Cedar Shoals High School soccer players value that they aren’t just a team: they’re a family that works together toward a common goal — winning games.
This past season, senior forward Damon Davis took working with his family a step further off the field by helping his older brother grow their clothing brand.
“It brings a lot of inspiration to kids in Athens,” said teammate Jairo Rodriguez, who met Davis in second grade while playing soccer on the school playground. “If they see other kids doing successful stuff, you know, branching out, being entrepreneurs, and doing that thing, it’s really inspirational.”
Davis also put himself into the Cedar Shoals soccer history books. He broke the record for most goals in a single season after securing his fourth hat trick of the season during the team’s senior night game in March.
Davis set a preseason goal to break the single-season goal-scoring record, according to head coach Conor Naughton. He reached his goal with three games left in the season.
He’s etched his name into history,” Naughton said.
While making his legacy on the pitch, Davis was helping his older brother Tré try to reach similar heights in the clothing industry.
A group of eight close friends, including Davis and his brother, created Skully in October 2023.
Tré Davis is the official owner of Skully. He runs the social media account and website and is the main designer when it comes to the brand’s clothing products.
Damon Davis aids in the design process and helps contact manufacturers. He also models the pieces on the Skully social media accounts and makes deliveries to the post office and local Athens customers.
“I don’t think a lot of people get this opportunity to do what I’m doing,” Tré said about the two of them working together, “so I cherish it in every moment.”
Damon Davis did all this while becoming one of the few Jaguars to play more than 50 varsity games in Naughton’s nine years of coaching. This accomplishment is even more impressive given that Davis did not play his sophomore year after tearing a meniscus during tryouts.
“It’s a very special achievement. It’s a big deal. It’s a testament to his commitment, his talent, his ability, his work ethic, his endurance, his perseverance — especially when you kind of take it into context,” Naughton said.
Skully’s creators released their first clothing drop in November 2024, an oversized T-shirt with a large skull on the front and the brand’s name in bold, red text. The tee went on to sell out. They have since released a hoodie titled “ALL HOPE IS GONE,” with flaming skulls on the front and the sleeves. Skully soon will release zip-up hoodies and sweatpants.
Their designs take inspiration from old rock bands such as Nirvana, Pink Floyd and KISS, which can be seen in the skulls, flames and hardcore style throughout all of their clothing items.
Skully has grown its following in the Athens community during its relatively short existence. Tré Davis estimates that the brand has already sold to more than 700 people online and in-person, with a fan base starting to grow at Cedar Shoals.
Both our coaches have a Skully hoodie. A lot of people in the school have a Skully hoodie. It’s starting to get around,” Damon Davis said.
The brothers hope that the brand can grow from its Athens audience to a global stage. They attend local pop-up shops to promote the brand even further, including the Outkast and Friends Pop Up Shop in April.
“I definitely believe that having those interests outside of soccer, other avenues to pursue, definitely makes them well-rounded and kind of more prepared to tackle life in the real world,” Naughton said of his players.
Davis recorded 27 goals and five hat tricks in his historic senior season and ended his career with 42 goals in 52 appearances. Averaging nearly a goal per match is impressive given that he started his high school career as a center back. After being sidelined his sophomore season with the knee injury, he switched to offense.
Naughton said he believes that Davis can have a future in soccer, whether it involves playing on an MLS NEXT team, which is the highest level of club soccer, or at the junior college level.
Wherever his future takes him, it seems Davis’ strong family ties will continue to help him.
Derek Oliveros is in the undergraduate certificate program at UGA’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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