Brendan Holmes (4)
Brendan Holmes (4)

Dubuque ground game shines as Spartans top Storm

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Cam Bunting ran for 89 hard-earned yards and Brendan Holmes had two interceptions, but the combination of Maurece Herrion and Dwayne Allen, Jr. led Dubuque to a 17-6 win over the Simpson football team Saturday at a rain-soaked Buxton Stadium.

With the win, Dubuque remains in a tie for first in the American Rivers Conference and will meet Wartburg for the league title in the final week of the season.

Herrion ran for 157 yards and Allen had 145, including a six-yard touchdown run with under a minute to play that iced the game for the Spartans (7-2, 6-1). Tanner Krueger threw for 213 yards and a touchdown for the Storm (6-3, 5-2).

Holmes and Michael Connor led the defensive effort with 14 tackles apiece. Ryan Lehr added 13 stops, an interception and four pass breakups.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 10-6 in the fourth quarter, Simpson got the ball with just over 3 minutes to play. After a holding penalty put the ball at the Storm's own 14, Dalton Knaack intercepted Krueger, Dubuque's fourth pick of the day. Allen concluded the ensuing drive with a 6-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 to seal the win with less than a minute to play.

Following a quiet first half, the Storm offense came to life with a 9-play, 69-yard drive late in the third quarter. Krueger got into a rhythm, going 5-for-5 on the drive. On third-and-15 from the Dubuque 18, he found Ricky Reeve running free down the seam to pull the Storm within one. A high snap on the extra point resulted in a missed try.

Herrion put Dubuque on the board with an 18-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The 96-yard drive got a boost when quarterback Sean Duffy connected with Kody Riemer for 28 yards on third-and-20. Duffy finished just 7-for-21 without a touchdown after throwing for six scores a week ago against Nebraska Wesleyan.

Simpson threatened to tie the game early in the second quarter, but a 12-play drive stalled at the 4-yard line. Joey Gale's 22-yard field goal clanged off the right upright and Dubuque retained a 7-0 lead.

GAME NOTES

  • Simpson's three interceptions are the most by a Storm team since also getting three against Wiis.-River Falls on Sept. 21, 2013.
  • The Storm lost the turnover battle (-1) for just the eighth time under head coach Matt Jeter, falling to 0-8 in such games.
  • Cam Bunting increased his season rushing total to 1,142 yards, currently No. 10 in school history.
  • With is two interceptions, Brendan Holmes increased his career total to 12, the fourth-most in school history.
  • Michael Connor eclipsed 100 tackles on the season and now has 105.

UP NEXT

Simpson closes the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 10 at Buena Vista.