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By Coach Winston Mullins
The Simpson Cougars took on the Jackson Prep Patriots Friday night, August 28, 2020 at Simpson.
Simpson received the opening kickoff to start the game. Simpson went three and out and was forced to punt. The Cougar defense forced a three and out and a Prep punt. The Prep defense forced another three and out and a Simpson punt. Prep drove 37 yards in four plays capped off by a Thaxton Berch 20 yard touchdown run, Louie Gatlin added the PAT and with 6:42 to play in the first quarter Prep led 7-0. Simpson turned the ball over on an interception and Prep took over on their 29 yard line. Prep drove 71 yards in four plays to drive capped off by a Matt Jones 47 yard run, Louie Gatlin’s PAT was good and with 4:11 to go in the first quarter Prep led 14-0. Simpson took over on their 36 yard line with 4:11 to go in the first quarter Prep led 14-0. Simpson took over on their 36 yard line and scored in one play a 64 yard touchdown pass from Brentley Berry to Bryce Jensen, Jaden Wedgewoth added the PAT and with 3:56 to go in the first quarter Simpson cut the lead to 14-7. After a kickoff return to the Simpson 36 yard line Matt Jones scored from 36 yards out, Louie Gatlin added the PAT and with 3:37 left in the first quarter Prep led 21-7. William Dees intercepted a Simpson pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown, Louie Gatlin’s PAT was good and with 2:11 to go in the first quarter Prep led 28-7. Thaxton Berch intercepted a Simpson pass and returned it 26 yards for a Prep touchdown, Louie Gatlin added the PAT and with 57 seconds to go in the first quarter Prep led 35-7.
The Prep defense forced a three and out and forced a Simpson punt. Prep drove 60 yards in four plays capped off by a Matt Jones 41 yard run, Louie Gatlin added the PAT and with 9:55 to go in the half Prep led 42-7. Prep took over on their 28 yard line and went 72 yards in four plays capped off by a Riley Maddox to Jeffrey Ince 44 yard touchdown pass, Louie Gatlin added the PAT and with 3:47 to go in the half Prep led 49-7. The Simpson offense had a turnover on downs on their next possession. Prep fumbled on their next possession, recovered by Simpson’s Jake Milner Simpson took three plays to drive 25 yards capped off by a Brentley Berry to Bryce Jensen 12 yard touchdown pass, Jaden Wedgeworth added the PAT making the halftime score Prep 49 Simpson 14.
The second half was a defensive struggle with neither team scoring in the third quarter.
Simpson did score late in the fourth quarter on a Colby Womack 5 yard run, Jaden Wedgworth added the PAT making the final score Prep 49 Simpson 14. The loss dropped Simpson’s record to 1-1 on the season.
Team stats Simpson had 225 yards of total offense, 130 rushing yards, 95 passing and picked up 12 first downs. Prep had 381 yards of total offense, 261 rushing yards, 120 passing yards, and picked up 11 first downs.
Simpson was led in the rushing game by Aubren Kennedy with 11 carries for 73 yards and Colby Womack 3 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown. In the passing game Brentley Berry had 9 completions for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Cougars were led in receiving by Bryce Jensen 2 catches for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns and Aubren Kennedy 6 catches for 16 yards.
The Cougars were led on defense by Jayden Priest, Kody Scoggins and Andrew Smith with 4 total tackles each, and Bryce Jensen and Tyler Varnes with three tackles each. Getting a turnover for Simpson was Jake Milner a fumble recovery.
Simpson 7th and 8th Grade lost to Jackson Academy 22-6 and the Junior High lost to Jackson Academy 20-8.
Simpson will host Leake Academy in Junior High on Thursday, September 3rd with the 7th and 8th Grade game at 6:00PM and the 9th grade game to follow.
The Cougars will host Copiah Academy on Friday, September 4th, with kickoff set for 7PM.
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