Simley's football team took the field Friday to a standing ovation as the public address announcer recognized the 2022 Class 4A state champions.
The current Spartans did a convincing impression. Especially junior running back Jerrod Jones.
Simley, despite having only five returning starters from the state championship run, defeated visiting Winona 37-6. Jones ran eight times for 154 yards and contributed four touchdowns. Big numbers for a diminutive player: Jones measures 5-4 and about 150 pounds.
"He's special," Simley coach Chris Mensen said. "He's got that speed you don't see every day. You give that guy a seam and he can take it to the house."
A remarkable night for Jones started with him ripping off a 50-yard scoring run on the game's first drive.
Only 16.2 seconds remained in the first half when junior quarterback Tim Pietsch got the ball to Jones and let him do the rest. Jones turned the short connection into a 29-yard touchdown.
A productive passing game was a welcomed addition to an offense that lost 90% of last season's 3,778 rushing yards to graduation.
But Simley can still hurt opposing defenses on the ground. Jones proved as much by opening the second half with a 76-yard touchdown dash and adding another covering 30 yards. He finished last season as the Spartans' fourth-leading rusher (226 yards).