Simpson celebrates Senior Day with memorable third quarter

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson College football team was defeated by Wartburg in the 2021 season finale, but not without celebrating Senior Day with a memorable third quarter inside Buxton Stadium.

Simpson (1-9, 1-7 A-R-C) was able to hold Wartburg (7-3, 6-2 A-R-C) to just 14 points between the first, third and fourth frames, but a 41-point second quarter fueled by three turnovers proved to be the difference maker as the Knights picked up a 55-23 road win over the Storm.

Determined to put the first half behind them, the Storm came out of the locker room and had some fun on Senior Day with three scores, a pair of two-point conversions, a fumble recovery, and a lot of excitement in the third quarter.

On the Storm's second possession of the frame, Hunter Ogle got things going with two carries for 13 yards before Brett Bobinet found senior Joe McNally downfield for a 51-yard play that put Simpson in the red zone for the first time.

Facing 2nd-and-goal from the eight yard line, right tackle Mason Spree drifted off the line as an eligible receiver and caught a pass from Bobinet who placed the ball perfectly in the senior's hands. The 6-foot-6, 290 pound lineman barrelled through the defenders and gave everyone inside Buxton Stadium something to cheer about as he crossed over the goal line for his first career score in his final game.

As if that play wasn't exciting enough, Simpson elected to go for the two-point conversion and used some trickery once more as senior Austin Bell took the snap from Reed Worth and rolled out to his right to find none other than Worth open in the back of the endzone for the two-point grab.

Simpson would score again just two minutes later after getting the ball back on a Wartburg fumble recovered by Justin Maggard at the home 47-yard line. One play later, J Jensen III dropped back five yards and threw a deep pass to Worth who corralled the ball in stride for the longest touchdown reception of his career. The Storm dialed up the same two-point play as the previous drive and fooled the Knights once more as Bell and Worth teamed up again.

In the final three minutes of the quarter, the Storm went on a 9-play, 49-yard drive that was capped off by McNally's final touchdown in Simpson uniform. He hauled in a pass from Jensen III from six yards out, giving him 15 career scores including six during his senior campaign.

Bobinet and Jensen III combined for three touchdowns and 312 yards through the air, the fourth time this season the Storm have thrown for over 300 yards. Their favorite target was Worth who had five catches for 116 yards.

Defensively, Wyatt Schaben added to his league-leading tackle total with 14 stops including 2.5 for a loss of 13 yards. He also had 1.5 sacks and forced the fumble that led to the Storm's second score. Schaben finished the season with 106 tackles, matching Michael Connor's mark from 2019 that ranks 10th in Simpson's single-season record book.

Prior to the contest, Simpson recognized a group of 17 seniors for their dedication to the program throughout their careers. Those honored include Austin Bell, Jack Bootsmiller, Noah Bruckner, Boston Draper, Jeremiah Gates, Jaden Henrichs, Lanny Herzog, Seth Howard, Jacob Jackson, Tyreese Jackson, Joe McNally, Seth Niccum, Carter Paterson, Ben Schiltz, Cole Scott, Jacob Shepherd and Mason Spree.