The task can’t be much tougher for Lumberton as the Panthers host undefeated Simmons.
“They are a typical Simmons team,” Lumberton coach Jonathan Ladner said. “They are solid up front, athletic, and can run. I think we have played them three times in the history of the school, and every time we have watched them play, they play hard on defense. They run to the football and they have a solid run game.”
The Blue Devils (11-0) have dominated every team they have faced, as they surrendered just 12 points the entire regular season, pitched seven shutouts and outscored teams 486-34. In the playoffs, Simmons defeated Enterprise (58-14) and Stringer (46-8).
However, Simmons’ opponents this season hold a combined record of 45-70, with only three teams having winning records. By comparison, Lumberton (10-2) has won eight straight games but has faced only four teams with a winning record, with its opponents holding a combined record of 53-75.
“It’s tough to compare schedules and score compare,” Ladner said. “Every Friday night is its own puzzle. Yes, they have dominated their schedule, and it’s no secret that they are really good. They were in the third round last year, but looking at their schedule, they have not played a close-ball game. Our mindset this week. How do they react in a close ball game?”
The three key players for Simmons are Eddie George, Prentavis Madison and Kensavius Lundy.
“They are the guys that fuel the fire for them,” Ladner said. “They are the big play guys. They make tackles on defense. They are on the field literally for everything.
“(George) and (Madison) play running back, but (Madison) will play some receiver. (Madison) is also one of their inside linebackers. (Lundy) plays defensive end and H-back for them. (George) is also a linebacker and in the secondary. Those are the three guys that they have built around, and rightfully so. Those are their three best guys and they can play.”
Defensively, Simmons bases primarily out of a 5-man front.
“They base out of a 5-2,” Ladner said. “It’s something that we have seen a lot this year. People stack the box against us and try to take away our run game.
“They have exclusively played that, but I’d say 90% of the time they have been in the form of a five-man front. The one thing that this Simmons team doesn’t have that their teams in the past have had is size. Their lineman, I hate to say it, are average-sized kids. They don’t have these big 250-275-pound linemen that we see and play.
“Looking at the schedule and not trying to boost us, boost them, or downplay anybody, I think Friday night, they will be the best team that we have seen, and we are going to be the best team they have seen. That means two football teams are going to play on Friday night. We are both each other’s best opponents now.”
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