Justin Davis (the former NFR header from Texas) told his 15-year-old son Jace to “just have fun” before the 5 header rode into the heading box for November's Riata Buckle #14.5 short round. After all, Jace and longtime family friend Colby Lovell were coming from way down at eighth callback. Instead, Jace commenced to mash the gas like a gold buckle was on the line. They took the lead—and somehow held it.
Because when you're 15, first is what's fun (plus you can say you beat a team with Kaleb Driggers on it and heard a “good job” from Trevor Brazile). And when you're the dad, you shout so loud it echoes throughout the biggest indoor arena in America. And not just because of that $51,750.
“I can still remember Jace and I walking back up that long moat in the Lazy E, getting high-fives,” Justin said. “We bump smack into Cassidy Lovell. She looks right at me and just starts crying. And I do, too.
“It was quite a moment,” he continued. “I just looked up and thought, ‘I know you played a part.’”
Seven weeks earlier, Justin's wife and the boys’ mom, Casee Davis, had died at just 40 years old. She'd been diagnosed with cancer back when Jace and his little brother Ryder were 7 and 5.
