Simpson Academy hosted East Rankin this past Friday for their first district game. The Cougars would get on the board first with 7:55 left in the first quarter when Cook Weathersby raced 17 yards for a touchdown, Ethan Flynt ran in the 2 point conversion and Simpson led 8-0.
The Patriots would come right back with a 4 yard run for a touchdown; the PAT was good and with 5:39 left in the first quarter Simpson led 8-7. Cook Weathersby would reach pay dirt late in the first quarter on a 4 yard touchdown run, Hooks Harvey added the PAT and with 1:06 left in the first quarter Simpson led 15-7.
Simpson would increase their lead in the second quarter when Ethan Flynt would score from 27 yards out. Hooks Harvey tacked on the PAT and with 10:57 left in the half Simpson led 22-7. East Rankin came right back and scored on a 10 yard run, the 2 point conversion failed and SCA led 22-13 with 10:36 left in the half. Simpson would answer quickly as Cook Weathersby ripped off a 48 yard touchdown run, Hooks Harvey added the PAT and with 10:25 until halftime SCA led 29-13.
Simpson would make the halftime score SCA 36 ERA 13 on a 27 yard Dylan Hallman run, and a Hooks Harvey PAT. Simpson would put the game away early in the third quarter when Dylan Hallman raced 7 yards for a touchdown, the PAT was no good and with 9:28 left in the third quarter Simpson led 42-13.
The Cougars would add another score on a Caleb Garner 1 yard plunge. Hooks Harvey’s PAT was good and with 9:01 left in the game Simpson led 49-13. East Rankin would score the final points of the game with 6:47 left on a 5 yard run; the PAT was good making the final score Simpson 49 East Rankin 20. The win improved the Cougars’ record to 3-3 on the season and 1-0 in district play.
Leading the Cougars offensively in the rushing game were Dylan Hallman with 15 rushes for 213 yards and 2 touchdowns, Cook Weathersby 14 carries for 157 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Ethan Flynt 15 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown.
In the passing game, Hunter Cline and Cook Weathersby had a hook and lateral reception for 9 yards, and Ethan Flynt completed 1 pass for 9 yards. The Cougars were led defensively by Caleb Garner in on 6 tackles, Zach Ainsworth, Corbin Hosey, and Cole Weeks in on 5 tackles. Austin Creel, Michael Winstead and Daniel Pepper had 2 sacks or tackle for loss. Caleb Garner and Cole Weeks had a tackle for loss for the Cougars. Simpson had four takeaways. Hunter Cline had 2 interceptions, Caleb Garner had an interception, and Austin Creel recovered a fumble. In team stats Simpson had 529 yards of total offense, 520 yards rushing, 9 yards passing, and picked up 28 first downs. East Rankin had 194 yards of total offense, 138 yards rushing, 56 yards passing, and picked up 10 first downs.
In Junior High action on Thursday the 7th and 8th Grade lost 12-0 and the Junior High lost 35-6 to Hartfield Academy.
The Cougars will be at home this Friday against Columbia Academy with kickoff set for 7 p.m. This is the 22nd time that the two Cougars have faced each other with Simpson leading the series 14-7. Columbia beat SCA 20-6 last year in the regular season and ended Simpson’s season 35-21 in the playoffs. The Junior High Cougars will travel to Lamar School in Meridian on Thursday, September 28, with the 7th and 8th grade playing at 5:30 p.m. and the Junior High to follow.
