PLAYOFF PROFILES : Davis Awaits Hefty Payday

Errict Rhett of Tampa Bay gives each of his offensive linemen $1,000 when he rushes for 100 yards in a game.

Walter Payton’s generosity toward his offensive line was legendary, complete with Rolex watches and lavish dinners.

Ennis Davis has yet to reap the benefits of being an offensive lineman.

But he’s learning quickly.

Davis, a Reseda High senior, has a suggestion for Armone Lochard and Charles Shells, who have run through holes aplenty primarily because of Davis.

“They need to take me to dinner,” Davis said.

Reseda’s backfield duo might want to open their wallets, but a better move would be to follow Davis wherever he goes when Reseda plays host to Monroe tonight at 7 in a City Section 3-A Division semifinal.

Davis, 6 feet 5, 305 pounds, is tough to miss, and colleges have come knocking.

USC and Washington are interested, as are Iowa State and Arizona State.

But Davis has made it clear to all interested parties that, yes, it’s fun to pancake a linebacker, but it’s more fun to play defense.

Davis doesn’t hide his disdain for Mondays, which last especially long for him.

“We don’t do any defense at practice,” Davis said. “Just offense.”

The Reseda ground attack, which averages 215.4 yards a game, gets the ink, spotlighting Davis as an offensive force.

But as a defensive tackle on the left side, Davis causes greater shifts: Opponents run away from him.

“By doing so, they run into somebody else, and that’s what helps our defense,” Reseda Coach Joel Schaeffer said. “Even if he doesn’t make a tackle, his presence helps.”

Even if Davis won’t receive any presents, Lochard and Shells have promised dinner.

With a catch.

“We have to go all the way,” Lochard said, “and win it.”

And if that happens, Shells said, “We’ll take him to McDonald’s or something.”