LUMBERTON – In the end, Simmons made just enough plays to keep Lumberton from spoiling its undefeated season.
Despite the Panthers winning the turnover battle, it was the Blue Devils that took advantage of Lumberton's untimely mistakes as Simmons held on for a 22-18 win in the third round of the Class 1A playoffs.
The game-deciding play perfectly illustrated that as the Blue Devils faced fourth-and-5 with a minute to go, holding a four-point lead with just under two minutes to go at the Lumberton 15-yard line. The Panthers' chance to stage a comeback looked even more favorable after Simmons was called for a 5-yard penalty. Instead, Simmons' quarterback scrambled for an 11-yard, and the Blue Devils unpoetically ended Lumberton's season.
"It was just one of those deals where you get the breaks some nights and some nights you don't," Lumberton coach Jonathan Ladner said. "We got some breaks, but we didn't get those key, crucial breaks. We made some penalties and hurt ourselves offensively, particularly a lot in the fourth quarter. We got behind the chains, and with a great defense like Simmons, if you get behind the chains, then they smell blood and go for the kill. They got us tonight on several things."
Simmons took the lead on its first drive after marching down the field on a 7-play, 61-yard drive that was capped off by a 2-yard touchdown for Pretavis Madison. However, Simmons (12-) failed on its two-point conversion attempt to keep the score 6-0
With four minutes left in the second quarter, penalties put the Blue Devils behind the chains deep in its territory. Lumberton then blocked the punt and set up an easy touchdown for quarterback Lathen Bowens, but a missed PAT left the score tied 6-6.
Simmons managed to stay ahead just before halftime after putting together a 6-play scoring drive that ended with Madison coming down with a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kenzavius Lundy. Madison then scored the two-point conversion to make the score 14-6 by halftime.
Lumberton's second turnover came at the start of the third quarter after the Blue Devils fumbled the ball away. Three plays later, Bowens connected with wide receiver Chase Toney for a 21-yard touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion left the Panthers trailing 14-12.
Lumberton maintained the momentum by taking advantage of short field position after penalties by Simmons pushed them deep in its own territory to set up a 9-yard touchdown run for Bowens. By the end of the night, the senior quarterback finished 7 of 12 and passed for 54 yards and a touchdown while running for 114 yards and two scores.
"When it's all said and done, I think we'll be able to look back at the season Lathen was able to produce this year and say wow," Ladner said. "The kid is going to be close to 2,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards and close to 40 touchdowns by the time it's all said and done. I would dare to say that's not just the all-time Lumberton season, but put that up against anybody in the history of Mississippi.
"Seasons like that don't happen because of just one kid. They happen because of a group of kids. Lathen is a special kid, but he has special friends around him. That's what made this season so much fun."
Despite Lumberton's success in the third quarter, the Panthers didn't establish sustainable success on offense. Simmons outgained Lumberton 159 yards to 60 in the entire second half. After the Blue Devils answered Lumberton's score with a 16-yard touchdown run just before the end of the third quarter, Simmons dominated the time of possession to seal its win.
"I can't say enough about this group of seniors that I've had for four years to weather what they have weathered and endure what they endured to get Lumberton back to where we are supposed to be," Ladner said. "I can't say enough about those 13 kids. They fought to the last minute.
"I'm very excited about the future we have. We return a good nucleus. I think there are still bright days ahead for Lumberton football."
Lumberton ends the season with a 10-3 overall record.
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