Hopes high for the Storm in 2009

INDIANOLA, Iowa - After posting the most wins by a Simpson team in five years with a 7-3 record in 2008, a conference championship is the goal in year two of head coach Jim Glogowski's tenure. Returning a strong nucleus of starters - including five on the offensive line - the Red and Gold are a top contender for its first Iowa Conference Crown since 1997.

After starting the season with a pair of non-conference wins, the Storm dropped two of its first three conference games in 2008. After a heart-breaking 20-17 home loss against Coe dropped Simpson to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the IIAC, the team finished the season winning four-of-five. Included in the Storm's five conference wins was an emotional 24-17 overtime victory at Central, Simpson's first win against the arch-rival Dutch since 2003.

Simpson returns 14 starters from last year's squad (eight on offense and six on defense) that ranked first in the Iowa Conference in both total offense and total defense, racking up 353 yards per game on offense while allowing only 269.6 on the defensive side.

"We are very excited about the upcoming season," Glogowski said. "We have a strong group of returners and some newcomers who will come in and compete right away."

Quarterbacks

After splitting time under center for the past three years, senior quarterback Tyson Unkrich (Winfield, Iowa/Mt. Pleasant) is poised to take the reins of offensive coordinator Joe Beshorner's offense. Unkrich ended the 2008 season on a high note, earning Iowa Conference Player of the Week honors after amassing 289 total yards (179 passing, 110 rushing) in the Storm's 24-17 win over Central. Unkrich passed for 346 yards and rushed for a career-high 326 in 2008, ending the season with a 110.99 passer rating.

"Tyson performed very well over the last three games last year and should carry some of that momentum into this season," Glogowski said.

A trio of sophomore signal-callers make up the remainder of returners at the position, as Chris Garza (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee), Ethan Logsdon (Lawton, Iowa/Lawton-Brunson) and Colton Calvert (St. Charles, Iowa/I-35) spent 2008 as members of the Simpson JV team.

Running Backs

As the offensive line brings a wealth of experience to the cause, the running game will have a new look after the graduation of Simpson's career rushing leader and first team all-conference performer Adam Reutzel. The competition for the starting spot will be wide open, with seniors Victor Carter Jr. (Rayton, Mo./South) and Renauld Shelton (Independence, Mo./Blue Springs) providing the most experience of the returners, with a combined 126 career yards off a 65 career carries between the two. Sophomore Tyson Brandt (Storm Lake, Iowa/Storm Lake) also looks to figure into the equation.

"The competition at running back is going to be exciting," Glogowski said. "We are fortunate to have quality athletes at the position to carry the ball for us this fall."

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Senior Legrand Bien-Aime (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Stranahan) is the Storm's leading returning receiver in 2009, after snagging 12 catches for 188 yards with a touchdown a year ago. He ended the season fourth on the team in receiving, but showed big-play ability by averaging a team-high 15.7 yards per catch - the most of any receiver on the team who had 10 or more catches.

Bien-Aime and sophomore Josh Wardenburg (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) are the lone returning letter winners in the receiving corps, while sophomore tight end Alex McCarty's (Prescott, Iowa/Corning) five catches in 2008 are the second most among returners.

"The receivers and tight ends are another position group we feel good about," Glogowski said. "We have quality athletes at those positions who will compete for playing time."

Offensive Line

The strength of the Storm's offense falls in the trenches with a senior-laden offensive line. Seven seniors lead the group - of which six account for a combined 79 career starts. Together, Simpson's front five helped pave the way for 2,185 yards - the most in the league and the most since the 2000 Storm gained 2,250 yards on the ground.

On the right side are three-year starters in guard Ryan Laffey, (Runnels, Iowa/Dowling Catholic) a second team all-conference pick in 2008 and tackle Bill Carroll, (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) a first team all-conference selection last season.

Opposite the decorated right side are two more seniors in veteran-guard John Wardenburg (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) and tackle Scott Danielson (Dayton, Iowa/Southeast Webster-Grand). Anchoring the Storm up front is senior center Jacob Hamilton (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie). Senior tackle Lee Coel (Cooper City, Fla./Cooper City) adds significant size and seven career-starts to the cause, while senior Zach Haworth (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) brings three years of experience to the table.

