NEDERLAND — Devon Simmons played like the senior he is against Dayton.

He caught a pass for a touchdown and rushed for three more. He netted 202 yards on 23 carries, picking up one-third of the Bulldogs’ workload on the ground.

“I can really give props to the o-line,” Simmons said. “They got better during the game, so I give it all to them.”

Simmons got better as well. He overcame an injury that hindered him last season — and mistakes earlier in the game.

“We kept feeding him the ball,” Nederland coach Monte Barrow said. “He may have gotten a different mindset after a couple of fumbles. He was a little more intense in his running. I don’t know how many yards he got after contact. I’m pretty sure it was impressive. But, we’re definitely glad he’s on our team.”

At 5-foot-7, 162 pounds, Simmons is a little bigger and a lot healthier from last season, when he still finished with 909 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing. His big game on Sept. 8 was almost one year to the day he broke onto the varsity scene with four rushing touchdowns in a 51-9 rout of Livingston, which the Bulldogs later forfeited because of an ineligible player.

Simmons also sustained a right low ankle sprain that game, costing him three whole games and parts of two others.

“It sucked not helping my team out, so I had to come on strong and get ready for this season,” he said.

Running backs coach Michael Broussard has noticed in his feature back a stronger desire to make an impact on a team that missed the 5A playoffs after five straight years winning at least a share of what is now District 22-5A.

“He had a groin problem his sophomore year and he had an ankle problem his junior year,” he said. “Now that he’s fully healthy, he’s showing his skills and what he can do.”

Senior receiver Kevon Latulas said Simmons has brought a different work ethic to the table this season.

“He comes out here every day and he really had to step it up because of what happened last year,” Latulas said. “We’re trying to be a better team and have a better season.”

For Nederland, another district journey begins Wednesday in Livingston.

It’ll be Barrow’s first district game and second overall as head coach after assisting Larry Neumann for 24 seasons. But the circumstances are a little different.

Nederland and seven other 22-5A teams must turn right around from Wednesday’s game and show up for classes Thursday morning. Vidor is off this week and has yet to open the season thanks to Tropical Storm Harvey.

It’ll be a little more challenging for the Bulldogs because they have to journey some 90 miles north and back. Barrow acknowledged the Bulldogs will get a mental test Thursday morning when they try to fully recuperate from a long bus ride.

Simmons even said he’ll feel tired come that first period. But he’s not backing down from an unusual 22-5A schedule that compresses the next four weeks’ worth of games in three weeks.

“We’re all ready for this district,” Simmons said. “We’re expected to come out on top. That’s why we’re doing these different things and working hard on the little things.”

Latulas also has faith Nederland can jump over this hurdle.

“We’ve overcome a lot this season,” he said. “I think we’ll handle that like we have everything else this season and go full-speed.”
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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews