Storm crash homecoming at Loras

DUBUQUE, Iowa - After three losses to begin the season - including two near misses - the Simpson football team can now put a tally in the win column.

Michael Chia turned in the first 100-yard rushing effort of his career, Taylor Rogers made eight catches for 88 yards and the Simpson defense forced four turnovers in a 21-3 win against Loras at the Rock Bowl on Saturday.

The Storm (1-3, 1-1 Iowa Conference) spoiled the homecoming festivities for Loras, holding the hosts to only 165 yards of total offense.

"Sometimes you're 0-3 and its tough to get going, but we got after it for the fourth week in a row," head coach Jim Glogowski said. "Today really showed how resilient our kids are. I'm really happy for them; they've worked really hard and it was good to see it pay off."

Chia rushed 26 times for a career-high 101 yards and Taylor Nelson went 20-for-32 passing with 192 yards and a touchdown. Taylor Rogers was the recipient of Nelson's touchdown toss, a spectacular one-handed grab that gave Simpson a 14-3 lead in the third quarter.

An early-season injury slowed Rogers in 2010 after he made 11 touchdown catches his freshman year, but the improved continuity with his quarterback is evident this year.

"Having Taylor [Rogers] during fall camp really helped with the chemistry of the passing game," Glogowski said. "Some of the biggest catches he made today were on third down. He is starting to develop and become a nice receiver."

While the offense was moving the ball with regularity, the defense was making life hard for quarterback Vaughn Gesing and the Duhawks (1-3, 0-2).

Gesing compelted 10 of 23 passes for 90 yards, was intercepted three times and sacked five. Linebacker Mark Cronin got to Gesing twice and Grant Focht, Eric Addy and Jarrod Schott each recorded a pick.

Simpson's defense gave the offense a short field on the last two scoring drives. A forced fumble by Ted Haag at the Loras 15 set up and Rogers' score and Focht returned his interception 32 yards to the Loras 1-yard line, allowing Nelson to plunge in from a yard out.

"The defense played phenomenal," Glogowski said. "The biggest thing was that we
executed. It was executing the game plan, tackling and being in the right spot. We played a ton of guys and that made a big difference."

Punter Cameron Oviatt helped out with field position, pinning the Duhawks inside their own 20 on three of his seven punts.

Brad Vogel got the scoring started for Simpson in the second quarter on a 17-yard touchdown run, giving the Storm a 7-3 lead. Tyler Wilker gave Loras the early 3-0 advantage on a 27-yard field goal with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

After two weeks on the road, Simpson returns home on Saturday, Oct. 1 to host Dubuque (4-0, 2-0) in a 4 p.m. kickoff at Buxton Stadium. The Spartans beat Central 56-28 on Saturday.