"It's no secret that we will rely on our offensive line this year," Glogowski said. "We have a lot of seniors who will provide solid leadership for our offense."

Defensive Line

Half of Simpson's front four on the defensive side of the ball returns in 2009 after posting the second-stingiest run defense in the league a year ago, allowing only 99.1 yards per contest. Simpson lost All-American tackle Luke Stover and starting end Ben Pruss, but returning seniors Jason Courtney (Mitchellville, Iowa/Bondurant-Farrar) and Ben Reutzel (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie) look to lead a group that returns five letter winners from last season.

"Jason and Ben each performed well last year and we will look to them to anchor the defensive line and provide senior leadership," Glogowski said.

Courtney came out of his nosegguard position to chart nine tackles for loss, including 5 1/2 sacks - the most of any returner. Ruetzel snuck into the backfield to notch 12 1/2 tackles for loss in 2008, leading all Storm returners. Senior Robert Napoli (Kansas City, Mo./St. Pius X) should see an increased role after starting the final game of 2008, while sophomores Sam Elsner (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie) and Darrin Seasmster (New Port Ritchey, Fla./Ridgewood) should also compete for spots.

Linebackers

Behind a stout d-line is a veteran crew of linebackers, including 10-game starters in senior Cody Jensen (Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell) and sophomore Chad Onstot (Ackworth, Iowa/Indianola). Onstot's 81 tackles placed him second on the team and 10th in the conference, trailing the graduated Tim Stover - a First Team All-IIAC selection last year. Jensen contributed 58 tackles, the second most of any returner.

"Cody and Chad are playmakers," Glogowski said. "They can make things happen and can set the tone for us defensively."

The battle for the third linebacker spot in defensive coordinator's Michael Cordes' scheme could come down to returning letterwinners in sophomore Justin Bolkema (Sheldon, Iowa/Western Christian) and junior Greg Rhoulhac (Miramar, Fla./Ft. Lauderdale Stranahan).

Defensive Backs

The defensive backfield is led by senior John Wolfe, (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lincoln) who led the team and tied for second in the league with four interceptions from his strong safety position a year ago. Wolfe returned those interceptions for a conference-high 154 yards and one touchdown.

After splitting time at corner a year ago, Wardell Watkins (Olathe, Kan./Northwest) should move into a full-time starting role after nabbing one interception last season. Returning letter winners Gabe Gilson (Prairie City, Iowa/Prairie City-Monroe), Jarrod Schott (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas), Paul Scaletta (Sioux City, Iowa/North) and Brad VanEaton (Corydon, Iowa/Wayne) should compete for the remaining safety and corner spot.

"John and Wardell both have the ability to change a game," Glogowski said. "We will look for them to lead the defensive backfield."

Special Teams

Making good on 7-of-8 field goals and 26-of-31 extra poitns in his first season, sophomore kicker James Gale (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) returns with a year of experience under his belt. While Adam Reutzel handled a majority of the punting duties last year, sophomore Cameron Oviatt (Carnation, Wash./Cedarcrest) will look to fill the void and build upon his 12 punts from a year ago.

Linebacker Cody Jensen handled the snapping duties on special teams a year ago, but defensive lineman Zach Haworth may see time snapping the ball as well.

In the return game, the Storm returns its leading kick returner in Bien-Aimee, who returned 10 kicks for 213 yards. Bien-Aimee could be a candidate to return punts as well in 2009, as former wide receiver Nick Burden handled most of the duties last year.

"We always put a strong emphasis on special teams," Glogowski said. "James and Cameron got some experience last year and we expect them to build off that for this season."

Schedule

Simpson's 2009 schedule opens with non-conference clashes against UW-Stout of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Northwestern (Minn.) of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference before it embarks on an always challenging, eight-game Iowa Conference schedule.

The Storm's Iowa Conference slate includes home bouts with Buena Vista, Central, Dubuque and Cornell while traveling to Loras, Luther, Coe and Wartburg. Simpson's final home game of the season against Cornell on Oct. 31 will be a night game, the team's second in three years. After a bye in the second-to last week of the season, Glogowski hopes the final game of the season - at defending conference-champion Wartburg on Nov. 14 - will carry heavy significance.

"We are excited to begin this season," Glogowski said. "In this league you have to be ready to play every week, but we feel good about our chances to compete for the league title."