By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
James Simon knew coming in.
It certainly didn’t surprise Parkway Baptist coach Stefan LeFors.
Friday night’s Select Division III quarterfinal between the Cavaliers and visiting Eagles, two of this century’s elite in LHSAA football with a combined eight state titles and a slew of victories, pivoted on the performance of Simon, Calvary’s 6-foot, 200-pound junior running back, who had previously been an intentionally underutilized attribute in CBA’s offense.
Finally, in the season’s 12th game, given primary responsibility, he thrived, and so did Calvary. Simon produced 350 total yards – 326 rushing on 22 carries, including four second-half touchdowns – powering the unbeaten Cavs past the Eagles, 49-28 going away, at Jerry Barker Field.
Calvary scored – make that Simon scored – three fourth-quarter TDs to polish off a determined Parkview squad which entered the final period with a shot, but went home to Baton Rouge finished at 10-3.
“We got it to a one-score game, 28-20, and I felt like hey, if we could put some pressure on these guys, because they’ve boat-raced a lot of people, let’s see what happens,” said LeFors. “It came down to them making a whole lot more plays than us. 31 just took over.
“He’s a great back. You could tell right when you cut the film on, he’s a special back, the total package.”
Simon had 110 rushing yards on eight carries by halftime as Calvary led 21-13, in typical Cavs style with three Abram Wardell touchdown passes. Two went to Kolby Thomas, a catch-and-run twister of 34 yards followed by a 5-yard slant. A 10-yarder to Taylor Guerrero midway through the opening quarter opened the scoring, and Thomas’ first TD early in the second period came 28 seconds after the Eagles tied it at 7.
Simon made sure they never got even again, with a second-half showcase (216 rushing yards on 14 carries, including TDs of 4, 2, 77 and 3 yards) that head coach Rodney Guin had saved for when it mattered most – in a rugged playoff battle, one that rewarded second-seeded CBA with a homefield semifinal contest against No. 3 Newman (10-1) next Friday.
All his attributes were evident – agility, speed, strength, vision, and desire – a blend which enchants college recruiters. One trait stood out to his coach.
“He runs with so much effort,” said Guin.
“That dude, he makes our job easy,” said junior offensive guard Hayden Darner. “He hits holes downhill, he does what the coaches say.”
He hit those holes more impactfully than ever after Calvary missed a chance to carry a three-score lead into halftime. The Cavs dodged a threat and created one, then immediately saw the margin trimmed to 21-13 following a crazy two-play sudden change sequence in the closing minute.
Parkview had first-and-goal at the CBA 9 when safety Landon Sylvie (who blocked a field goal earlier) intercepted in the end zone and nearly pulled off a pick six, hauled down at the Eagles 23. On the next play, Wardell was walloped on a blind-side sack and fumbled. Parkview’s Jackson Byerley snagged it on a short hop, then raced 69 yards to tighten things considerably.
The Cavs didn’t blink.
“It’s a veteran team. They know we can score,” said Guin. “They fought right back, came out in the second half and started with a touchdown, and that got the momentum back with us.”
Wardell’s 37-yard strike to Aubrey Hermes on the second snap after halftime triggered a five-play response, ended with Simon’s 2-yard plunge for a 28-13 advantage. Although Parkview narrowed it with a 10-play answer, Calvary’s fierce pass rush eventually harried Abram Johnston into a costly interception by Julius Moss near midfield late in the third period.
Wardell and Thomas connected on the next three plays to start a nine-play, 73-yard march finished by Simon’s 2-yard score. It was 35-20 with 10:27 left, and Simon was off to a 168-yard fourth quarter.
Calvary’s defense bent but didn’t break again, forcing three straight PBHS incompletions, the last on fourth down when linebacker Heath Gross batted down a Johnston toss at the Cavs’ 23.
Then Simon took complete command. He dashed the distance on the next snap for a 42-20 lead as 5:55 remained. The Eagles struck back quickly on a 35-yard TD pass but Hutch Grace collected their onside kick. Simon slayed them on the following play with a 37-yard burst, when he passed the Cavs’ single-game rushing record, followed right away by the clinching 3-yard TD with 4:58 left.
“He is the man. People wonder all year why we don’t give him the ball a bunch,” said Guin. “This is the reason, right here. He is healthy and ready to go. In these big games, you saw what he can do. He’s a fantastic football player.”
Simon embraced the task.
“I knew from the start of the game I was going to have to take over. You have to establish the run coming in, and I knew for a fact I was going to establish it,” he said. “I was going to do all I could to establish it. I did.
“We were expecting when the run was going, they would jump into a different (defensive) formation, and we’d throw it, but they didn’t. You saw the second half. We just ran it all over them. That was the plan, and it happened.”
The secret to his success? Not to overlook the O-line’s quality work, cited by Guin and Simon, but the key was apparent:
“I came out here and played as hard as I could,” said Simon.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
CALVARY BAPTIST 49, PARKVIEW BAPTIST 28
Parkview Baptist 0 13 7 8 – 28
Calvary Baptist 7 14 7 21 – 49
CBA – Taylor Guerrero 10 pass from Abram Wardell (Ty Knight kick)
PB – Kayden Tureaud 18 pass from Abram Johnston (Gavin Higgins kick)
CBA – Kolby Thomas 34 pass from Wardell (Knight kick)
CBA – Thomas 5 pass from Wardell (Knight kick)
PB – Jackson Byerley 69 fumble return (kick blocked)
CBA – James Simon 4 run (Knight kick)
PB – Tureaud 7 run (Higgins kick)
CBA – Simon 2 run (Knight kick)
CBA – Simon 77 run (Knight kick)
PB – Brock Comeaux 35 pass from Johnston (Jack Herrington pass from Johnston)
CBA – Simon 3 run (Knight kick)
RUSHING – PB, (40-178) Tureaud 31-139, 1 TD, Johnston 8-38, Mason Warren 1-1. CBA (27-355), Simon 22-326, 4 TDs; Wardell 3-20, Julius Moss 2-13.
PASSING – PB, Johnston 17-36-2-211, 2 TDs. CBA, Wardell 14-18-0-206, 3 TDs.
RECEIVING – PB, Comeaux 6-93, 1 TD; Herrington 5-58, Tureaud 2-19, 1 TD; CJ DeLeon 2-27. CBA, Thomas 8-76, 2 TDs; Aubrey Hermes 3-80, James Simon 2-24, John Simon 1-16, Guerrero 1-10, 1 TD