5 | Monon special section
Friday, NOvember 9, 2012
Freshman Paul Simon turns heads with booming kicks, bruising tackles By GRANT WALTERS sports@thedepauw.com
Freshman Paul Simon is not only a free safety for DePauw, but also a punter. MICHAEL APPELGATE / THE DEPAUW
Freshman Paul Simon III emerged as a punter to the surprise of DePauw coaching staff after asking to try a punt the third day of training camp. “[Former head] coach Long looked at me like I was stupid for asking, but said ‘yeah, sure ok,’” Simon said. Seems like that was a good choice on Long’s part; Simon has punted the ball 51 times for more than 2,000 yards during the season. He averages 39.4 yards, and Simon is looking to join four other punters who have averaged more than 40 yards per punt. Against Washington University in St. Louis, he broke a DePauw record with a 75-yard punt in front of his family and home crowd at Blackstock Stadium. That was DePauw’s first win of the season and a special moment for Simon.
“It was great to have my family there, this was their first game since I played in high school,” Simon said. Not only has Simon’s foot been a gamechanger in many instances, but also his head and hands. Getting the start for half the season at safety, Simon is DePauw’s sixth-best tackler with 35. “He’s come in to this year ready to play football,” middle linebacker Cody Crook said. “He studied and worked hard and earned his way into a starting spot.” An all-around athlete, Simon was second-string quarterback, wide receiver and backup kicker in high school. He also played four years of baseball and basketball in high school. As well as Simon has done defensively, the secondary is generally young and has allowed eight touchdown passes more than 40 yards. There was also an 80-yard run given up this year. Close scores have been the common
theme for the team – losing three games by four points or less. “It’s been the taste in our mouths a lot this season, a couple of our fluke plays go our way and the scoreboard would’ve been different at the end,” Simon said. “Our coaches do stress to be perfect on every play. Some of those games have been heavy on the run, and we get too nose-down in that then get beat over the top.” Simon battled a fever and concussion combination last weekend against Denison University, where he missed all of practice during the week. He’s hoping to get the start on Monon, after being taken out for the last punt for junior Eric Malm to try his foot. “Consistency at practice is going to be crucial for me this week,” Simon said. “They will ultimately play the best player they feel for the job.” — WGRE contributed to this article
Belton centerpiece of Wabash offensive attack By MICHAEL APPELGATE sports@thedepauw.com
Tell Chase Belton he will be playing for his fourth win Saturday in the Monon Bell Classic, and you’d expect him to get excited. The senior quarterback looks at you with an stoic face and describes how he’s played little role in privious wins. His nonchalant nature and humble response shouldn’t fool anyone – Belton has a desire to win his fourth Monon Bell Classic. “The record doesn’t matter,” Belton said. “What you did the previous week doesn’t matter. We want to go out there and keep the Bell. DePauw wants to take it away. It’s bigger than yourself.” If there’s one player the DePauw football team needs to focus on, it’s Belton. The senior quarterback is the prime offensive threat for the Little Giants. This season, Belton is the third-best rusher on the team with 561 yards gained on the field and has thrown for more than 1,500 yards. It’s been a progression to the lime light for Belton, who started just one
game at quarterback as a freshman. Out of Northmont High School in Dayton, Ohio, he developed a knack for combining his throwing acumen with his speed. It was there he learned about reading defenses and coverages that benefitted him as soon as he came to Wabash. “Freshman year, I knew I didn’t want to mess up,” Belton said. “I lucked out being young in the offense because everyone else was old, and they were veterans. It took a lot of pressure off me.” In his sophomore year, Belton started seven games but spilt time with fellow quarterback, Tyler Burke. Belton was a large factor in the Little Giants’ 8-2 record and threw for more than 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last season, with Belton solely at the helm, he threw for more than 2,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and averaged 168 yards per game through the air. Belton also ran for 652 yards – good for the second-highest rushing total on the team. Wabash won two NCAA Div. III postseason games, but lost to eventual national champion, University of Mount Union. Now, he is the veteran guiding his team to a 7-2 record.
Belton’s leadership was tested early in the season with a loss, 20-17, in week No. 3 to Allegheny College in overtime. “It started with me,” he said. “I had a rough game, I didn’t play too well. We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot every series. We took that loss and learned from that and ignited our fire a little bit.” The Little Giants then rattled off fivestraight wins, scoring no less than 27 points in each game. “Our defense from [Allegheny] played lights out,” Belton said. “As a quarterback, having a defense that plays lights-out is better than trying to force things on offense. It’s great to be able to lean on a defense like that.” Senior defensive back Austin Hodges said the mid-season success was a combination of both Belton working the ball down the field and the defense resting. “On longer drives he has, I can sit on the bench and relax,” Hodges said. “We knew if we gave him the ball, we think he’s going to score and come away with at least three points.” Belton attributed the consistency to his steady progression in understanding a college defense.
Senior quarterback Chase Belton (No. 13) is a dynamic playmaker for Wabash College. COURTESY OF WABASH COLLEGE “I just try and take what the defense gives you,” he said. “Sometimes they are in the position where you can’t do anything. The time I can analyze and get the ball off has been quicker and my accuracy has gotten better over the years.” Scott Srnka, DePauw’s interim head
coach, has his defensive plan focused on what Belton can do. “He’s great with his feet, he’s got a strong arm and you have to watch him at both ends,” Srnka said. “He’s a running back there, and we have to contain him and keep him in the pocket.”