Eleven named to All-IIAC Football Team
INDIANOLA, Iowa – Highlighted by four first team picks, Simpson placed 11 players on the 2015 All-Iowa Conference Football Team following a vote of the league's coaches late last week.
Running back Jordan Beem, offensive lineman Blake Bergstrom, defensive end Isaac Frazier and return specialist Davey Jergens represented the Storm on the All-IIAC First Team. Defensive end Clay Finley, offensive lineman Dustin Ihns and linebacker Michael Pavon were named to the All-IIAC Second Team. Wide receiver Nate Connealy, placekicker Drew Jensen, offensive lineman Corey Meyer and defensive back Abe Wolfe earned honorable mention honors.
Simpson went 4-6 in 2015 under eighth-year head coach Jim Glogowski. The Storm went 3-4 in the Iowa Conference to tie for fourth in the league.
All-IIAC First Team
A junior from Altoona, Iowa, Beem finished the season as the Iowa Conference's leading rusher, racking up 1,254 yards and 13 TDs for the 10th 1,000-yard rushing season in Simpson history. He averaged 125.4 rushing yards per game and eclipsed 100 yards in each of the final seven games, becoming the first player to rush for 100 yards in every conference game since Ricky Gales in 1989. He also caught 15 passes for 254 yards and two TDs. An honorable mention pick as a running back a year ago, Beem earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors earlier this season. He was named IIAC Offensive Player of the Week following a three-TD performance in a 43-13 win over Buena Vista on Oct. 3.
A senior right tackle from Ankeny, Iowa, Bergstrom anchored an offensive line that helped pave the way for the No. 2 rushing attack in the Iowa Conference. Trailing only Luther's triple-option attack, Simpson averaged 190 yards on the ground. The line did a good job of protecting quarterback Caleb Frye as well, allowing just 11 sacks in 10 games. The 6-foot-3, 285-pounder earned All-IIAC Second Team honors at left tackle in 2014 and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors earlier in the season.
A junior defensive end from Marion, Iowa, Frazier enjoyed a breakout season with a league-best 8.0 sacks in 2015. His 11.5 tackles for loss ranked second in the league, as did his three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-4, 210 pounder recorded 40 total tackles, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery.
A sophomore return specialist from West Bend, Iowa, Jergens led the Iowa Conference with a 24.8 yard kick return average. The explosive returner had five returns of 40-or-more yards, including a season-long 54 yarder against Dubuque on Oct. 10. He had returns of 41 and 42 yards against Wartburg on Nov. 7, setting a school-record with 184 kick return yards in the game. He earned IIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after the week one win over Wis.-River Falls in which he scored three TDs off a 2-yard run, a 54-yard run and a 63-yard reception.
All-IIAC Second Team
A senior defensive end from Muscatine, Iowa, Finley teamed up with Frazier to make one of the best pass rushes in the league. Finley ranked sixth in the IIAC with 4.5 sacks to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss. The athletic team captain had a knack for making big plays, registering an interception, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He was a second team all-conference honoree in 2013 and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors earlier in the season.
A sophomore left tackle from Tipton, Iowa, Ihns joined Bergstrom to make up arguably the best offensive line in the league. Ihns made an immediate impact protecting the blind side after moving from the defensive line as a freshman in 2014.
A senior linebacker from Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Pavon finished second on the team with 55 tackles. After struggling with injuries through most of his career, Pavon was a leader defensively in 2015. He had 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Honorable Mention All-IIAC
A senior receiver from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Connealy was the team's leading receiver a year after suffering a season-ending knee injury. The team captain made 38 catches for 389 yards and one TD. He was also an honorable mention pick back in 2013.
A sophomore placekicker from Indianola, Iowa, Jensen took home honorable mention honors for the second season in a row. He made 8 of 10 field goal attempts and went 24 of 28 on extra point attempts. He was a perfect 4-for-4 from inside 30 yards and went 3-for-4 from 40-plus. His career-long 45-yarder at Loras on Oct. 24 was the longest field goal in the IIAC in 2015, helping him to Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He went 3-for-3 that game, tying a single-game school record for made field goals.
