The Simi Valley football team is used to playing in big games. The Pioneers don’t flatten under pressure; they rise in big moments.
They’ve proven it before and they continue to demonstrate it this year.
The 2023 CIF Southern Section Division 6 champions have continued where they left off last season, winning their first two games of the 2024 campaign.
To open the year, Simi Valley traveled to Nevada to play Spanish Springs and came home with a 33-13 victory.
The Pioneers then faced Foothill League powerhouse Valencia last week, defeating the Vikings 49-41 in thrilling fashion.
Starting lineman Kevin Ilano attributed the team’s ability to remain cool in crucial situations to the experience the players gained last year and to the “band of brothers” bond they formed while playing consequential games.
“We just have so much team chemistry, so much trust in each other that each person will do their job,” said Ilano, who plays on both sides of the ball. “We played some tough teams going into that game (against Valencia) and the guys that returned are just used to that high-level competition. Just knowing what it takes to win those big-time games.”
The matchup against Valencia was a back-and-forth affair all night, each team making its fair share of game-changing plays.
Simi Valley’s offense was led by senior running back Brice Hawkins, who finished with 127 yards and two touchdowns on 15 rushing attempts.
Quarterback Tagg Harrison threw for 165 yards and two touchdowns, with nine of his 10 completions going to Jayden Clarke and Evan Rodriguez.
But as imposing as the offense was against Valencia and has been so far this year, the defense has been just as stellar.
Against the Vikings, 16 different players logged tackles. The team has six sacks through the two games, 10 total tackles for loss.
The defense is led by junior Izak Simpson, but the Pioneers have no shortage of firepower from the line to the linebacking core to the secondary. Simpson and Ilano are stalwarts on the line, along with Michael Gage and Daniel Perez. Clarke, Seth Knight and Gavin Hammond are ballhawks in the secondary, and Reece Guzzo and Thomas Humphrey protect the middle of the field.
“What makes our defensive guys special is the bond they have with each other,” Hawkins said. “Everyone knows their assignment. If somebody messes up on their job during the game, the defensive guys will fix each other‘s mistakes. When the person next to them is down, they will pick them up no matter what team they are on.”
It was the combination of Hawkins and the defense that sealed the victory Friday night against Valencia.
The senior back scored a 19-yard rushing touchdown late to give the Pioneers an eight-point cushion as time wound down. The Vikings had one last chance to tie the game, but Clarke made an acrobatic, leaping interception near the sideline to secure the win.
“I was so hyped when he got that. That was the craziest interception I’ve ever seen in my life,” Ilano said of Clarke’s play. “So proud of him. It was just such a crazy thing to see in person.”
“Jayden always makes good plays, no matter the situation. The kid is a monster, anything he does,” Hawkins said. “When you see number five on the field, be ready for a show.”
Clarke also showed off his kick return ability, taking a kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Simpson and Knight added defensive touchdowns, the former on a 90-yard fumble return and the latter with an interception returned for a score.
Simi Valley has this week off and is preparing for its next contest, a Sept. 6 road game against rival Royal.
And while the Pioneers took the time to enjoy their momentous win on Friday, they know there is plenty of season left to keep proving the doubters wrong.
“Coach (Jim) Benkert sat us down and said we have to keep our heads on a swivel because we just beat a team that was in Division 2 last year,” Hawkins said. “…It’s time to step up and show everyone what we can do.”
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