanting to win a team award and be with them while we do it, it meant the world to me. It was an honor to be a finalist (for Mr. Football), but ultimately, it was not the end all be all to my season. What I wanted was the state championship,and that’s exactly what I got.”
Opposing coach Steve Specht of St. Xavier lauded Davis’s performance following the championship game. ”He’s a lot of fun to watch on film, he’s a nightmare to prepare for,” Specht said. “And they came out, and it wasn’t as if we didn’t practice, he just created and my hat’s off to him.”
Specht, a coach with 36 years of experience, went on to suggest Davis’s talent places him among the state’s all-time greats.”I’ve done this a long time… over the years, I’ve seen a lot of great ones,” Specht stated. “He’s very dynamic. If you have a Mount Rushmore of players, would he be in consideration? I am sure he would, absolutely, he’s a very talented young man.”
Davis is committed to Ohio University.
