To the rest of the Irvington football community, Raymond Simmons’ punt against Cranford last November was an event that would never have been predicted three months earlier.
But for Simmons, this was merely the fulfillment of a promise he’d made to himself the same day those deep doubts began to form.
That’s when he ruptured his right Achilles tendon prior to Irvington’s first scrimmage of the 2019 season, and was widely presumed to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Presumption, however, forgot to ask Simmons about his take on this matter.
“As soon as I tore it, I knew I had to get back,” said Simmons, who recently graduated from the Essex County school and will attend East Stroudsburg University (Pa.) this fall to continue his football career. “I was going to get back and so I did everything I possibly could to make that happen.”
Simmons’ ironclad conviction to return to the field and the hearty support he offered to his teammates along the way caught the attention of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Association and Kearny Bank.
Earlier this month, Simmons – also an outstanding linebacker or the Blue Knights - was awarded the Kearny Bank Strength Award, a $2,500 academic scholarship that recognizes one New Jersey high school athlete who courageously overcomes a significant physical injury. The award, first presented last year to Fair Lawn’s Joseph Fernandez, was created in conjunction with the NJSIAA, the state’s governing body for scholastic sports.
This good news comes as some solace for a football program and school community still reeling from the June 9 death of 2019 graduate and football and wrestling star Nashawn Brooks, killed in a car crash in Newark.
“Raymond’s courage and positive attitude as he struggled to return to his sport make us proud to honor him,” said Eric Kesselman, Kearny Bank’s vice-president and director of marketing.
Had Simmons simply trotted onto the field that evening under relatively meaningless circumstances, taken a snap and directed the ball somewhere downfield, it would have been considered a triumphant return.
That was not the case. High tension would have gripped this moment had Simmons been punting all season for the Blue Knights.
Irvington led Cranford, 22-21, with 2:09 remaining in this North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 quarterfinal round playoff game. The Knights were forced to punt from midfield when Simmons got the call.
“It was definitely like a movie,” he said. “When I walked out there to go punt the ball, the lights were brighter than usual; it was crazy. But it felt great to be out there again playing besides my brothers.”
Eleven grateful brothers huddled up at the five-yard line moments after Simmons boomed a 44-yarder that pinned down the Cougars and ultimately sealed the victory for Irvington, which would fall to Northern Highlands the following week in the semifinals. Simmons did not play in that game, though had already given roughly 100 percent more than anyone other than he ever imagined.
“The way Raymond was able to get back on the field was inspiring,” said Irvington athletic director John Taylor. “I was with him that day he tore his Achilles, and he was saying, ‘I’ll be back’ the same day. He kept saying it over and over.
Strong safety Raymond Simmons of Irvington will continue his football career this fall at East Stroudsburg University (Pa.).Courtesy Raymond Simmons
“I thought he was being hopeful,” Taylor said. “How many people come back from a torn Achilles and play three months later? When Raymond got the medical clearance to play, and executed the punt to help Irvington win our playoff game, we all got emotional. This kind of stuff doesn’t happen, and when the story is told, people think I’m embellishing. But in this case, Raymond made this story happen through his hard work in rehabilitation and self-belief in himself.”
That unshakeable determination is now helping Simmons to cope with the death of Brooks, a good buddy and former teammate of his.
“Me and Nashawn were close. We ate together, fought together on the field. It’s hard,” Simmons said. “Everything I know is because of Nashawn. When I was afraid to ask one of the coaches about something, Nashawn was always there. If I ran into an obstacle, I would always just go to Nashawn and ask him. He knew the answer to everything
“We watched film together all the time and he helped me prepare for games,” Simmons said. “That’s how I was able to play the way I did.”
As a junior, Simmons made 90 tackles at outside linebacker, second on the team to Brooks, who went on to play at Wagner College. Simmons also played varsity for Irvington as a sophomore after his family had moved from South Carolina.
Almost immediately, he found a New Jersey contact to follow.
“Nashawn was a perfect influence, a good person to hang around on and off the field,” Simmons said. “He was a role model to me. Academically, I knew I should be following his path. He was on the right track.”
Simmons followed that path throughout last season by attending every game and almost every practice and meeting no matter how difficult it was to be a hobbled spectator.
“I had a lot of good people around me,” Simmons said. “I had coach Smoke (head coach Ashley “Smoke” Pierre), the other coaches and great teammates there for me whenever I needed them. Seeing my teammates work hard, I just wanted to work hard with them.
“I felt like I needed to help my teammates,” he said. “They were always there when I needed them. I had to be there when they needed me.”
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Mike Kinney may be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com.