HOLLANDALE — As the sweltering sun rose to its peak just before noon Wednesday, the players on the Simmons High School football team huddled for one final outburst of exuberance as their practice concluded. The message was could not be more clear — if these Blue Devils hope to meet the high standard that has been set in Hollandale, they must meet it each day with both hard work and enthusiasm.
In his first season leading the Devils, head coach Derrick Hooker led the Simmons to a 10-2 record and a second round trip to the MHSAA Class 1A state playoffs last season. It was a fine accomplishment, but Coach Hooker and his players are hungry for even more. Having fallen in the state title games in 2018 and 2021, Simmons has not won a state championship since the Blue Devils finished off a 3-peat in the 2017 season. Coach Hooker and his players believe this five-season drought has been far too long.
“The sky is the limit with these guys. All we have to do is get the camraderie going. We need to make sure these guys are like brothers who take care of each other. I think these guys could be an outstanding group.”
The Blue Devils this season will be without the eight seniors from last year’s team, including many all-star standouts like Devonte Rush, Antoine Washington, Charles Mallard and Amare Pam. Despite these losses, Hooker says he believes he has the talent to compete at the highest level.
Players like sophomore Tyrone Buchanan (who is expected to start at quarterback), senior wide receiver Chartavian Bethany, junior running back Eddie George and junior running back Prentavis Madison all have shown their coaches they have what it takes to become major difference makers in the 2023 campaign.
“If we play together and stay together and do the things we need to do on offense, defense and special teams, then I think we can be pretty decent. We want to get to the championship game and win it. We know we have some work to do. We are getting ready in our mind, physically and mentally to do that,” Coach Hooker said.
After spending more than 20 years as the head coach of the South Delta football team, Coach Hooker ranks as one of the top winningest active coaches in Mississippi. This experience has taught him that the road to glory is built during the dog days of early August.
Coach Hooker grew up in Belzoni and played high school football for Humphreys County High School. He later played middle linebacker at Alcorn State with teammates like Steve McNair and Donald Driver.
“Hollandale is a great community that is very close knit,” Coach Hooker said. I know people here have high expectaions for their football program and they should have those high expectations. Football gets every thing started here. Once football falls in place, then the basketball team, the baseball team and sophomore team follow.”
The Blue Devils begin their season Sept. 1 against visiting Leflore County.
