Simpson racks up 563 yards in 48-20 win over Northwestern

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Tyson Unkrich (Sr., Swedesburg, Iowa) accounted for six of Simpson's seven touchdowns and amassed 343 total yards while the Storm defense forced four Northwestern (Minn.) turnovers in a 48-20 win in its home opener Saturday at Buxton Stadium.

Junior running back Matt Claassen (Newhall, Iowa) added a career-high 166 rushing yards off 20 carries as the Simpson offense enjoyed one of the most prolific offensive outbursts in program history. The 563 total yards racked up by Simpson is the most since 2002 and the eighth highest single-game total in school history.

“The kids did a great job of playing hard again today,” Simpson head coach Jim Glogowski said. “The biggest thing was that offensively we wore them down up front and our kids ran hard. Tyson is a difference maker, there is no doubt. When he plays the way he played today, guys catch the ball and we keep opening holes up front, then we'll have a chance in every game.”

After watching UW-Stout run for 299 yards against the Storm in week one, Simpson punished Northwestern for 286 yards on the ground. Sixty-six of Unkrich's 343 yards came on the ground, with a bulk of that yardage coming from 41 and 16-yard scoring jaunts. Coy Carter (Sr., Raytown, Mo.) chipped in with 54 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

“Running the ball is certainly our M.O.,” Glogowski said. “For us to be successful this season, we have to be able to move the ball on the ground. It is really a credit to our line, which did a great job blocking along with our tight ends. I and the rest of the coaching staff challenged those guys this week and they responded.”

Trailing 14-0 after a pair of first half touchdown strikes from Unkrich, the Eagles had a pair of drives end inside the Simpson 10-yard line on turnovers. John Wolfe (Council Bluffs, Iowa) jarred the ball away from Cody DeBoer at the 5-yard line after a 33-yard completion with 3:16 remaining in the half and Gabe Gilson (Prairie City, Iowa) intercepted a tipped ball at the Simpson 4-yard line with only four seconds to go in the half, ending the scoring threat.

“We did a good job of creating some turnovers, especially in the first half,” Glogowski said. “When those things happen against us we say it is bad luck; but when it happens in our favor it's because we created them. Our guys did a good job of getting their hands up and tip balls, and we were always hustling around the football. When you hustle and get to the football, good things will happen.”

Simpson went up 21-0 early in the third on a 37-yard aerial hookup between Unkrich and Ben Coy (So., Jewell, Iowa). The two teams traded touchdowns throughout the next six possessions, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Northwestern's Kyle Thomforde.

Unkrich ended the day completing 17-of-21 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with six different receivers. Ben Coy (So., Jewell, Iowa) played the part of Unkrich's favorite target, leading the way with six grabs for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Braden Everding (So, Tripoli, Iowa) led Simpson with 13 tackles, followed by Chad Onstot (So., Ackworth, Iowa) with 10. Ben Reutzel (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Robert Napoli (Sr., Independence, Mo.) each charted sacks for the Storm, while Joe Peterson (Sr., Norwalk, Iowa) snagged an interception.

Simpson opens the Iowa Conference schedule next Saturday with a trip to Dubuque to face Loras. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.