Simpson prepping for week one battle with Parklane

Southern Sports & Travel

Simpson Academy has had nine months to let their season ending 21-17 playoff loss to eventual state champion Brookhaven fester and on Friday night in Mendenhall the Cougars will have the opportunity to prove they are worthy of a Class AA preseason top ranking. The perennial power football program came up short in defending their 2011 state championship crown in that loss to Brookhaven but excitement abounds about the potential of this year’s squad.

The 2013 version will be without a familiar face on the sidelines as head coach Billy Wayne Hankins stepped down in May to take on the duties of headmaster at Simpson. Hankins led the Cougar program to four state championships and over the past four seasons compiled a 44-8 record and four consecutive district titles.

While Hankins will not be directing the squad any longer the program will be in steady hands as Winston Mullins steps into that role.

“Coach Hankins came to me in May when then headmaster David Granville had decided to take the Bayou Academy job and asked if I was willing to take over and I said of course if our current staff stays intact,” said Mullins. “I was all in. I ‘ve been coaching these kids since the seventh grade so they won’t have to adapt to a new system.”

Mullins, who is beginning his 13^th year at Simpson, doesn’t get an easy task to open the season as Class AAA and fifth ranked Parklane rolls into town. “Our schedule is unbelievable,” said Mullins. “The MAIS didn’t do us any favors.”

With seven starters returning on offense a seasoned tailback combination and offensive line will anchor one of the best power running games in the MAIS. Senior tailbacks Daniel Taylor and Andrew Berry will lead a deep stable of tailbacks that include seniors Hayden Benton and Austin Burney, juniors Patrick and Maverick Harrison and sophomore Landon Herrington.  Taylor led the running game last season with 1,155 yards while Berry contributed with 685.

The all-important quarterback position will be manned by senior Mason Herring who has been the backup the past two seasons and has three years of experience in the Simpson program. “If Mason can stay healthy we feel good about that position,” said Simpson head coach Winston Mullins.

The Cougars will run a multiple set offense but make no mistake what the objective will be………pound the football and control the line of scrimmage.

On defense Simpson is like most teams in today’s era of competing against spread offenses. “Now a days you really can’t say what type defense you run,” said Mullins. “Against a vanilla offense we run a 4-3 but these days vanilla offenses are rare. Back when I played and when I first started coaching if you started in a 50 or 40 defense you could stay in it but now with spread offenses and five wide-outs with an empty backfield it’s hard to run conventional defenses any longer.”

Five starters from 2012 fill positions on the defensive side of the football but if there is a weakness it may be in the Cougar secondary. The front seven is gifted with experience and lots of ability but it may take time for the secondary to come into its’ own. The task for Simpson’s secondary just got a little harder as senior defensive back Cade Caughman injured a knee in last week’s Jamboree action.

“Our expectations this season are the same as always at Simpson, we expect to get to the playoffs and try and win it”, said Mullins.

Simpson’s chances of winning their second state title in three years will more than likely depend on two areas; staying healthy and solid signal calling from senior quarterback Mason Herring. If Herring displays the leadership skills needed to lead the offense and minimizes turning the football over the Cougars could be a difficult match up in November.

“We have some guys who haven’t gotten many real game snaps but if they display the ability to manage the game and avoid mistakes I think we’ll be fine,” said Mullins.

The new Class AA and Class A playoff format has been received with widespread approval and Mullins echoed that sentiment. “I think it’s a good thing, I’m interested to see how it’s all going to play out. It allows a chance for the best two teams to meet in the state championship game whether they’re from the north or south.”

Bennett Mullins has years of coaching experience and this Friday night’s season opener against Parklane will be his first as a varsity head coach but Mullins doesn’t hesitate in saying that he’ll have those butterflies in the pit of his stomach. “It would have been nice to have known that the first game would have been against someone you know you could show up and whip but Friday night is going to be a dogfight,” said Mullins. “I will have a nervous excitement at kickoff but we’re excited and looking forward to the challenge against Parklane.”