This week’s personalities: Catching up with Redbird standouts Simpson & Frankford

Jim Brewer
·4 min read
Earning all-Ohio honorable mentions were Redbird football players Micah Simpson, standing, a defensive end and wide receiver, and Zach Frankford, receiver and corner.
Earning all-Ohio honorable mentions were Redbird football players Micah Simpson, standing, a defensive end and wide receiver, and Zach Frankford, receiver and corner.

Loudonville High’s football team had a much-improved 7-5 record this season, a far cry from last year’s 1-9 campaign.

Playing a major part in the team’s resurgence was a fine senior class. Seven of the 11 or 12 starters on the team were seniors.

Loudonville High School's Zach Frankford (5) during football action between Utica and Loudonville at Redbird Stadium on Aug. 26.
Loudonville High School's Zach Frankford (5) during football action between Utica and Loudonville at Redbird Stadium on Aug. 26.

As post-season accolades came in across the state, two of those seniors, defensive end Micah Simpson and corner/wide receiver Zach Frankford were named all-Ohio honorable mentions in Ohio Division VI.

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Redbirds had 'something to prove'

Frankford, son of Jeff and Erin Frankford of Loudonville, said the senior season was gratifying.

“We had something to prove,” he said. “My freshman through junior years we had a combined record of 5-24. Part of the reason was we were playing in a conference, the President’s Conference, that was over our heads, but I still think we were looked down upon. We took that feeling to heart, and, now competing in the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference (KMAC) where we were matched much better with our opponents, size-wise, we had a winning season, and that changed the culture regarding football here.

“We won five straight games before dropping a heartbreaker in the second round of the playoffs to Nelsonville York,” he continued. “I’m pretty proud of that.”

Both all-Ohioans played both offense and defense for the Redbirds. Simpson made 62 tackles on the season from his defensive end slot, including 16 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback sacks.

Loudonville High's Micah Simpson (21) tackles Centerburg's Tyler Johnson during a Sept. 16 game.
Loudonville High's Micah Simpson (21) tackles Centerburg's Tyler Johnson during a Sept. 16 game.

He is a relative newcomer to football. Until his junior year, he attended Temple Christian High School in Mansfield, which doesn't have a football team. He played soccer and basketball there, and also played on a traveling soccer team in the spring.

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“However, I loved football, loved watching it and playing it, so I talked my parents (Brian and Linda Simpson of Loudonville) into letting me transfer to Loudonville so I could play football,” he said. “My mom was reluctant about the change, but came around this year, telling me she wished she would have allowed me to play football earlier.

“You don’t just walk on the field and become an all-Ohioan,” he said. “My junior year I did a lot of learning on how to play the game, something that showed up in my stats this season. It takes a while to get in the groove.”

Micah Simpson pulls in a pass during the first day of high school football practice on Aug. 1 this year at Loudonville High School.
Micah Simpson pulls in a pass during the first day of high school football practice on Aug. 1 this year at Loudonville High School.

He is playing for the Redbird basketball team and plans to play baseball in the spring.

Asked what his plans are after graduation, he said he would like to go to lineman’s school.

Simpson is the youngest of five children, with siblings Charity, 30, Hope, 28, Zach, 26, and Matthew, 20.

All-around athlete and class president

Frankford snagged two pass interceptions on the Redbird defense, along with 10 breakups and 25 tackles. He returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown in the Redbird’s critical upset over Fredericktown, where they overcame an early 21-0 deficit.

Also, in that game he threw a touchdown pass to Simpson on a trick running play.

He was an integral member of the Redbird offense as well, catching 65 passes for over 800 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 100 yards in 20 carries and one touchdown, and scored touchdowns twice on kickoff returns.

Loudonville's Zach Frankford (5) works the ball against Central Christian High School's Richard Carr during a Dec. 9 game.
Loudonville's Zach Frankford (5) works the ball against Central Christian High School's Richard Carr during a Dec. 9 game.

He plays basketball for the Redbirds, and will run sprints for the track team, and maybe play baseball this spring.

“I haven’t played organized baseball since I was in the fourth grade,” he smiled.

Frankford plans to go to college and continue playing football after graduating this spring.He has two sisters, Mackenzie, 21, and Kate, 13.

Both Simpson and Frankford are members of the Leo and Drug-Free Clubs at Loudonville High, and Frankford additionally is serving as senior class president.

In addition to his all-Ohio mention, Simpson was named first team KMAC defensive end, and first team northeast inland district.

Frankford was first team KMAC wide receiver, as well as first team northeast inland district.

Other Redbird seniors receiving post-season mention were Aiden Wolford, second team northeast district linebacker and honorable mention KMAC; James Henley, first team KMAC defensive back and second term northeast district; Peyton Regan, second team KMAC linebacker; and Boe Weiser, second team KMAC defensive lineman.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Meet Loudonville standouts Micah Simpson & Zach Frankford