Cook interception seals 17-9 win at Buena Vista

STORM LAKE, Iowa — For the first time in 12 years, the Simpson football team left J. Leslie Rollins Stadium a winner.

Jackson Redmond burned the Buena Vista secondary for 103 yards receiving, the defense didn't allow a TD and Cole Cook sealed the win with an interception late in the fourth quarter as Simpson survived a slow second half to hold on for a 17-9 win on Saturday.

A lightning delay with just under 3 minutes remaining in the game made the wait a little longer, but in the end Simpson came away with its first win in Storm Lake since 2004. 

Caleb Frye led three first-half scoring drives as the Storm (2-2, 1-1 Iowa Conference) built a 17-0 lead. The junior finished with 234 yards through the air, tossing a 22-yard TD pass to Redmond late in the first half to give Simpson a three-score lead.

Playing without starting running back Jordan Beem, Braden Meints filled in with 73 yards on 17 carries and a TD, his third rushing score in the last three games. He would have had more, but his 77-yard TD run early in the third quarter was called back due to holding.

The most penalized team in the IIAC, Simpson was flagged eight times for 99 yards.

The offense sputtered in the second half, allowing the Beavers (0-4) to get back into the game. Tyler Stolen made a 53-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and he connected on two more in the second half to pull Buena Vista within one score. 

Backup quarterback Tory Beger completed 12 of 19 passes for 126 yards in relief of Trevor Trunck, who left the game with an injury. Jalen Henningsen caught 10 passes for 121 yards for Buena Vista, which lost its 11th-straight game. 

Frye threw an interception at the goal line with 9:10 to play, allowing Beger to drive 87 yards before Simpson held, forcing an incomplete pass on fourth-and-two at the 12. Buena Vista had one more chance after Simpson chewed nearly two minutes off the clock, but Cook made it official with his pick near midfield.

Brendan Holmes and Jake Stearns led the defense with 12 tackles apiece. Stearns, Nic Tusha and Ryan Policheri all had a sack.

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Simpson has a bye next week, returning to action Oct. 8 for Homecoming against Luther.