Sometimes it’s not about how big your weapons are, but how many you have.
The Hamilton High School football team has an arsenal of offensive weapons loaded and ready to go at 7 tonight when it plays host to Hollandale Simmons in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A North State playoffs.
“When you have more than one person who can carry the ball it helps,” Hamilton junior running back Deion Howard said. “It is hard to stop everybody.”
That’s why Hamilton coach Ray Weeks said his team’s double-slot formation on offense has helped the Lions to a 9-2 record and a second-place finish in Class 2A, Region 2.
“I don’t think there is a defense known to man we haven’t seen,” Weeks said of the strategies opponents have employed against the Lions this season. “We are able to make game-time adjustments and you can’t just stop one person. That’s what makes it so good.”
The Lions have four weapons in the backfield for opponents to try and defuse. That doesn’t take into account the passing attack.
Senior Zarrat Sims is the quarterback, sophomore Quinshay Heard is the fullback, and Howard and senior Cojuante McMillan are the slotbacks.
“The balance makes us pretty good and stretches the defense a little,” Weeks said. “No matter what our opponents do, we just go with what we do best. We try to dictate things to our opponents’ defense.”
Hamilton enters its first home playoff game in a decade coming off a 41-35 overtime loss to Ackerman last week in a game that decided the region championship.
While the loss was disappointing, Weeks said his team is using it as motivation.
“Some of the boys told me it made them hungrier,” he said. “I think they got a lot out of the game and are even more focused. They want to win. They honestly have a goal, and it’s get to Jackson (for the 2A state title game).”
Said McMillian, “We can go as far as we prepare ourselves to go. We have great expectations. We do want to win a championship, but you have to take one game at a time.”
Howard said all eyes are on tonight’s game.
“We have been practicing hard all week. Now we just have to go in (Friday) and come out with a win,” Howard said. “Everybody has been excited about the big game at home and having a big crowd.”
The loss to Ackerman snapped a seven-game winning streak, but Hamilton hopes to start another one against Simmons (6-4), which finished third in Region 4. Simmons’ only league losses came to South Delta (28-20) on Oct. 7 and to West Bolivar (35-6) last Friday night. Both of those games were on the road.
Simmons began the season with back-to-back non-league losses to Port Gibson (20-12) and Cleveland East Side (36-22).
“They are big up front,” Weeks said of the Blue Devils. “They have a couple capable backs and their quarterback can throw a little bit. The way we look at it, when you get in the playoffs everybody is pretty good. You better bring your ‘A’ game. You have one bad night and you are done.”
Said McMillian, “We were expecting a good season. We have got to trust in each other. We have known each other for four years and we have good chemistry.”
Weeks hopes that chemistry pays off in a win tonight. If Hamilton wins it will take on the winner of the matchup between Region 3 champion Mound Bayou JFK and Region 1 fourth-place team Okolona in the second round.
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