The Simpson football team battled the Kohawks of Coe lastweekend, losing the close game in double overtime. The teams hadidentical records of 5-3 and 4-2 in conference play, but Coe put upa strong defensive effort in the second overtime to edge Simpson,24-17.

The Storm escaped with a road victory at Coe last year,20-13.

“[Coe is] an up-and-down team,” junior Dusty Kain said. “Theyaren’t supposed to be that good, but we went up there last year andthey gave us a good game, and this year they did it again.”

The Kohawks jumped to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, butSimpson answered with a run by sophomore Eric Hentges from a yardout to bring the Storm within a touchdown. Hentges would add asecond touchdown from a yard out with 10 seconds left in the halfto tie the game going into halftime.

Defense was the name of the game in the third quarter as bothteams played a defensive chess match. Neither defense allowed anypoints in the third.

The Storm broke through in the fourth after the offense wasstopped five yards short of a touchdown. Junior Sean Smith kicked a22-yard field goal to give the Storm a 17-14 lead.

Simpson’s defense continued to be strong, forcing Coe to puntand turn the ball over on downs in consecutive drives. All Simpsonhad to due was run out the clock.

With 1:01 left in regulation, Simpson was forced to punt.Sophomore punter Geoff Skinner took the snap to kick it away, butdropped the ball and was tackled for a nine-yard loss. The Kohawksgot the ball with 53 seconds left to play in the game. Coeconverted on a 24-yard field goal with 4 seconds left to send thegame into overtime.

In the first extra session, neither team scored after Simpsonmissed a field goal and Coe botched their field-goal attempt. TheKohawks finally converted on a touchdown in the second overtime toput the pressure on the Storm.

Needing to score, Simpson was set up in a third and goalsituation from the 8-yard-line. Looking to pass the ball, juniorquarterback Scott McCarty took a sack for a four-yard loss on thethird down. McCarty’s pass was batted down on fourth to seal up thewin for Coe.

Kain said that the team has to keep a positive attitude to endthe season on a high note.

“We still have a chance to play for a winning record thisweekend and stay above .500,” Kain said.