2010 Player Spotlights: Victor Simmons

Victor Simmons
Olathe North

Position: Quarterback/Safety
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180lbs.
Class: Senior

Stat to Note
Last season Simmons split time at the quarterback position with David Blazevic, but Simmons was really just a glorified running back rushing for 1,034 yards on 128 carries.

Scouting Report
With his commitment to play football at Kansas now official, Simmons will have the "Division One" tag to live up to during the season. He projects as Olathe North's starting quarterback and safety and will play a vital role in the Eagles attempt at their second state championship in as many years.

Simmons' speed is what sets him apart from the majority of the Sunflower League (a common theme among the Olathe North skill position players). While it's hard to imagine Olathe North putting any more of an emphasis on the running game, it may be the reality with Simmons as the full time quarterback. Last season Blazevic would be subbed in to throw the passes, but with his graduation, that task may now be left to Simmons who isn't quite a polished passer.

Regardless, Olathe North's emphasis is going to continue to be running the football for success. Simmons could very easily eclipse 1,500 rushing yards in 2010, filling some of the void that will be left with James Franklin's graduation.

Defensively Simmons will be the center point of what should be the top secondary in the Sunflower League. He, along with Dominick Wilson and Adonis Saunders should have no problem shutting down opposing passing attacks.

State Championship Results

Olathe North 37, Wichita Heights 3

A collective sigh of relief could be heard from the Olathe North faithful as the final whistle blew during Saturday's 6A title game. Olathe North, who won seven 6A state championships from 1996 to 2003, was finally back on top.

Olathe North came out focused on established their running game early, and often. Simone favorite James Franklin (below) carried the ball three times on the opening drive for 72 yards, with the last carry going for 25 yards and a touchdown to put Olathe North up 7-0. Wichita Heights kicker Chris Farley booted a 28 yard field goal, before Olathe North's Victor Simmons (bottom) scored on a 15 yard touchdown run.

On paper Olathe North controlled the first half (outgaining Wichita Heights in yards 228-61), but only came away with a 14-3 advantage at halftime.

In the third quarter the Eagles dominant run game began to take its toll on the Wichita Heights defense. Franklin added touchdowns on runs of 5, and 68 yards to push the Olathe North lead to 25 points. In the fourth quarter, Olathe North linebacker Kyle Swartz forced a safety, before quarterback David Blazevic added a rushing touchdown later in the quarter to seal the deal, 37-3.

Olathe North is now 8-1 in state championship games, with this title being the school's first since John McCall led the 2003 squad to a 10-3 record and 6A title.

Game Stats

Rushing—Wichita Heights, Smith 13-70, Ross 10-12, Deshazer 3-6, Jones 3-4, Reed 9-(-6), Moreland 4-(-23). Olathe North, Franklin 32-269, Simmons 11-62, Saunders 1-9, Walker 2-2, Blazevic 1-1.
Passing—Wichita Heights, Moreland 2-4-26-0, Reed 2-7-18-0. Olathe North, Blazevic 4-6-86-1, Simmons 0-1-0-0.
Receiving—Wichita Heights, Smith 2-16, Strand 1-15, Taylor 1-13. Olathe North, Peete 2-45, Swartz 2-41.

Sub-State Review

Olathe North 16, Blue Valley 14

Friday night turned out to be one of the more epic Sub-State contests the East side of the 6A bracket has seen in years. The action got interesting in the first quarter when Olathe North's James Franklin uncharacteristically fumbled the ball just inside the Blue Valley 10 yard line. Later on in the quarter Tre Walker botched a punt that Blue Valley was able to recover. The Tigers took advantage of the second fumble when Anthony Abenoja completed a pass Jacob McDermott for a 28 yard score. Olathe North was able to tie the score in the second quarter when Walker completed a touchdown drive with a two yard plunge.

The third quarter played out with neither team scoring. Early in the fourth quarter Abenoja once again led the Tigers down the field after yet another Olathe North fumble. This time Abenoja hit PJ DeBey (bottom) on a 13 yard pass to help Blue Valley gain a 14-7 lead.

With time quickly winding down in the fourth quarter Olathe North compiled a nice drive to set up a one yard touchdown run by quarterback David Blazevic. However, in a all too familiar scene for the Eagles, kicker Jared Morss botched the extra point, and kept Olathe North from evening the score (Morss' missed extra point ultimately prevented Olathe North from defeating Blue Valley in 2008).

Olathe North was able to regain possession and drive all the way to the Blue Valley 16 yard-line with a mere 14 seconds remaining in the half. This time, Morss delivered on the 33 yard field goal attempt (below). The score put Olathe North up for good, 16-14.

For the second year in a row Blue Valley fell just short of advancing to the 6A title game, despite a valiant effort and one of the biggest last season turnarounds in Johnson County high school football history. Olathe North advances to their first state championship game since 2004.

Game Stats (courtesy TheOlatheNews.com):

Rushing
Olathe North: James Franklin 30-213, Victor Simmons 18-132, David Blazevic 1-1, Tre Walker 4-5, Dominick Wilson 2-14, Team 0-6. Blue Valley: Anthony Abenoja 16-63, Justin Fulks 10-38.

Passing
Olathe North: Blazevic 1-3-0 9. Blue Valley: Abenoja 11-28-0 168.

Receiving
Olathe North (1-9): Jason Peete 1-9. Blue Valley (11-168): PJ DeBey 5-67, Matt Hamblin 3-34, Jacob McDermott 1-28, Connor Rusnak 2-39.

Regional Recap

Olathe North 42, SM East 14

Olathe North took home a 28 point victory Friday night using their quarterback rotation of David Blazevic and Victor Simmons to perfection. Blazevic hit Jason Peete on a 60 yard touchdown strike before Simmons scored on a 26 yard option keeper with 2:40 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles slowed in the second quarter, and SM East closed the margin to seven points before the half when John Schrock hit an outstretched Kevin Hertel with a 26 yard touchdown pass. The second half, however, was all Olathe North. Three touchdown runs and a 49 yard touchdown pass from Blazevic to Adonis Saunders (below) put the Eagles up comfortably in the victory.

Blue Valley Northwest 38, Olathe Northwest 25

Blue Valley Northwest quarterback Koby Chadick came out determined to get his Huskies to the next round of the playoffs--207 rushing yards and five touchdowns later his team came out on top. Olathe Northwest, who was making their second playoff appearance in school history, stayed competitive throughout the game on several big touchdowns from Devon Boyce but it wasn't enough. Chadick threw a touchdown pass to Matt Ornduff in the first quarter, and went on to add at least one touchdown run in each of the last three quarters. Blue Valley Northwest will face rival Blue Valley next week in a rematch of a Sectional round thriller from 2008.

Blue Valley 42, SM West 18

For the second year in a row SM West faced an upstart Blue Valley school district team in the first round of the playoffs, and came up short. Blue Valley was led by senior quarterback Anthony Abenoja (below) who scored a combined six touchdowns--three rushing and three passing. The 42 points were the most a SM West defense has given up since losing 42-0 to Olathe North on September 17, 2004. In his last game as the SM West quarterback DJ Balazs completed 10 of 23 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

Lawrence Free State 38, Olathe East 7

In a strong defensive effort, Lawrence Free State held Olathe East to a mere 132 yards of total offense, allowing the lone touchdown on a 73 yard pass from Carter McEntee to Chris Fields. In total five different Firebirds scored touchdowns in addition to a field goal by Gabe Ballard-Hanson. With the victory Free State avenged a week one loss to the Hawks. The Firebirds other blemish came against Olathe North, a team they will be facing Friday.