Carlson's Timmy Simons leads All-Region Defense

Timmy Simons isn’t built like a typical linebacker.

The Gibraltar Carlson senior only weighs about 157 pounds.

“It’s a little challenging," he admits. "It took me a lot more to get off blocks than other people.”

But Simons has the skills to get off block.

He learned some tricks on the mat.

Simons, who was a state runner-up in wrestling last winter, used the tricks of leverage and balance he used in that sport to dominate on the football field.

“Pound for pound, Timmy is the toughest kid I’ve coached,” Carlson coach Jason Gendron said. “He had a knack for coming up with big play after big play for our defense.”

Simons who finished with 134 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 pass break ups and 15 quarterback pressures has been named Monroe County Region Defense Player of the Year in voting by The Monroe News.

It was a tough vote. Simons, Bedford's Trey Brueggemann and Jake Iott of Whiteford all were All-State linebackers this season.

If it wasn’t already difficult enough for 157-pound Simons to play linebacker at the Division 3 level, he had to do it most of this season with a broken hand.

He broke it in practice before the Marauders’ Week 4 game against Trenton and played the next four games with a bulky cast on his right hand.

“Initially, the doctor said my season probably should be over,” he said. “But the second and third doctor said as long as I wore a big cast and clubbed it, I could play. I couldn’t hurt it any more. It would just be a little painful.”

Simons accepted that deal without hesitation.

He just kept making tackles. It actually hampered him more on offense than defense.

Simons was scheduled to be a pass-catching wingback for the Marauders this season. Catching the football with a cast was not reasonable, so he switched to a blocking fullback.

That actually turned out to be a blessing for Carlson, which was transitioning from a spread offense to a power attack.

“They just put me at fullback and told me to block people,” he said.

Simons says his wrestling training gave him a big advantage in football.

“I’m always the low man,” he said. “And wrestling taught me overall grit and toughness."

Simons believes more football players should wrestle.

“I am actually extremely surprised that they don’t,” he said. “Wrestling and football go together. Even college athletes talk about that. A football player can get more out of wrestling than basketball or some other sport.”

Another secret to Simons’ massive tackle numbers were the guys who played on Carlson’s defensive line.

“We had a great defensive line,” he said. “I was blessed to have those guys in front of me. There were not many times when (offensive) linemen were able to get to me.”

Now Simons has to make a decision.

He has to decide what sport he wants to play in college and what school he wants to attend.

It won’t be easy.

He may try to find a school that will allow him to play football and wrestle.

“They both have a special place in my heart,” he said.

ALL-REGION DEFENSE

TYLER BOERST

Bedford

6-0, 200, 12

Notched 9 tackles for loss among his 20 tackles. He also served as a team captain and was the Mules’ second-leading rusher. “Fast!” said Monroe coach Dave Mifsud. “Very effective player. Good on both sides of the ball.”

BRIAN BOOMS

Flat Rock

5-10, 160, 11

The defensive back had 70 tackles, 4 interceptions and blocked 2 punts. “Brian Booms did everything for our team," Flat Rock coach Buck Reaume said. “He was a ball hawking safety who loved to come up and hit.”

COOPER BUHL

Dundee

6-0, 190, 11

Recorded 119 tackles, 18 for loss, 4 sacks, forced 2 fumbles, recovered 2 and broke up 3 passes. “He’s a tough kid that knows how to tackle and play defense,” said Dundee coach Steve Ayre.

TREY BRUEGGEMANN

Bedford

6-1, 215, 12

The linebacker had 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks among his 86 tackles. “Trey is a monster on defense,” Bedford coach John Phillips said. “He senses where the ball is going, finds it, and makes the play.”

RORY CALLAHAN

Huron

6-4, 220, 12

The four-year starter is headed to Central Michigan next year to play defensive end. “He’s big, athletic, a good student, very coachable and a good leader,” Huron coach Tom Hoover said. “He was dominant.”

RILEY DeSARBO

SMCC

5-10, 195, 12

Recorded 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 66 tackles. “Riley is a high-motor kid,” SMCC coach Adam Kipf said. “He is all high gear. He disrupted many backfields and hurried many throws this year.”

JOEY GODFREY

Flat Rock

5-7, 180, 12

The three-year starter at linebacker logged 75 tackles. “Joe was a captain who started every game for us this year at running back and linebacker and rarely came off the field,” said Flat Rock coach Buck Reaume.

