27 Sep 2017 Simpson shines for Hornets

by Mark Oliver

Football players play the game for many reasons. For some, it’s to emulate a favorite team or player. For others, it’s the thrill of competition under the Friday night lights. For Maumelle’s Spencer Simpson, however, football was simply a means to stay out of trouble.

“I’ve only been playing football since the seventh grade,” Simpson said. “Back then, I wasn’t the best kid, and I didn’t have the best grades. I was doing all the wrong things and not thinking about my future. I knew that I needed a change. That’s when I found football.”

Inspired by stories of his father and grandfather on the gridiron, Simpson gave the game a chance and quickly began to turn things around. 

“I wasn’t a big football fan until I started playing,” Simpson said. “My dad played the same position as me in high school and even walked on at UCA. His dad played football, too. I guess you could say it’s a family tradition for us. Once I figured out that I could be pretty good at it, I put my head down and kept working hard at it. I started focusing more on school — getting a 3.6 GPA — and made a good score on my ACT. I stopped getting in trouble at school, too. Looking back, picking up a football was one of the best things I’ve done.” 

Simpson, a senior linebacker for the Hornets, was selected to this year’s 501 Football Team — 25 players representing all 11 counties of the 501. The team, sponsored by Conway Ortho and Sports Medicine, Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank, boasts the best the 501 has to offer both on and off the field. Simpson was nominated by head coach Kirk Horton.

“Spencer has a nose for football,” Horton wrote in his nomination. “He is tough, vocal and an active leader for his teammates. Although he [wasn’t always] a big fan of school, he knows how much it has to do with his future, so his drive and motivation has turned him into a very productive student and a model football player.” 

Entering week five, the Hornets (2-2, 1-0 5A West) emerge after a huge win over Greenbrier and are in the driver’s seat toward the team’s first playoff appearance since 2014.

“Beating Greenbrier was a huge confidence booster for us,” Simpson said. “In the first half, they had our number, but we went to the locker room at halftime, regrouped and came out strong to beat a very good team. Our offense played great, and our defense really shined. We came together as a team, knew we had to win and executed well in the second half. It was our first time beating them in forever.”

This week, the Hornets turn their attention to Vilonia, in search of their third-consecutive victory. 

“The Vilonia game will be a major test for our defense,” Simpson said. “Vilonia is going to run the ball — we know that — and they do it fairly well. We know that they’re not going to lay down for anyone. We’re confident in our offense and know we will score. The keys to the game, however, will be making big plays on defense, and we’re ready for the challenge.” 

The future is bright for Simpson and the Hornets, who look to pave the way for the next generation of Maumelle Hornets.

“Our goal this year is to make it to the playoffs,” Simpson said. “We have had a couple of bad seasons in the past, but our effort has gotten us to where we are this year. Most of us are seniors now, and our leadership is our biggest strength. Together, we’re teaching our underclassmen to be strong leaders, too. We have the ability to go to the playoffs, and I am excited to see how far our program can go.” 
Off the field, Simpson enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and giving back to his community through Maumelle’s EAST program and local youth athletics. 

“Two weeks ago, a few of us got together and helped build a fence for the Oak Grove Elementary School football program,” Simpson said. “I also enjoy helping out at youth football camps in Maumelle. Young kids come out to play, and we help coach them in different positions. They are the future of Maumelle football.” 

After school, the senior hopes to attend college and hopes that the right career will come to him, much like football did.  

“Spencer has grown into a fine young man,” Horton wrote. “He comes to practice with the same love for the game every day and shows the fruits of his labor on game days. He is a great family member mentoring his younger siblings and could get quite a few looks from good college programs.”

“No matter what, if you get knocked down — no matter how hard — you must get back up and keep going,” Simpson said. “In life and on the field, that has been a big factor for me over the past few years. Sometimes you’ll win and sometimes you’ll lose, but you can’t let your losses beat you. You always have to get back up, no matter what.”


Maumelle plays host to Vilonia at 7 p.m. Friday.