HOLLANDALE — Devontae Rush and Vontrez Rush, two brothers on the Simmons High School football team, understand full well the history of the Blue Devils.
That’s why they both say they are determined to do whatever they can to help lead Simmons back to another state championship.
“We want to win it all,” said Vontrez, a senior running back. “Our goal is to bring another gold ball back to Hollandale.”
The Blue Devils defeated Leland 50-0 in their home opener last weekend. Simmons’ game this Friday night against Riverside was called off because of COVID-19 issues at Riverside. Simmons’ next game is scheduled for Sept. 17 against O’Bannon.
The Rush brothers have two big reasons why they believe they can win a state championship.
First, both Vontrez and Davontae enter this season better than ever. In their 50-0 victory over Leland last week, both brothers looked almost unstoppable at times.
The brothers have spent the last two seasons helping their team light up scoreboards throughout the Delta. Last season in just five games, Devonte passed and rushed for more than 1,000 yards.
The Rush brothers, along with junior Jermaine Edwards, also spearheaded a dominant ground attack for Simmons that helped the Blue Devils reach the MHSAA Class 1A semifinal game. Before falling in the semifinal, Simmons won its first four games by at least 26 points.
The coaching of Taveras Johnson gives Davontae and Vontrez their second big reason to dream big this season, the brothers say.
Johnson is back for his second stint at the helm of the Blue Devils. He led Simmons to a pair of football state championships in 2015 and 2016. Johnson left in 2016 to take over at North Side High School.
Johnson graduated from East Side High School in Cleveland, and later went on to play linebacker at Alcorn State University. At Alcorn State, he was teammates with legendary quarterback Steve McNair.
After college, Johnson spent 11 years in the Navy before becoming a high school teacher and coach.
“We have a great coach who knows what it takes to win,” Vontrez said. “We know it is going to take a lot of hard work but we definitely we can do it if we stick together.”
Coach Johnson said he believes both brothers are capable of tremendous things.
“When you combine their talent with a hard work ethic then you really have something special,” Coach Johnson said. “With Devontae being the quarterback that means he is going to touch the ball on every play. Along with Vontrez, we are still in process of mixing Jermaine Edwards in at running back and receiver. Jermaine can make plays Friday night just like Vontrez and Devontae, but all this doesn’t mean anything if the offensive line does not do its job.”
