Simeon starting quarterback Anthony Croom Jr. did not dress for the Wolverines’ must-win game against Amundsen on Saturday at Gately Stadium.
It was a bold move by Simeon coach Sinque Turner.
“He was just benched this week,” Turner said. “We had to send a message to him so he can come out next week and the rest of the season with the right mindset to lead this team the way it needs to be led.”
The Wolverines made do with two juniors splitting time at quarterback, Davion Hall and Jaylon Moten Thomas. But Simeon’s defense controlled the game, shutting out Amundsen in a 26-0 victory.
Senior linebacker Tommy Rivers set the tone early for the Wolverines with two tackles for loss in the first quarter.
“My focus was see ball, get ball,” Rivers said. “We’ve been doing a lot of technical stuff, and sometimes it works. But sometimes you just have to get physical, and this was a physical game for me.”
Cornell Conely and Landon Watson had interceptions for Simeon (3-3, 2-2 Public Metro). Junior linebacker Donovan Watkins and junior lineman Joshua Liggon contributed sacks.
“The defensive line had been suffering this season, so we wanted to make up for that,” Liggon said. “We’re going undefeated for the rest of the season. We have a lot to prove to the people around us and the rest of the city.”
Moten Thomas connected with Raymond Liggins for a nine-yard TD midway through the second quarter to put Simeon ahead 8-0.
Senior Lovell Smith scored the next three TDs for the Wolverines. He finished with 12 carries for 71 yards.
“It was a physical game, and we knew we had to dominate on the ground,” Smith said. “We stuck together through the rough start. [Turner] is pushing us.”
Amundsen star running back Reggie Mitchell had 10 carries for -8 yards. The Vikings (2-4, 1-3) finished with -19 rushing yards and 60 passing yards.
“[Mitchell] is a dynamic football player,” Turner said. “Our focus all week was to stop him. He is everything to them. You stop him and everything else shuts down.”
Moten Thomas was 5-for-8 with one TD and one interception. Hall was 2-for-5 for five yards and had two carries for 49 yards.
“They stepped up,” Turner said. “We didn’t put anyone in that we didn’t trust.”
Simeon will be favorites the next two weeks against Westinghouse and Phillips and closes the season with a major test against Morgan Park. But there is now a clear path to five wins and state playoff qualification.
“This was most definitely a must-win,” Turner said. “But the past couple of games [Croom] did some uncharacteristic things. This sent a message across the board. When you are willing to sit the starting quarterback in the homecoming game, everyone else realizes they aren’t exempt from discipline.”
Turner expects Croom to play next week. Simeon hopes defensive lineman McHale Blade, a Michigan recruit, will return from injury next week.
“We haven’t played our perfect game yet,” Turner said. “The next three teams are going to be dealing with a machine that is well-oiled. I want us to be playing our best football in the postseason.”
Simeon strikes first. Raymond Liggins catches a 9-yard TD pass. Still working on the new QB’s name. May be Jalen Thomas.
Wolverines lead Amundsen 8-0, 2Q. pic.twitter.com/e1SiI4EPNE
— Michael O’Brien (@michaelsobrien) October 4, 2025