28-point third quarter powers Dubuque over Storm

DUBUQUE - Wyatt Hanus passed for 283 yards, DeMarcus Fleming had 146 yards receiving and Dubuque pulled away from Simpson in the third quarter for a 35-7 win Saturday at Chalmers Field.

Tied 7-7 at halftime, the Spartans (3-4, 2-3 IIAC) got a 23-yard touchdown reception from Fleming, 1-yard touchdown runs by Kyle Acker and Lee Jones and a 75-yard interception return from Jajuan Burton in a 28-point third quarter.

As a team, Dubuque gained 299 yards through the air. Hanus completed 25 of 32 passes with two touchdowns, each to Fleming. Fleming and Lee Jones each hauled in seven passes.

The game started on a high note for the Storm (1-6, 1-4 IIAC) when Michael Chia slipped through the defense for a 50-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later, the freshman plunged into the endzone as Simpson took a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest.

Dubuque tied the game with 30 seconds remaining in the first half on Hanus' first touchdown pass to Fleming.

The Spartans took the lead on the first drive of the second half, when Hanus hooked up with Fleming for the second time. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave Dubuque the ball at Simpson's 27, where the Spartans took seven plays and 2 minutes to stretch their lead to 21-7.

Chia rushed for a game-high 82 yards on 15 carries as Simpson held a 145-120 advantage on the ground. Taylor Nelson completed 9 of 18 passes for 74 yards with two interceptions and Mark Cronin led the defense with 11 tackles, two for loss.

Simpson returns home next Saturday when it hosts Coe at 1 p.m.