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When David Hand assumed the head football coach position at Prep Charter High School, 1928 Point Breeze Ave., in the spring, Curan Simmons knew the former quarterback’s offensive strategies would place players in the best positions to be standouts. Believing he would have a great season courtesy of the fast-tempo system, the senior found himself in favorable spots 63 times, with his 1,012 yards making him only the second Public League performer to register a four-figure receiving tally.
“I thought I could reach that goal of 1,000 [yards], and when I did, it was a great feeling and a humbling experience,” the 17-year-old, who hit the mark Nov. 27 against the Horace Furness High School Falcons, 1900 S. Third St., at the South Philadelphia super site, 10th and Bigler streets, said Friday at his West Passyunk secondary institution. “It was a rewarding year overall, so I’m happy to have been able to come through for my coaches and teammates.”
In the 48-0 Thanksgiving Eve romp over the Pennsport-based Falcons, the West Philly dweller grabbed 14 balls covering 168 yards, taking two tosses from junior signal caller Vian Dolo for scores. With a late third-quarter catch, he joined Martin Luther King High School’s Delane Hart as the lone wideouts to exceed 1,000 yards in the customarily run-centric Public League. The victory capped the Huskies’ record at 7-4 in a campaign that yielded numerous individual and team memories.
“I definitely knew we had the potential to be great,” Simmons, a four-year roster member who earned his starting role three games into his career, said of preparations that included trips to Smith Playground, 24th and Jackson streets, with Dolo and fellow senior receiver John Graham. “With coach Hand’s schemes, I felt I could make some plays, especially because I’m a solid route runner with good hands.”
The South Philadelphia High School Rams, 2101 S. Broad St., became the first foes to observe his fierce feet, with Simmons hauling in four heaves for 97 yards Aug. 30 at the super site. The next four contests featured 19 catches and 402 yards, efforts that served as preludes to Oct. 3’s endeavors against the Future Firebirds. A dozen Dolo offerings met his trusty mitts, four of them ending in end zone celebrations. The quartet helped Simmons to tie the city record for touchdown catches in one game and spearheaded a 48-32 triumph. Sealing the Class AA division’s second seed, the Huskies returned to the super site Oct. 24 for a semifinal tilt against the Roxborough Indians.
“We’d made the playoffs before but couldn’t get it done,” Simmons said. “I really wanted us to get a win for the school because the infrastructure and support are so strong here.”
Having dumped their adversaries 26-6 Sept. 20, a game in which the 5-foot-9 threat generated 90 yards, the Huskies again proved too powerful for the visitors, using three third-quarter hookups between Dolo and Simmons to turn what had been a close engagement into a 40-12 annihilation. The win gave the West Passyunk-situated athletes their site’s inaugural postseason victory and helped coaches to tab Simmons an All-Public pick.
“The seniors had really wanted to be the first ones to have that experience,” he said of entering the school’s annals. “We couldn’t get it done in the final (a 53-7 loss to the Imhotep Panthers), but nobody can take away that day against Roxborough.”
Though Simmons had performed admirably over his first three seasons, this year undoubtedly bore his bravado. Having taken up football at 8, he came to Prep Charter initially feeling he would gain prominence as a kick or punt returner. With the loss of a few games his junior year because of family matters, he wanted his swan song to be high on rewards and low on regrets.
“People have doubted me, especially because of my size, but I’ve always felt like an athlete who can do big things,” Simmons said. “We’re a hardworking team so there’s no way I wasn’t going to give my all.”
Amassing five games with at least 100 yards, he made exceptional use of his ability to generate yards after the catch, creating seams that led to 11 scoring catches. He also showed he could shut down his counterparts with two interceptions and tallied the same number of two-point conversions. Being a dedicated athlete and student figures to help the likely sports medicine or sports management major when he makes the postsecondary education jump, a leap he will begin to prepare for in January.
“I’m going to take algebra at Community [College of Philadelphia],” Simmons said of his impending three-days-a-week trek to Spring Garden Street. “I’m really excited about becoming more responsible and taking on different challenges.”
He credits his impending alma mater for bolstering his work ethic and sense of communal involvement, which he has deepened through service stints at Christopher Columbus Charter, 1242-46 S. 12th St., and John H. Taggart, 400 W. Porter St., schools and Brightside Academy, 2501 McKean St. Grateful for his chance to reward his supporters via the gridiron, he yearns to make them proud once he enters the real world.
“The time here will help me greatly,” he said. “The hard work will continue to pay off.”
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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