Storm upset undefeated Kohawks on the road

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Sam Sasso threw four touchdowns for the third straight game, Drew Jensen made his 27th career field goal to etch his name in the school record book, and the Simpson football team rolled to a 38-33 win over the undefeated Coe Kohawks Saturday afternoon.

The Storm (2-2) went into the half with a close 21-20 lead over the Kohawks (3-1) after the failed point after attempt by Tristan Connell. A couple of Simpson touchdowns after the Kohawks claimed the lead late in the 3rd quarter secured the win as Coe fought back in the final minute with a touchdown but couldn't convert the two-points or the on-side kick.

Sasso threw for 340 yards finding the endzone four times to a crew of receivers including Jackson Redmond, Sam Bartlett and Braden Meints for two scores. Jensen added a 44-yard field goal and Cam Bunting added a 1-yard touchdown in the win.

Key Moments
Lehr interception on Coe's second possession: Midway through the first quarter, quarterback Quentin White threw an interception returned by Lehr for 20 yards to start the first Simpson scoring drive. Seven plays after the turnover, Sasso found Bartlett for a two-yard touchdown giving Simpson a 7-0 lead with 5:55 left in the 1st. The momentum continued for the Storm defense as they forced a three-and-out. A couple short runs for the Storm led to a 68-yard pass through the air from Sasso to Redmond and a 14-0 lead headed into the 2nd.

9 play, 84-yard drive in the second: Following a Kohawk touchdown, Simpson responded quickly with their longest drive of the game. Cam Bunting rushed for 31 yards on three carries before Sasso went to work hitting Ricky Reeve for 3-yards, Jake West for 21-yards and Sam Bartlett for 25-yards before finding Meints in the endzone for the 1-yard touchdown to extend the lead 21-7.

Kohawks fight back before the half: Terrence Hall intercepted a pass from Sasso with 3:48 in the half to create two scoring opportunities for the Kohawks. Q. White found Colton White for a 15-yard touchdown with 2:34 to play in the half. After a quick Storm possession, White threw a big 51-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Stopko to try to tie the game, but Tristan Connell's point after hit the upright leaving the score at 21-20 headed into the locker room.

Jensen hits school record field goal: With a strong first possession of the second half and a pass interference call against the Kohawks, the Storm drove down to the Coe 26 and scored on a 44-yard field goal by Jensen to bring the score to 24-20 with 9:56 left in the 3rd.

Fourth quarter rally clinches victory: After Coe took their only lead of the game with 3:10 left in the 3rd quarter, Simpson answered with a big fourth quarter. Cam Bunting started things off with a 1-yard touchdown, the defense forced a turnover on downs, and Sasso found Meints for the second time with an 11-yard touchdown pass, 1:40 to play. Q. White fought back with a scramble to the end zone with 0:32 left on the clock to trail 38-33. Coe's two-point conversion failed, and Redmond recovered the on-side kick to give Simpson the road win.

Numbers & Notes
• Drew Jensen's 44-yard field goal in the third quarter brings his career total to 27 field goals, becoming the new leader in the Simpson school record book. Brett Majors (1999-2002) had the previous mark at 26 career field goals.

• Ryan Lehr now has three interceptions on the season, giving Simpson a turnover in 13 of 14 games during the Matt Jeter era. Lehr's interception gives Simpson six on the season

• Sasso threw four touchdown passes for the third straight game.

Up Next
The Storm return home to Buxton Stadium next Saturday to continue Iowa Conference play against the rival Dutch. Central (2-2) is coming off a high-scoring 52-27 win against Nebraska Wesleyan. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.