Simeon defeats Oak Lawn to advance in 6A playoffs

Simeon High School football players turned a 13-6 deficit into a 28-19 victory over host Oak Lawn on Friday night. The Class 6A first-round win caps a five-game winning streak for the Wolverines, who improved to 6-5 on the season.

The turning point arrived on the first play of the fourth quarter. Sophomore Eshun Flowers blocked a punt attempt by the Oak Lawn Spartans, recovered the ball, and ran 25 yards for a touchdown. The score extended Simeon's lead to 28-13 and broke the momentum of the game.

Simeon had trailed after Oak Lawn established an early advantage. The Wolverines responded with three consecutive scores to take control. Sophomore quarterback Aki King connected with junior Bryce Kidd on a 25-yard passing touchdown. Kidd later raced 79 yards down the right sideline for another score. Running back James Bell added an eight-yard rushing touchdown for Simeon.

King has developed a reliable connection with his receivers during the season. He ran the ball seven times for 55 yards and completed four of nine passes for 57 yards. Oak Lawn focused its defensive efforts on limiting the passing game between King and fellow sophomore Jalonny Billingsley.

Coach Sinque Turner noted that the defense's focus on Billingsley allowed Simeon to exploit other options. Turner said the staff uses these tendencies to their advantage. He pointed to Kidd, a track star, as a player who can make similar plays to Billingsley when given the opportunity.

The Wolverines began the season with a difficult run of results. They lost their first three games and five of their first six. King described the early period as a time when opponents doubted the team. He said the group refused to give up on itself and continued to fight through the losses.

Turner said King has matured significantly through the competitive schedule. The quarterback has faced top-tier opponents throughout the year. Turner believes the experience has prepared King for higher levels, though he noted there is still room for growth.

King credited the development to offseason work with his teammates. He and Kidd have participated in seven-on-seven drills for over a year. King described Kidd as a determined runner who excels in open field situations and is difficult to tackle.

After Flowers' touchdown, the Simeon defense secured the win. Players forced two fumbles and stopped Oak Lawn on a fourth-down attempt at their own two-yard line. The Spartans scored with 1:25 remaining but missed the extra point. Simeon controlled the clock to finish the game.

Oak Lawn finished with a 7-3 record. Jayden Schlosser carried the ball 23 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Danny Strelow also ran for a short score. The Spartans have won seven games in each of the last two seasons, ending a 15-year losing streak that included a 0-9 record in 2024. Oak Lawn coach Ryan Pattison praised the senior class for improving the program before their departure. Simeon will play either Nazareth or Dunlap next week in the second round.

Simeon's next opponent will be determined by the results of the remaining first-round games. The Wolverines enter that matchup with five straight wins. The team's current record stands at 6-5.