JACKSON &045; Simpson County Academy is a powerhouse.

The Cougars haven’t lost a game in more than two years. They’re on a 26-game win streak and haven’t won by fewer than 14 points in any game this season. Their closest game was a 20-6 win over state semifinalist Oak Forest in their opener.

&uot;The last three years we’ve been blessed,&uot; Simpson head coach Billy Hankins said.

So when Simpson faces Centreville at 7 p.m. Thursday in Jackson for the MPSA Class AA championship, the Cougars will have plenty reason to feel confident.

And if they needed any more reason to feel good, Simpson beat Centreville 26-14 in the teams’ last meeting in the 2002 playoffs.

&uot;We just have to play a great game so we can stay on the field with them,&uot; Centreville head coach Bill Hurst said.

The strength of the Cougars is in their offensive and defensive lines, both of which are large, fast and powerful. Simpson uses those lines to bully other teams into submission and allow their skill players to wreak havoc.

&uot;Our ability on the lines has been crucial,&uot; Hankins said. &uot;We have good size and good speed. Those guys open up big holes, and we’ve got good running backs.&uot;

Those linemen are the biggest difference between the two teams. Simpson’s line is much larger than Centreville’s and should cause problems’ on both side of the ball.

Centreville is not as fast or as large as the Cougars and has relied on good execution and smart football to win games.

The leader of the Simpson offensive line is Justin Sanford, a senior who anchors the left side. Most of the Cougar linemen spent the summer working on offseason strength and conditioning to prepare for the season.

&uot;Most of us stayed in the summer working in the weight room, doing speed drills,&uot; lineman Justin Sanford said. &uot;We’re a lot faster and stronger.&uot;

Much like the Tigers, the Cougars like to run the ball on offense with only occasional passing. Running backs Dan Napier and Preston Harris shoulder most of the load on offense. Napier weighs 200 pounds and Harris is 180. Both of them are fast and talented.

&uot;Our line is dominant opening up holes for us,&uot; Harris said. &uot;We’re going to run it a lot and maybe do a pass or two. We’re a running team.&uot;

Hankins said the key to game for both teams is to run the ball efficiently and stop the opponent’s running game.

Simpson moved to the North division this year, but that didn’t slow them down. Despite an increase in travel time and a lack of familiarity with their opponents, the Cougars rolled undefeated through the regular season.

&uot;Mainly it’s just been a lot more travel. This week we had to go 3 1/2 hours to play,&uot; Hankins said. &uot;We’re also playing different teams than we have in the past so scouting has been more important than ever.&uot;

Facing Centreville may feel like a return home. The teams faced each other four times in the last eight years, all in the playoffs.

They split those meetings 2-2.