Storm bring the heat, lock down Dubuque in Homecoming clash

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson College football team used a dominant defensive effort and a series of explosive plays to take down Dubuque, 27-7, in Saturday's Homecoming matchup.

The Storm defense stood tall throughout the afternoon, twice stopping Dubuque (3-5, 3-3 A-R-C) inside the 10-yard line in the first half and adding three interceptions after the break. MJ Burks had two of those picks, including one in the end zone to seal the win late in the fourth quarter. Overall, the Storm defense limited Dubuque to one score in five red-zone opportunities.

Offensively, Jayden Thoreson threw for three touchdowns, two to Noah Cracraft and another to Cole Staska. Demarico Young provided the exclamation point with an 84-yard touchdown run in the final minutes, the third-longest run from scrimmage in team history, to put the finishing touches on a dominant Homecoming showing for the Storm (4-3, 3-2 A-R-C).

KEY MOMENTS

• The Storm defense made an early statement with back-to-back sacks from CJ Hangartner and Noah Noland forcing a Dubuque three and out on the Spartans' first possession.
• One play later, Jayden Thoreson connected with Noah Cracraft, who made a one-handed grab in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown, giving the Storm a 7-0 lead with 8:51 left in the first quarter.
• Dubuque threatened early in the second quarter, but JJ Martin-England and Christian Lee came up huge, stopping quarterback Joey Rhomberg at the 1-yard line on fourth down.
• The Spartans intercepted Thoreson late in the half and returned it to the 7-yard line, but Noland and Zach Pamperin combined for a 3rd-and-goal stop as time expired, preserving Simpson's 7-0 halftime advantage.
• MJ Burks intercepted Rhomberg early in the third quarter, returning it 29 yards to the 19. Two plays later, Thoreson and Cracraft connected again to double the lead with a 14-yard touchdown.
• Dubuque mounted a 12-play drive to the Simpson 17, but Pamperin pressured Rhomberg into an incomplete pass in the end zone on fourth down.
• Early in the fourth, the Storm went for it on 4th and 1 from the Dubuque 14, but came up short. The Spartans used that momentum to cut into the lead as Rhomberg threw a 3-yard pass to Isaiah Martinez.
• On a free play following an offsides penalty, Thoreson threaded the needle to Cole Staska for a 23-yard touchdown, restoring the two-touchdown lead at 21-7.
• With Dubuque threatening again, Burks made his second interception of the day in the end zone to halt the drive.
• Demarico Young sent the homecoming crowd into a frenzy with an 84-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left to make it 27-7.
• Mekhi Holmes added Simpson's third interception of the half to seal the Homecoming win.

OFFENSIVE STARS

• Jayden Thoreson: 20-29, 242 yards, 3 TD
• Demarico Young: 18 att, 113 yards, 1 TD
• Noah Cracraft: 7 rec, 100 yards, 2 TD
• Cole Staska: 5 rec, 58 yards, 1 TD

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS

• Noah Noland: 18 tackles (2 TFL), 2 sacks
• JJ Martin-England: 13 tackles (1 TFL), 1 pass breakup
• MJ Burks: 5 tackles, 2 INT
• Mekhi Holmes: 11 tackles, 1 INT
• CJ Hangartner: 7 tackles (2 TFL), 2 sacks, 1 QBH
• Eli Fox: 6 tackles (1 TFL), 1 sack
• Nolan Pagel: 5 tackles (3 TFL), 1 sacks

NOTES

• This victory marked Simpson's 49th Homecoming win all-time, with this being the eighth against Dubuque.
• The Storm also evened the all-time series against the Spartans at 36 wins apiece (36-36-3). It was Simpson's first win over Dubuque since 2019 and their first home victory against the Spartans since 2013.
• With his two touchdowns, Noah Cracraft tied Sam Bartlett (2015-19) and Jesse Von Behren (1999-02) with 23 career receiving scores, good for sixth all-time.
• Noah Cracraft and Jayden Thoreson have connected for six touchdowns in the last two games.
• Tanner Philpott landed five of his eight punts inside the 20 while amassing a career-high 333 yards.
• Demarico Young's 84-yard touchdown run is the third-longest run from scrimmage in program history.
• Simpson's defense sacked Joey Rhomberg six times, the team's highest sack total since recording seven against Illinois College on Sept. 9, 2017.
• The Storm's three interceptions is a new season high. Simpson now has eight takeaways through the air.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

UP NEXT
Simpson makes the trip to Dubuque to face Loras next Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.