Football team announces 2014 schedule
INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson football program and head coach Jim Glogowski announced the 2014 schedule as the Storm look to continue their pursuit of an Iowa Conference title after finishing second two years in a row.
Simpson went 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Iowa Conference a year ago, good for sole possession of second place in the standings. Simpson was tied for first in the league through eight games in 2013, but a last-second touchdown by Buena Vista on Senior Day kept the Storm from their first Iowa Conference championship since 1997.
The 2014 campaign features a schedule that is relatively unchanged from 2013, save for the addition of a non-conference clash with Illinois Wesleyan in place of Gustavus Adolphus.
For the second year in a row, Simpson kicks off the season against Iowa Wesleyan in what was dubbed as the "Simmons Bowl" a year ago. Current Simpson College President Jay Simmons came to Simpson from Iowa Wesleyan in 2013. Kickoff is set for Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant.
Week two features another road test at UW-River Falls before the Storm open the home schedule against Illinois Wesleyan on Sept. 20. The Titans finished the 2013 season ranked No. 23 in the d3football.com Top 25, but fell in the first round of the Division III playoffs to Wartburg, 41-7. Their lone conference loss came to North Central (Ill.) who finished in the final four of the 2013 Division III playoffs.
The Iowa Conference schedule begins with tough, back-to-back road games at Buena Vista (Oct. 4) and Dubuque (Oct. 11).
Both will be tough acts to follow after dramatic finishes resulted in a 50-46 triumph over Dubuque and a heartbreaking loss to Buena Vista on the last play of the game in 2013.
Simpson welcomes Coe to Buxton stadium for Homecoming on Oct. 18 and hosts Loras at home on Oct. 25. Yet another highly anticipated rivalry game at Central (Nov. 1) will have to wait until week nine as Simpson goes for their third straight win in the rivalry.
The season closes with home games against defending conference champion Wartburg (Nov. 8) and Luther (Nov. 15.)
Save the Date
Important dates to circle on your 2014 calandar
- Sept. 20 vs. Illinois Wesleyan (home opener)
- Oct. 18 vs. Coe (homecoming)
- Nov. 1 at Central
- Nov. 15 vs. Luther (Senior Day)
By the Numbers
A closer look at the 2014 schedule and Simpson's opponents
WEEK 1: at Iowa Wesleyan – Sept. 6
- 2013 Record: (2-8, 2-7 UMAC)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 55, Iowa Wesleyan 21 (2013)
WEEK 2: at UW-River Falls – Sept. 13
- 2013 Record: (0-10, 0-7 WIAC)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 35, UW-River Falls 34 (2013)
WEEK 3: vs Illinois Wesleyan – Sept. 20
- 2013 Record: (9-2, 6-1 CCIW)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 20, Illinois Wesleyan 14 (2005)
WEEK 4: BYE - Sept. 27
WEEK 5: at Buena Vista – Oct. 4
- 2013 Record: (4-6, 4-3 IIAC)
- Last Meeting: Buena Vista 34, Simpson 32 (2013)
WEEK 6: at Dubuque – Oct. 11
- 2013 Record: (5-5, 4-3 IIAC)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 50, Dubuque 46 (2013)
WEEK 7: vs Coe – Oct. 18
- 2013 Record: (7-3, 4-3 IIAC)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 41, Coe 38, 3OT (2013)
WEEK 8: vs Loras – Oct. 25
- 2013 Record: (1-9, 0-7 IIAC)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 27, Loras 10 (2013)
WEEK 9: at Central – Nov. 1
- 2013 Record: (6-4, 4-3 IIAC)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 14, Central 10 (2013)
WEEK 10: vs Wartburg – Nov. 8
- 2013 Record: (9-3, 6-1 IIAC Champion)
- Last Meeting: Wartburg 34, Simpson 24 (2013)
WEEK 11: vs Luther – Nov. 15
- 2013 Record: (2-8, 1-6 IIAC)
- Last Meeting: Simpson 28, Luther 21
