It’s been a little less than a year since Brandon Clecker was tragically killed and taken away from friends, family and the Sumrall community. The pain is still there and always will be, especially to a close friend like Terry Davis, now a senior at Sumrall High School.
Although Cleckler was a year older than Davis, you could never separate the two. They were best friends.
“Every Friday night after football games we would go eat something, come back and hang out all night long,” Davis said. “Then get up Saturday and hang out all day. Some of us would go to work, but we would always end up right back there Saturday night.”
“Every day. I think about him every day.”
Being that Clecker played on the Sumrall football team, Bobcat head coach Shannon White and his coaches came up with the idea of honoring his life in a way that would positively impact the team moving forward. Prior to this season, final approval was given to allowing one of the team’s senior linemen to wear Cleckler’s number, 76, on the back of their helmet the entire season.
It would go to someone that most shared the qualities that made Cleckler such a special player and person.
“Good spirit, school spirit, humor, leadership and character,” White said. “So many of those things about Brandon it represents.”
Terry Davis fit that mold perfectly and was presented the helmet prior to the Bobcats’ first game of the season about six weeks ago. He’s worn it with pride ever since.
“We were best friends, so I was more than happy to do it,” Davis said. “I’ve enjoyed wearing it all year.”
In a lot of ways, Davis was a no-brainer for the honor. He’s a leader on and off the field. And oh yeah, he’s a pretty good football player, too.
“Terry is a hard worker and he likes football. That’s the key,” White explained. “That he doesn’t mind the work that comes along with getting better, whether in the weight room, running or agilities. If you like it, you’re willing to do all those things. Those things don’t faze Terry.”
A lot of that comes from Davis knowing his best friend is watching down on him and rest of the Bobcats from above. There’s no doubt who their biggest fan is and will continue to be.
“Brandon is watching us this year,” Davis said with a smile. “We’ve come really close, and that’s him. I think he’s watching over us every Friday night.”
