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Simpson Academy came up short in the MAIS AAAA DII State Championship game losing to Lamar School by a score of 33-32 in overtime. The Cougars received the opening kickoff and drove the ball to the Lamar 48 yard line where they turned the ball over on downs. Lamar took advantage of the good field position and scored a touchdown on a Joseph Hutchinson to Parker Neal 19 yard pass, the PAT was no good and with 4:36 left in the first quarter Lamar led 6-0. Simpson had a time consuming drive on their next possession and scored on an Ethan Flynt 1 yard run, Caleb Garner ran in the two point conversion and with 10:37 left in the first half Simpson led 8-6. Lamar answered back quickly and scored on a 1 yard Parker Neal run, the two point conversion pass was no good and with 8:37 left in the half Lamar led 12-8. The teams went back and forth the rest of the half and at halftime Lamar led Simpson 12-8. Lamar received the second half kickoff and drove to the Simpson nine yard line, the drive ended when Caleb Garner picked off a Joseph Hutchinson pass. Simpson’s drive stalled when a fake punt attempt deep in Simpson territory was stopped by the Lamar defense. Lamar took over on the Simpson 30 yard line and once again took advantage of the good field position and Parker Neal scored from 1 yard out, the PAT by Davis Thames was good and with 5:18 left in the third quarter Lamar led 19-8. Simpson and Lamar traded punts on their next possessions. Simpson scored quickly on their next possession on a Dylan Hallman 65 yard run, the two point conversion pass from Ethan Flynt to Thomas Pepper was good and with 2:58 left in the third quarter Simpson cut the lead to 19-16. The Cougar defense forced a punt late in third quarter and Simpson started their drive for the lead on their 15 yard line. The Cougars had a long drive capped off by a Dylan Hallman 13 yard run, Hooks Harvey added the PAT and with 7:49 left in the game Simpson led 23-19. Lamar drove down to the Simpson 11 yard line, but the Cougar defense forced a turnover on downs. Simpson took over with 5:48 left in the game and on third down and six yards to go Ethan Flynt’s pass intended for Cook Weathersby was picked off by William Lamar and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, Davis Thames added the PAT and with 4:20 let in the game Lamar led 26-23. Lamar chose to squib kick the kickoff and gave Simpson great field position at the Simpson 39 yard line. Simpson drove to the Lamar 21 yard line where their drive stalled and Hooks Harvey came on to nail a 38 yard field goal to tie the game 26-26 with 1:28 left in the game. Lamar took the kickoff back to their 44 yard line giving them great field position. Lamar drove quickly down to the Simpson 14 yard line, but the Cougar defense once again held tough and with :19 seconds left in the game Davis Thames 43 yard field goal attempt came up short. The Cougars tried two plays but did not produce any yards and on third down kneeled on the ball and the game was headed to overtime. In overtime the Cougars were on offense first and on the first play of overtime Ethan Flynt scored from 10 yards out, the Cougars elected to go for a two point conversion and Cook Weathersby was stopped inches from the goal line. Lamar went second in overtime and on their third play Parker Neal raced in from 4 yards out, Davis Thames’ PAT was good and Lamar won the ballgame 33-32. The loss dropped Simpson’s record to 9-5 on the season.
BY Winston Mullins
