Beem joins exclusive company, Storm lose season finale

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by Hunter Hillygus, Sports Editor

INDIANOLA, Iowa — Senior running back Jordan Beem closed his football career with a bang, rushing for a career high 227 yards, becoming just the fifth player in Simpson football history to surpass the 3,000 career rushing yard mark. But the Storm couldn’t overcome 15th-ranked Coe, losing 47-29 in their season finale.

Coe (10-0) got things rolling quickly on their first drive, moving down the field on an efficient seven-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 29-yard touchdown run from the IIAC’s leading rusher, Trevor Heitland, giving the Kohawks a 6-0 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

Simpson (3-7) would answer on the next drive, marching 69 yards down the field and using their own seven-play drive to even the score at six after a 34-yard strike for Caleb Frye to Devin Norman and a missed extra point.

That would be as close as the Storm would get to the lead all day.

Coe’s high-powered offense used two consecutive touchdowns from Heitland and Demetrius Harper to stretch the Kohawk lead to 19-6. The extra point following Harper’s touchdown reception was blocked by sophomore linebacker Ryan Sarver and returned for two points to cut the lead to 19-8.

Another Harper touchdown reception ballooned the Coe lead to to 26-8, prompting Simpson to reach into its bag of tricks.

Wide receiver Jackson Redmond found tight end Nathan Russell in the back of the end zone on a reverse pass, cutting Coe’s lead to 26-15 at the half.

The second half was all Coe, however.

The IIAC champions owned the first three scoring drives of the half, including a nine-play, 97-yard touchdown drive that ended with a Brandon Roseberry 25-yard touchdown drive, giving the Kohawks a comfortable 47-15 lead in the fourth.

Simpson wouldn’t give, though, putting together two straight scoring drives late in the fourth, including a touchdown catch from senior fullback Josh Wilson that would give the game its final score of 47-29.

Heitland led all rushers with 238 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns, while quarterback Gavin Glenn threw for 162 yards and three scores. Demetrius Harper led all receivers with three catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Beem led the Storm in both rushing and receiving, rushing for the aforementioned 227 yards on 32 carries and catching four balls for 58 yards. Caleb Frye led Simpson through the air, throwing for 131 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sarver led the Storm, along with Ryan Lehr with 10 tackles. Trey Chumbley also chipped in 1.5 tackles for loss.