Loras faces Storm, and not just the weather

by Olu Rotibi

After beating their arch rival Central College for the first time in four years, the Simpson Storm who are tied for first in the IIAC conference with a record of 2-0 in-conference while being 4-1 overall. Loras comes into the weekend at 1-1 in the IIAC while having an overall slate of 2-3.

The Duhawks are coming off their worst performance of the season, after taking a 69-7 beating to Coe College. The Duhawks currently rank sixth in scoring offense, seventh in total offense and defense in the Iowa Conference.

Although Loras ranks in the bottom of the Iowa Conference in defense and offense, they are led by Nate Carrier who leads the IIAC in rushing yards at 132.6 per game.

Defensive end Johnnie Sims knows that his team can’t overlook Carrier and the potent Duhawk rushing attack.

“We can’t overlook them because they have a great rushing game,” Sims said. “They have a great running back and overall have a great offense which we have prepared for this week.”

The Storm come into this weekend leading the Iowa Conference in passing yards per game with 334 and have numerous players leading different statistical categories.

Junior Quarterback Taylor Nelson leads the Iowa Conference in total yards per game at 334.8. Defensive lineman Senior Scott Vierow and Sophomore Johnnie Sims lead the conference in sacks with a total of nine combined. Senior wide receiver Taylor Rodgers ranks second in receiving yards, while junior wide receiver Brad Vogel leads the IIAC in all-purpose yards with 219.4 yards per game.

Simpson football players took home all accolades this week in the Iowa Conference. Taylor Nelson was named offensive player and athlete of the week. Ben Borland was named defensive player of the week and Brad Vogel was named special teams player of the week with their respective performances against Central College.

With the victory last weekend junior wide receiver Brad Vogel expects a feisty Loras secondary Saturday.

“We’ll expect them to hit us and try to knock us off our routes,”Vogel said. “This week we’ve been working on trying to avoid that.”

Temperature is expected to be 73 degrees with possible thunderstorms.

Simpson hosts Loras in a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday.O