It took No. 21 Simeon less than one quarter to show Vocational it meant business as the Wolverines won 48-0 in Red Bird action Saturday night at Gately Stadium.
Running back Dion Earls Jr. paved the way as he scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the game on a 46-yard run with 8:47 remaining in the first quarter and a 16-yard pass from Timon Watkins with 7:53 remaining to give the Wolverines a 14-0 lead. Earls also scored on a 16-yard run late in the second quarter. Later Matt Fleming scored on a 40-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dakota Turner.
Earls finished his night when he opened the third quarter with a 95-yard kickoff return to push Simeon’s 28-0 halftime lead to 35-0. Coach Dante Culbreath substituted liberally from that point on.
Quentin Bolton took advantage of his playing time and scored on a 6-yard run as did Ralphe Gross who went in from nine yards out to close the scoring for Simeon (5-1, 3-0).
Culbreath said no matter who he plays or what the score is there is a purpose in every game. “We are just trying to get better,” he said. “We need to stay sharp. Playoffs are just around the corner.”
Culbreath was also glad to get his reserves some time on the field. “I was pleased with the way they did not lose their intensity when they got an opportunity to play.”
Vocational coach Larry Williams said there was a silver lining for his Cavaliers (2-4, 1-2): “We are a young team and we only have six seniors and we played one of the best teams in the state,” Williams said. “Our day is going to come. Our entire line is made up of sophomores. All we have to do is keep working hard and try to obtain our goals.”
Earls said great blocking enabled him to run the way he did. “The line did an excellent job,” he said. “All I had to do was read and react. On the kickoff I saw the lane open up and it was my job to get there. I followed the blocks and was fortunate enough to take it all the way to the end zone.”
Earls in limited action gained 65 yards on five carries.
The Simeon defense limited the Cavalier offense to 96 yards of offense, all rushing.
