Norwich — What turned into a typical football season at Norwich Free Academy, another state playoff berth under head coach Jemal Davis, didn't begin that way.

The Wildcats were 1-2 to start the 2016 season, including a 36-0 season-opening loss to Xavier. Next up on the schedule was seventh-ranked Staples. Only the Wildcats left Westport with an impressive 33-14 victory and ran the table to reach the Class LL playoffs. Seven straight victories to end the regular season, including a 13-0 win over previously unbeaten New London on Thanksgiving.

“We had the vision in our mind that we can compete against anyone,” Davis said, looking back. “We said, ‘This is going to be a tough road, but if we get this, we can make a run. We had Staples coming in at that time, but we just thought we hadn’t played our best ball yet.

“You look to what you can control. All we could control was our preparation, believing in what we did.”

Davis, who led NFA to five Class LL state playoff berths and championship game appearances in 2012 and 2014, resigned from his position Monday after nine seasons to pursue an administrative position.

The move was announced by the school Tuesday, a day Davis received numerous calls and emails from an NFA football community he has been a part as a player, an assistant coach and head coach. Davis is a 1990 NFA graduate who went on to play football for three seasons at UConn.

He finished 70-28, serving as NFA’s head coach from 2008-16. The Wildcats completed the regular season 12-0 in 2012.

“Nearly 20 years being involved in NFA football … I look back at the relationships,” Davis said Tuesday. “I was able to take some things. The players taught me stuff. The coaches taught me stuff. The administrators taught me stuff. Dealing with people, motivating people, engaging, supporting and nurturing. I’m going to use those experiences. I’m going to look back to those and cherish every moment that we had.”

Davis has been working toward his administrative certification and literacy certification, as well as achieving his master’s degree, at Sacred Heart University for the last two years. Nearing completion of his certifications, he plans to apply for assistant principal jobs immediately, said Davis, who currently teaches world history at NFA.

He didn’t want NFA administrators or players to be surprised by the decision later in the year, he said, thus it made sense for him to resign now.

“I think some of them are still thinking about it,” Davis of the players. “By the time the season comes around they can be done and move on.”

“Jemal has done a great job for the academy as head football coach,” NFA athletic director Eric Swallow said in a press release.

Swallow added that a search for Davis’ successor will begin immediately.

Davis, who also won three Class LL titles and the 2004 State Open championship as coach of the boys’ outdoor track team, believes that competing and winning is now a part of the culture of the NFA football program. He said next year’s football team will benefit from the strength of the 2016 schedule.

“It’s what the school is about, the school mission, get involved with the school, that connectedness,” Davis said of his overall experience coaching at NFA.

“For the boys and girls who played football, we created a venue or a medium to connect to the school beyond just being a student. We helped build opportunities for students to be involved in the school. It promotes a safe school environment. We felt we contributed in the way that we could.

“… We had a vision set of what we wanted to try to accomplish. You get people to buy in. We developed relationships not only with the players with the NFA community. It’s a testament to what we were able to bring and develop.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com