Dawkins, Davis, Nunnery to perform on national stage

Dawkins, Davis, Nunnery to perform on national stage
By Rich Romine (Ventura County Star)



Brandon Dawkins, Chris Davis and Davonte Nunnery are ready to play on the national football stage.

The eighth-grade standouts from the Pacific Youth Football League Super Bowl champion North Oxnard Warriors have enjoyed outstanding youth careers.

The trio will play Jan. 10 at the Football University All-American Youth Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The players arrive Jan. 6 with a variety of activities over a five-day period. The top 44 seventh-graders and top 44 eighth- graders will be honored during halftime of the Jan. 9 U.S. Army All-American Bowl featuring the best 90 high school players.

Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson and Tim Tebow all made their national debut in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

The Warriors are excited about the opportunity to play against the best.

“For them this is the icing on the cake,” said Jason Nguyen, the Warriors coach.

Dawkins, a 5-foot-11, 185- pound quarterback, attended a Football University summer camp where he honed his skills against incoming high school freshmen players.

Dawkins started his playing days as a running back and three years ago, Oxnard’s J.T. Rogers Jr., turned the Fremont Intermediate School athlete into a quarterback.

Dawkins also excels in basketball. Dawkins and Nunnery sparked Fremont to an Oxnard City League and Rotary Basketball Tournament championship. When the all-star football tour ends, they’ll be running the basketball floor.

Nunnery, 14, is a 5-9, 155-pound wide receiver.

Davis, 13, is a 5-7, 145-pound running back. In the 62-48 Senior Division Super Bowl win for the Warriors over the Santa Clarita Valley Seminoles, Davis scored six touchdowns and rushed for 235 yards on 12 carries. He scored on runs of 35, 40, 32, 45, 55 and 2 yards.

Dawkins was 5-of-8 passing for 201 yards and two touchdowns (80 and 6 yards).

Nunnery had a key 75-yard kickoff return to set up a touchdown. The Warriors celebrated their second Super Bowl title since winning the Junior Division in 2008 over Santa Clarita. The Warriors were Junior Division finalists in 2007.

“These kids have all been leaders,” said Nguyen.

“It’s been an amazing run to go undefeated two straight years and to play in three straight Super Bowls,” said the Warriors coach.

Davis, a standout Port Hueneme Little League shortstop and second baseman, has been named to the Under Armour Youth National team. He attends E.O. Green School and has been with the Warriors for two years. He started playing football with the Oxnard 49ers, but his Navy family moved to Lemoore for a brief period of time.

The three all-stars have attended open houses at Oaks Christian School and St. Bonaventure High. They are undecided now, but agree they will all go to the same school to play football.

Dawkins, Davis and Nunnery were among several thousand athletes nominated for this honor. They filled out a nomination form and submitted a highlight tape. Scouts and coaches from around the nation selected the players.

When the players compete in Texas, they all say it’s for fun.

“Our goal is to do good and not mess up,” said Dawkins.

Dawkins’ dad, Frank, is a Florida native, but grew up in Alabama. Dawkins is a cousin of former NBA star Darryl Dawkins.

Nunnery’s dad, David, was a standout football and basketball player at Hueneme High.

The three Warriors are raising travel expenses for the game. Rusty’s Pizza will donate 20 percent of voucher sales to the players. The fundraiser on Sunday will run from 11 a.m. to midnight at the five Ventura County locations. The Warriors are offering flyers. If you forget the flyer, tell the cashier.

The three Warriors will be in person at Luigi’s Ortega’s (Rusty) Pizza from 2 to 6 p.m. at 606 N. Ventura Road in Oxnard.

The other locations; are 444 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura; 307 E.Hueneme Road, Port Hueneme; 150 W. Vineyard Ave., Oxnard; and 1314 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.

Malibu’s Zack Bornstein will play in the game.

Information: http://www.northoxnardwarriors.com or http://www.footballuniversity.org.