Jarman Johnson and Willie Davis watched for months as their father succumbed to the cancer in his body. They watched their father fight to see his boys play out the last season of football he would ever see. Unfortunately the cancer got the best of their father two weeks before the state championship and he would not get to see his sons play. But he did make one last request before he passed away: “Win it for me,” he said.
And the boys did just that. They and their Pilot Point (Texas) High team claimed the Texas 2A Division 1 title just a week after the entire team attended the funeral.
“Henry Melvin Davis,” Jarman told the Dallas Morning News after the game. “That’s my daddy. We did it for him. We came out and won this game for him, not for us but for the man in the sky.”
Jarman was the star, scoring four touchdowns on 242 total yards in the 35-18 victory over Kirbyville. A fantastic game by any player on any level. The rest of the team rallied around the boys’ loss and used the motivation to grant the father’s last wish.
“We gotta do the best we can and move past this, and use this to really pull the team together and focus and get it done for Jarman and Willie,” said offensive lineman Cam Feldt.
“His words were, ‘Win it for me,’” wide receiver Justin Chambers told reporters before the game. “Jarman has been saying every week, ‘This is for my daddy, this is for my daddy.’ We’re hoping to do it for his daddy.”
After the game Jarman slowly made his way to the group of teammates cheering the victory, he said he was taking in the moment. Teammates and cheerleaders hugged him, the opposing coach shook his hand and I”m sure there were tears in the crowd.
But Jarman deservedly took in the moment. It will be something he will never forget and one of those moments he will relive for the rest of his life. Jarman and his brother Willie (Jarman took his mother’s last name at birth) will have that moment to happily remember their father and it will definitely help in the process of grieving their huge loss. They will also be supported by their community which has raised more than $4,000 for the family with dinners and fund raisers.
A father’s death is never a good thing but the aftermath of the death in this story is inspiring and heart warming. Sons being able to grant their father’s last wish and a team reaching the pinnacle and a community showing support for people in need is incredible. Let’s hope this kind of kindness, compassion and good will continues through to the next decade for everyone.