TOMMY HUSS

Bedford

6-4, 220, 12

The defensive end racked up 11 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 20 quarterback pressures and 52 tackles. “There is no better pass rusher in the Region,” Bedford coach John Phillips said. “He impacted every game he played.”

MAKHI HYDEN

Monroe

5-11, 250, 12

The anchor of Monroe’s defense was difficult to move off the line. He had 41 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. “He was our best defensive lineman,” said Monroe coach Dave Mifsud. “Good, strong and tough.”

JAKE IOTT

Whiteford

6-1, 185, 11

Broke Whiteford’s school record for tackles in a season with 180, including 7 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. “I believe he is by far the best linebacker in the county,” Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said.

DAKOTA KOHN

Summerfield

6-0, 205, 12

The linebacker amassed 94 tackles. “Dakota was our defensive captain and play caller,” Summerfield coach Alex Lipka said. “He did a phenomenal job getting our defense right. Every team we played game planned around Kohn.”

MICHAEL LABOE

SMCC

6-1, 160, 12

Came up from the defensive backfield to make 48 tackles to go along with 15 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. “He is brilliant in the classroom and on the field,” said SMCC coach Adam Kipf. “He was special for us.”

ZACH LINDSAY

Ida

6-0, 210, 12

Ida’s captain logged 62 tackles at defensive end. “Zach Lindsay is a strong and physical football player, but his greatest asset is his unselfishness,” Ida coach Jeff Potter said. “Zach always put the team first.”

NATHAN MASSERANT

Jefferson

5-10, 225, 12

The linebacker finished with 62 tackles, including 6 for loss. “Mass anchored our line for the last couple years,” Jefferson coach Eric Tipton said. “He has the unique combo of size, strength, and speed.”

NATHAN MILLER

Ida

5-11, 155, 12

Was a three-year starter at quarterback and recorded 80 tackles this season as a safety. “Strong-willed and tough,” Ida coach Jeff Potter said. “Nathan gave relentless effort on both sides of the ball.”

JACK MILLS

Airport

6-1, 175, 11

Airport’s leader on defense from the safety position logged 72 tackles. “Jack has been the QB of our defense for three years,” Airport coach Jim Duffy said. “He is as tough as any player I've coached.”

LOUDEN MURBACH

Erie Mason

5-9, 150, 12

Led the Eagles with 124.5 tackles including 5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. He forced 3 fumbles. “He had a nose for the ball and was one of the best linebackers at Erie Mason over the last two decades,” Mason coach Steve Bowers said.

BEN PRZYTULA

Carlson

6-4, 250, 12

The defensive end has multiple Division II offers after recording 40 tackles and 7 sacks. “Ben commanded double teams at all times,” Carlson coach Jason Gendron said. “Teams ran away from him.”

BRAYDEN RATLIFF

Dundee

5-10, 215, 12

Excelled on both sides of the line and as a kicker. He didn’t allow a sack all season, had 38.5 tackles including 3.5 sacks on defense and went 19-for-22 on PATs, 7-for-10 on field goals and averaged 55.2 yards on kickoffs.

RYIN RUDDY

Whiteford

6-1, 170, 11

The three-year starter came up from the defensive backfield to record 103 tackles, including 5 for loss, and intercepted 4 passes. “He is a tenacious tackler,” Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said.

FLANNERY WAYNE

Milan

6-0, 234, 12

The three-year starter created havoc from defensive tackle, pili

SPECIAL MENTION DEFENSE

Line: Mike Beaudrie, Flat Rock; Jesse Brown, Huron; Logan Goodin, Erie Mason; Nolan Laskey. Bedford; Michael Maurer, Milan; John Nolan, Erie Mason; Trey Parker, Dundee; William Walline Milan;  Seamus Waterford, Whiteford.

Linebacker: Roman Beck, Monroe; Rocco Breslin, Flat Rock; Nathan Dotson, Bedford; Drew Given, Flat Rock; Drew Knaggs, Whiteford; Cole Kreger, Erie Mason; Kaden Kull, Airport; Seth Minney, Jefferson; Micah Smith, Huron.

Back: Kirby Carsten, Ida; Luke Davis, Bedford; Ethan Layton, Dundee; Patrick Lipford, SMCC; Logan Loveland, Monroe; Hayden Noland, Summerfield.

Punter: Brayden Richard, Monroe.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Carlson's Timmy Simons leads All-Region Defense