Nelson, Cronin take home IIAC awards

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Simpson football players Taylor Nelson and Mark Cronin earned Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, Sept. 2, the conference office announced Tuesday.

Nelson was named both the Male Athlete of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week while Cronin shared Defensive Player of the Week honors with Zach West of Coe.

The Storm beat UW-River Falls 31-22 in the season-opener on Saturday, Simpson's first opening-day win since 2008 and the first on the road since 2005.

Nelson, a junior quarterback from West Des Moines, Iowa, completed 23 of 39 passes for a career-high 398 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 37, 22 and 42 yards and also had a 72-yard completion while connecting with seven different receivers.

Cronin, a senior linebacker from Holstein, Iowa, posted 10 tackles (eight solo), including two for loss and one sack.

Simpson opens the home portion of its schedule this weekend, hosting Gustavus Adolphus at Buxton Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.