Simmons Head Football Coach Derrick Hooker and his Blue Devils face quite the challenge this Friday night when they travel to Biggersville to take on the Lions in the second round of the MHSAA Class 1A playoffs. The game kicksoff at 7 p.m.
The 10-1 Blue Devils make the four-hour bus ride to the northeast Mississippi town of Biggersville to take on an undefeated Lions team that Coach Hooker calls a complete team full of athleticism. Last season, under head coach Tavares Johnson, Simmons defeated Biggersville 66-30 in the second round of the playoffs.
“They are a much different team than they were last year,” Coach Hooker said of the Lions. “They are undefeated, and they have a lot of talent. What happened last year won’t have anything to do with what happens Friday night.”
With a heavy dose of respect for his team’s opponent, Coach Hooker said he believes in his team and their chances. The Blue Devils are coming off a 48-0 shutout victory over Smithville in last Friday’s first round game. They have now outscored their last four opponents by a combined score of 174 to 12.
“What I like most about my kids is that they are very competitive,” Coach Hooker said. “I know my players are going to go out there and compete and do the best they can.”
The Blue Devils are led this season by a talented backfield that includes quarterback Devontae Rush and tailbacks Eddie George and Prentavis Madison. On defense seniors like Amare Pam and Antoine Washington have helped keep opponents from gaining much yardage. Opponents have combined to score just 34 total points off the Blue Devils this season.
Simmons is hoping to make a return trip to the state championship game. Last season, they fell 26-6 to Bay Springs in the MHSAA Class 1A title.
“We don’t talk about what happened last year too much because it is in the past. We don’t want to dwell on it, but we definitely do remember and want another shot at the championship this season,” said George after he rushed for 130 yards and scored five touchdowns two week’s ago in the Blue Devils’ 48-6 regular season win over West Bolivar.
