Jon Davis

After a stellar football season at Azusa Pacific leading his team in touchdown receptions, Jon Davis (JECHS Class of 2003) was chosen as an All-American wide receiver! Jon was recently featured on the front page of the Lodi New Sentinel with the amazing story of his successful college football career. (Read that article here.)  

His football success is seen by many as an incredible feat considering he did not play football at Elliot in high school (the football program began the fall following is graduation). Jon was a three sport standout at JECHS excelling at everything he did.  Even though he played Pop Werner and many assumed he would continue on to play football at Tokay where his father, Dean Davis (JECHS current head football coach) coached, Jon chose to attend Jim Elliot instead.

We recently asked Jon to share why he wanted to go to Jim Elliot and about how his experience here impacted is life. 
 
“Attending JECHS was a choice that I have no regrets about. I had teachers that cared about me, friends that I’ll have for life, and a relationship with Christ that was strengthened.  Elliot is a small school with a big impact. It gave me a place to learn everyday and grow.”

“It was about a lot more than just athletics. When I started at Elliot it was only the second year of the program and I knew the sports teams were not that well developed. Being raised in a Christian home, I was more excited about continuing a Christian education. Playing football at Tokay would have been a lot of fun, but the experiences and growth I had at Elliot could not have happened anywhere else.”

“The athletics program at JECHS is one of the best for a small school and gets plenty of recognition. It gave me the opportunity to play sports that I would have never even thought of trying. For example, soccer was a sport that I never played or watched, but when I heard the team needed a few more players, I ventured out and ended up playing three years.  There are many other athletes that have gone on from JECHS to have college careers as well.”

“I believe you can truly see the hand of God directing me on the perfect path. You can’t truly succeed without the Lord giving you direction. In my own life, I went to JECHS instead of a public school and my favorite sport there was basketball. I played four years varsity before coming to Azusa Pacific University where I tried out for the basketball team. I was cut after the first week. A few months later I was asked to come play football after playing basketball with one of the coaches. That year, I made the team and played, only to get hurt in the last game. That was it for me and I told the coach I was done. That same year, APU got a new head coach who asked me come play again. Fortunately, I said yes and have played well ever since. Too many things happened at exactly the right moment for it to be chance. I have placed my trust in the Lord and He has directed me on the perfect path.”

Jon Davis

WHAT A SEASON
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound wide receiver had a memorable junior year. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at Jon Davis’ record-breaking 2007 season at Azusa Pacific.
Receptions: 73
Yards: 1,258
Touchdowns: 21*
Points: 128*
*School records.

Davis is also taking advantage of his football scholarship to get a solid college education- he has already earned his bachelor’s degree and is now working to get his double master’s in business and human resources and organizational development.

He still has one year left of eligibility at Azusa and even then, his playing days might not be over, as several NFL scouts have asked his coach for game films.

 His younger brother Matt (JECHS 07), a freshman at Cal Poly, may transfer to Azusa to play either running back or receiver.  Matt was a star player on the Elliot football team for the past four years!

“I really hope he comes. It’d be a lot of fun to play with him,” said Davis, who’s never been on the same team as his brother. “I think he’s going to be a better athlete than I am.”

We are blessed to have the entire Davis family as an integral part of the Jim Elliot family.  Dean Davis is the football coach, an occasional chapel speaker and has served on the school board for years. Jane (Mom) is the school’s Athletic Director and besides the boys, a sister Katie (‘06) was also a standout athlete at Elliot playing volleyball, basketball and softball as well as running cross country track.