The Simpson Academy Cougars picked up a thrilling 41-35 road win over the Wayne Academy Jaguars last Friday night. In a contest filled with big plays and momentum swings, Simpson delivered its strongest offensive performance of the season to even its record at 2-2.
Coming off a tough loss to Columbia Academy the previous week, the Cougars responded with urgency. They attacked from the opening whistle, finding ways to keep their offense balanced and productive. Every time Wayne mounted a rally, Simpson had an answer. The Cougars capitalized on turnovers and executed in key situations to stay in control down the stretch.
Jacob Coulson scored the first touchdown of the game with 5:50 left in the first quarter to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead. Wayne tied the game minutes later, only for Brady McKenney to snatch the lead back for the Cougars. McKenney received the following kickoff and weaved his way through defenders for a 76-yard touchdown. This set the tone for the back-and-forth nature that the game would adopt in the second half. The Cougars defense scored late in the first half on a scoop and score fumble recovered by Thomas Jones and returned 60 yards for a touchdown.
The Cougars led 21-7 at halftime. The Jaguars showed resilience and kept the scoreboard busy as well. Their offense matched Simpson in stretches, and the game turned into a back-and-forth battle that came down to a few decisive plays in overtime. A pick six by Hayes Algee on a deflection from Tyler Warren gave the Cougars a comfortable lead of 28-13 midway through the third quarter. That lead was cut to 28-21 to start the fourth.
The fourth quarter ended with the score tied 35-35. Despite Wayne’s push, the Cougars made just enough defensive stops to secure the win in overtime. Jacob Coulson sealed the game with his third rushing touchdown.
Simpson’s offensive unit as a whole stood out with its season-high point total. The Cougars consistently found ways to move the ball, whether through the air, on the ground, or in special teams opportunities. Defensively the Cougars were opportunistic and made several key plays down the stretch. Wayne had standout performances of its own but could not keep the Cougars from pulling away late.
The win gives Simpson Academy momentum as they look ahead to another road matchup against Lamar this Friday.
