Four named to D3football.com All-Region Team

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson football team placed four players on the D3football.com 2018 All-West Region Team. Cam Bunting and Michael Connor earned second team honors while Brendan Holmes and Nathan Hawkins landed on the third team.

Prior to this season, Simpson had never placed more than three players on the D3football.com All-Region Team. The Storm's four all-region selections are the most since also getting four players on the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Region Team in 2003.

The seventh-leading rusher in Division III in 2018, Bunting ran for 1,396 yards and 13 touchdowns while catching 27 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. The first team all-conference running back led the American Rivers in rushing, rushing touchdowns and scoring (90 points). A senior from Indianola, Iowa, Bunting surpassed 100 yards rushing six times and went over 200 twice, closing his career with 2,449 yards on the ground.

The American Rivers Conference Defensive MVP, Connor made 113 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2018. The linebacker also forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass for the league's No. 1 scoring defense. The senior from Woodward, Iowa led the league in tackles and sacks, becoming the first linebacker to lead the conference in sacks since 2014.

The only repeat All-Region performer on the list, Holmes was also a third team pick in 2017. The junior free safety led the team and tied for second in the American Rivers with five interceptions. A native of Atlantic, Iowa, Holmes finished the year with 89 tackles, five pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

The tenth-leading punter in Division III, Hawkins averaged a league-high 40 yards on 53 punts in 2018. The first team all-conference pick also led the league in punts inside the 20 with 21. A senior from Solon, Iowa, Hawkins owns Simpson's career record by averaging 42 yards per punt.