Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Simonds back from scare

The Hudson standout is expected to return for this week's game against Pasco.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published September 27, 2005

HUDSON - Two-way star Royce Simonds is expected to play in Hudson's district opener on Friday after a knee injury gave the Cobras a brief scare.

Simonds was cleared by the team orthopedist on Monday after an MRI exam revealed that the senior wide receiver and free safety sprained - not tore - a medial collateral ligament during last Friday's 47-0 victory over Ridgewood.

"It was one of the most scary weekends of my life," Hudson coach Mark Nash said. "If there's a player on our team that it would be difficult to replace, it would be him."

Simonds (5 feet 8, 155) entered last week's game second in the county in receptions (15) and receiving yards (306) and third in tackles (45). Simonds was hurt covering a punt in the first half. He was chasing a returner who reversed field. As Simonds cut to follow the player, he felt his knee pop.

"I was thinking, "Oh, man, my season's over. We were going so good, I don't need this to happen,"' Simonds said. "It scared the crap out of me."

Simonds walked off under his own power and was examined by a team orthopedist. He missed the rest of the game and had ice and an immobilizing brace on the knee.

Simonds said his knee felt tight when he awoke Saturday morning, but it loosened enough to allow him to attend the Homecoming dance on crutches that night.

Still, his thoughts never left his knee until he received news of the test results on Monday.

"I had a pit in my stomach the whole weekend," Simonds said. "Just thinking about it was pretty scary."

Senior Chris Connell played well in place of Simonds on both sides of the ball, but Nash said Hudson will need Simonds for its Class 3A, District 8 meeting with Pasco.

"Royce is our quarterback of our defense; he allows us to be gutsy up front, because we know we have Royce behind us," Nash said. "His loss on defense would have been huge, and he's been a great receiver for us. He had over 100 yards against Land O'Lakes, so (his loss) would have hurt us as well on offense."

It was the second time in two weeks Hudson (4-1) narrowly avoided a serious injury. Running back/defensive back Vince Ferlita (neck stinger) and strong safety Paul James (mild concussion) left in ambulances during a Sept.16 loss to Land O'Lakes before returning against Ridgewood.

"We're living right, apparently," Nash said. "(Injuries) are any high school coach's fear. Land O'Lakes, I guess, would be the exception. They're so deep, but that's a rarity. I think any other team, you start losing players, and it's difficult to deal with.

"We were fortunate last year that we didn't suffer any major injuries, and we've been fortunate so far this year, knock on wood."

[Last modified September 27, 2005, 02:45:31]