Heidelberg’s Nick Garcia, the top seed in boys singles, will be chasing his third consecutive European tennis championship this week. He has won every match he’s played this season at love. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
WIESBADEN, Germany - Take the rest of the day off, meteorologists. The weather forecast for Saturday’s European Division II semifinal pitting unbeaten Wiesbaden against Naples here is already in — lots of thunder and lots of lightning.
Providing the thunder will be 6-foot, 215-pound Wiesbaden sophomore Jeremiah Simms. Handling the lightning will be 5-11, 185-pound junior Marcus Williams. They’ll alternate at two positions — I-formation tailback and fullback — but there’s no conflict there. Each runner complements the other, Wiesbaden coach Steve Jewell said prior to a sun-drenched Monday practice.
"Simms is so hard to take down," Jewell said. "It usually takes three or four guys to stop him. Then, once they get a handle on Simms on the dive, Williams’ speed kills them on the trap or sweep."
Jewell gave an example from Saturday’s 34-19 victory over the Hamburg Huskies from the German League.
"On one play, four or five tacklers hit Simms," he recalled. "Before the play was over, all 11 had taken a shot at him. Then, as soon as Marcus came in, he turned the end for a big gain."
The results of deploying this two-sided running back have been impressive for the Warriors (6-0). Five of those victories came on the field, the sixth via a forfeit.
Simms has carried 87 times for 736 yards, an 8.46-yard average, and has scored 11 touchdowns. Williams has rushed 78 times for 531 yards, 6.8 yards per pop, and seven TDs. Each has amassed those numbers with the other blocking for him.
"It’s worked out good," Simms said of the turn-taking. Added Williams: "It’s fun to play."
Neither back got much playing time last year, Jewell said, because All-Europe senior Ron Peebles, who eventually earned a football scholarship to NCAA Division II Elizabeth City State in North Carolina, was entrenched at tailback. But Jewell didn’t need a crystal ball to look into his team’s 2008 future.
"We knew they’d be our running backs," he said, "and Marcus had a season of track (fourth in the 200 at Europeans in 23.46) where he really came into his own."
Jewell added that Williams, who also lines up at defensive end for the Warriors, is no scatback despite the velocity he can generate.
"He’s not just a speed back," Jewell said. "He runs with power, too."
Simms and Williams will take their power-speed game into playoff mode starting Saturday, trying to get the Warriors to the D-II title game, scheduled for Nov. 1 at Baumholder. The first step is eliminating visiting Naples. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
"Naples is the team that beat us in the semifinals last year," Simms said. "This year we kind of want revenge."
Williams said any revenge earned in the postseason will require a level of concentration different from the regular season.
"It does feel like another football season," he said of the playoffs. "We have to focus more."
Agreed Simms, "In the playoffs, everyone is so hyped-up we have to concentrate hard on what we have to do."
Look for Simms and Williams to unleash peals of thunder and bolts of lightning on Saturday, but both backs cautioned opponents and spectators to be alert for changes in the weather.
"I think we’re going to do some new stuff," Simms said. "Our goal is to get to Baumholder and win there."