A senior center from Iowa City, Iowa, Meyer took home the third All-IIAC honor of his career after being named to the first team in 2014 and the second team in 2013.
A senior safety from Stuart, Iowa, Wolfe anchored Simpson's hard-hitting defensive backfield. He finished third on the team with 53 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss. He had two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one sack.
2015 All-Iowa Conference Football
Offensive MVP – Logan Schrader, qb, Wartburg
Defensive MVP – Blaine Snitker, lb, Dubuque
Coach of the Year – Stan Zweifel, Dubuque
First team offense – Logan Schrader, qb, Dubuque; Jordan Beem, rb, Simpson; Jalen Henningsen, wr, Buena Vista; Sam Markham, wr, Central; Nate Even, wr, Loras; Robbie Anstoetter, wr, Wartburg; Trenton Grana-Curry, te, Dubuque; Travis Munn, ol, Buena Vista; Tanner Bronkema, ol, Dubuque; Pat Cusack, ol, Dubuque; Blake Bergstrom, ol, Simpson; Chase Willhelms, ol, Wartburg
First team defense – Corbin Blyth, dl, Central; Larry Harletson, dl, Dubuque; Isaac Frazier, dl, Simpson; Cole Hinders, dl, Wartburg; Blaine Snitker, lb, Dubuque; Trevor Stauner, lb, Dubuque; Will Janssen, lb, Wartburg; Gunner Tranel, lb, Wartburg; Zach Matter, db, Central; Michael Joseph, db, Dubuque; Oscar White, db, Dubuque; Logan Pitz, db, Wartburg
First team specialists – Aaron Marcellus, pk, Central; Tyler Stolen, p, Buena Vista; Davey Jergens, rs, Simpson
Second team offense – Rio Johnson, qb, Dubuque; Zach Minch, rb, Loras; Brandon Domeyer, rb, Wartburg; Elijah Phillips, wr, Coe; Chris Bagley, wr, Dubuque; Dylan Schultz, wr, Dubuque; Mitch Rahm, te, Wartburg; Greg Smith, ol, Central; Dominque Ravenell, ol, Dubuque; James Ostile, ol, Luther; Dustin Ihns, ol, Simpson; Quincy Griffith, ol, Wartburg
Second team defense – Zack Marotta, dl, Dubuque; Liam Kirwan, dl, Loras; Clay Finley, dl, Simpson; Nick Clasen, dl, Wartburg; Drew Carlson, LB, Central; Mitch Schroeder, lb, Central; Mark Atwater, lb, Coe; Michael Pavon, lb, Simpson; Kyle Arnold, db, Buena Vista; Dillon Daniel, db, Coe; Bryan Hermann, db, Loras; James Garlock, db, Wartburg
Second team specialists – Curtis Prull, pk, Dubuque; Grant Zimmerman, p, Wartburg; Taylor Cox, rs, Central
Honorable mention – Ben Seitz, rs, Buena Vista; Dustin Smioth, dl, Central; Nick Watson, ol, Central; Nick Elsbury, ol, Coe; Dalton Kuehl, ol, Coe; Josh Rekers, qb, Coe; Ben DeLange, ol, Dubuque; Dylan Hastings, lb, Dubuque; Maurece Herrion, rb, Dubuque; Nolan Davis, te, Loras; Calvin Harridge, lb, Loras; Joe Pagura, ol, Loras; Josh Schulte, wr, Loras; Danny Willis, rs, Loras; Aric Elton, lb, Luther; Luke Pulliam, db, Luther; Cory Wirth, pk, Luther; Nate Connealy, wr, Simpson; Drew Jensen, pk, Simpson; Corey Meyer, ol, Simpson; Abe Wolfe, db, Simpson
