Simpson rallies to edge Parklane in season opener

Southern Sports & Travel

In football the margin for error is small, particularly when engaged in a dogfight. Parklane committed a costly and uncharacteristic error late in the third quarter against Simpson last night in Mendenhall and it would ultimately be the difference as the Pioneers dropped a 14-13 road loss.

Simpson, the top ranked team in Class AA, battled back behind the rushing talents of senior tailback Daniel Taylor who dialed up 189 yards and a touchdown on the night and a staunch defense that limited Parklane quarterback Brady Lea to 55 yards passing.

“It was a playoff type atmosphere tonight against a playoff type caliber team,” said first year head coach Winston Mullins.

Parklane drew first blood in the contest as the Pioneers took their second possession of the night and produced a 9 play, 77 yard scoring drive that culminated on Brady Lea’s perfectly thrown strike across the middle of the field to sophomore wide-out Jack Dumas at the 3:13 mark of the opening quarter.

Zack McDaniel’s PAT gave the Pioneers a 7-0 advantage.

Simpson answered with a scoring drive of their own and it only took four plays.

The Cougars set up shop at their own 42 yard line and went to work. Daniel Taylor ripped through the Parklane defense for a 15 yard gain on first down to the Pioneer 43 yard line and then added 10 more yards to the 33 on the next play call.

Junior tailback Maverick Harrison would do the rest. Harrison powered to the Parklane 23 yard line on his second carry of the night and then did the honors by sprinting 23 yards to pay-dirt at the 1:48 mark of the quarter to get the Cougars on the board.

Andrew Berry added the PAT to knot the contest up at 7-7.

Simpson would get an opportunity to grab their first lead of the night in the second quarter after driving to the Parklane 7 yard line but the Pioneer defense stiffened.  Linebacker Cole Nunnery sacked Simpson quarterback Mason Herrin on third down for a five yard loss back at the Pioneer 12 yard line forcing the Cougars to attempt a 29 yard field goal. Andrew Berry’s kick went wide and with 7:04 remaining in the half the score remained tied at 7-7.

Simpson would mount a late quarter drive beginning at their 17 yard line and moving past midfield but Parklane defensive lineman Justin Reynolds recovered a Mason Herrin fumble at the Pioneer 47 yard line with less than two minutes left to halt the drive and any scoring threat in the half.

Parklane would regain the lead on their second possession of the third quarter. After forcing the Simpson offense into a three and out deep in their own territory the Pioneers took advantage of prime field position at the Cougar 43 yard line.

Senior Dan Gill went off the left side for a quick 15 yards to the Simpson 28 yard line followed by tailback Cole Smith’s tough five yards to the 23. After two straight Brady Lea incompletions Lea would deliver a fourth and five screen pass to Gill who advanced to the Cougar six yard line. Lea bulled his way in on the next play to cap a 6 play, 43 yard drive that took 2:11 off the clock.

A high snap and scramble for the football resulted in Parklane failing to convert on their PAT attempt and with 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter the Pioneers held a 13-7 lead.

Simpson’s next possession had all the makings of disaster. The Cougars moved 32 yards from their own 20 to the Pioneer 48 yard line but Parklane looked to have taken over the entire momentum of the game and the life out of the Simpson home crowd as Justin Reynolds recovered his second fumble of the night. This time a Mason Herrin fumble in the backfield recovered by Reynolds at the Simpson 43 yard line with 10:09 left in regulation.

In what would be a critical moment of the game the Simpson defense held firm in allowing Parklane just three yards in three plays and forcing a Pioneer punt to the Cougar 25 yard line.

It was now Daniel Taylor time.

Taylor ripped off a quick 17 yards on first down to the 42 yard line and added another 7 yards to advance the football to the Cougar 49.

After Maverick Harrison earned a short gain into Pioneer territory to the 47 Taylor would do the rest.

A tough power run up the middle netted the senior another 7 yards to the Parklane 40 yard line but the Pioneer defense held firm and allowed the tailback just five yards on two more consecutive rushes.

Taylor (Photo above) then swept around the left side on first down and hit the afterburners down the sidelines for a 35 yard touchdown sprint to knot the game at 13-13 with 5:32 left in the contest.

Andrew Berry then split the uprights to give Simpson their first lead of the night at 14-13.

“I was a little nervous,” said Berry. “But we came through, hopefully this will get us rolling for the season”

Parklane, facing their first deficit of the night, was afforded prime field position at their own 48 yard line as a result of a Simpson penalty on the Cougar’s PAT that forced Simpson to kick-off from their 25 yard line.

The Pioneers would go in the wrong direction and quickly.

A Brady Lea 26 yard scramble to the Simpson 28 yard line would be called back due to a holding infraction, pushing the Pioneers back to their own 30 yard line with less than four minutes to play.

Lea would then be held to no gain followed by a motion penalty on second down.

Three plays later, facing a fourth and 34, the Pioneers were forced to punt from their own 25 yard line.

Parklane’s offense wouldn’t touch the football again.

Simpson would hold on to the football for the remaining 4:10 to preserve a huge 14-13 opening week win over Class AAA fifth ranked Parklane in the first ever meeting between the two schools.

“This was one of the most physical games I’ve ever been in, said Daniel Taylor. “We were really pumped tonight, we still have a bitter taste in our mouths because of how our season ended last year.”

Taylor led all rushers with 189 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown. Maverick Harrison added 67 yards on 9 carries and a score and Andrew Berry picked up 31 yards on 4 carries.

“Daniel is a warrior,” said Simpson head coach Winston Mullins. “He is a guy that when the chips are on the line you want him to have the football.”

Parklane quarterback Brady Lea rushed for 62 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Lea went 5/16 for 55 yards and a score through the air.

Dan Gill led Parklane’s rushing attack with 63 yards on 7 carries.

Simpson (1-0) will travel to Clinton, LA next Friday to take on the Silliman Wildcats in a huge week two Class AA battle while Parklane (0-1) travels to Brookhaven. 

.

Post Game with Simpson Head Coach Winston Mullins