Simpson places 12 on All-Iowa Conference Football Team

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Simpson football team placed 12 players – including five first teamers – on the 2012 All-Iowa Conference Football Team, as announced by the conference office.

Taylor Rogers (Sr., WR, South Sioux City, Neb.), Danny Kelley (Sr., OL, Mount Pleasant, Iowa), Scott Vierow (Sr., DE, Fayette, Iowa) Mark Cronin (Sr., LB, Holstein, Iowa) and Brad Vogel (Jr., RET, Donnelson, Iowa) represented the Storm as first team selections, while Taylor Nelson (Jr., QB, West Des Moines, Iowa), Vogel (WR), Patrick Thompson (Jr., OL, Perry, Iowa) and Tyler Craig (Sr., DB, Mount Vernon, Iowa) landed on the second team. Grant Focht (Sr., DB, Stanton, Iowa) Nate Boer (Sr., OL, Sheldon, Iowa) and Johnnie Sims (So., DL, New Sharon, Iowa) were named honorable mention all-conference.

Dubuque quarterback Wyatt Hanus earned offensive MVP honors, Coe defensive end Frank Weymiller was the defensive MVP and Coe head coach Steve Staker was named coach of the year.

First Team All-Conference Selections

Rogers had another banner year for the Storm in 2012, helping the team to the Iowa Conference's second-ranked pass offense. He set career-highs with 68 catches for 956 yards and caught 10 touchdown passes. He ranked second in the league in receiving yards per game and tied for third with 6.8 receptions per contest. He closed his career as Simpson's all-time leader in touchdown catches (31), while ranking third in receiving yards (2,481) and receptions (184). Rogers was also a first-team selection in 2011.

Kelley anchored Simpson's offensive line, protecting the nation's 21st-ranked pass offense. Behind Kelley and the offensive line, the Storm averaged better than 300 yards per game through the air and more than 400 yards of total offense. Kelley was an honorable mention all-conference pick in 2011.

Vierow had a breakout season in 2012, tying for the team lead with seven sacks and leading the way with 11.5 tackles for loss. He led one of the nation's top defensive lines as Simpson averaged 3.1 sacks per game, 19th in the nation. Prior to this season, the senior appeared in only four games.

Cronin led the Simpson defense for the second year in a row with 66 tackles. Despite playing a majority of the season on a torn ACL, the senior captain had two sacks, six tackles for loss, forced a fumble and tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups. The first team academic all-district performer also returned a blocked punt 35 yards for a touchdown on senior day. Cronin was a second team all-conference pick in 2011.

Vogel was once again proved to be one of the most exciting players in the Iowa Conference and the nation after averaging 220.3 all-purpose yards per game, good for third in Division III and tops in the conference. Vogel led the league in kickoff returns, averaging better than 25 yards per return. A second team pick as a wide receiver, Vogel led the league in receptions (81) and receiving yards (1,116) to go along with 10 touchdown grabs. His 81 receptions, 1,116 receiving yards and 2,203 all-purpose yards rank second in Simpson single-season history. His all-purpose yards total tops the 2,123 yards compiled by 1989 Division III Player of the Year Ricky Gales and is the most since 1998 IIAC MVP Guy Leman had 2,406.

Second Team All-Conference Selections

Nelson cemented his name in the Simpson record books in 2012, becoming the program's career leader in passing completions (627), passing attempts (1,031) and total offense (7,577) after only three years of play. Nelson led the Iowa Conference, ranked 10th in the nation and set a school record for total offensive yards per game with 324.4. He also reset his own school records for completions in a season (252) and completions in a game (40, Dubuque, 10/27). He threw for 400 yards twice during the year and surpassed 300 yards five times. He threw a touchdown pass in every game, extending his streak to 18 in a row dating back to the 2011 season.

Thompson was a big reason Nelson was able to put up those numbers, starting nine games on the offensive line. Thompson started all nine at right tackle in his first year as a starter on the offensive line.

Craig ranked second on the team with 52 tackles from his strong safety position. He made three tackles for loss and had 0.5 sacks in 10 starts, making his first appearance on an all-conference team.

Honorable Mention All-Conference Selections

Focht ranked third on the team with 51 tackles from his free safety position and tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups.

Boer started six games on the offensive line, helping pave the way for the conference's second-ranked pass offense.

Sims tied for the team lead with seven sacks and made 10.5 tackles for loss in 34 tackles as a defensive end. He added four quarterback hurries.

A summary of Simpson's all-conference selections can be found below.