The Simpson Storm football ended its season 5-5 overall with a 34-14 loss against Central on Nov. 12.

The Storm finished third in the conference with a 5-3 record, two games behind Dubuque, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) champion.

The Storm started out the season 0-3 but remained focused until the 21-3 win against Loras on Sept. 24. Following a 42-21 loss to Dubuque Oct. 1, the Storm went on a four game run that started in October and ended with the loss to Central.

Senior linebacker Sam Elsner said the team didn’t play to its full potential in the first three games.

“We really improved on things as the season went on,” Elsner said. “I think if we were to play those first three games over again, it would definitely be a different result.”

Sophomore wide receiver Brad Vogel said the coaches motivated the team and the wins started to add up.

“All year long the coaches had us prepared and motivated enough for us to play as hard as we could each week,” Vogel said. “And finally the wins started adding up for us.”

Senior offensive lineman Kaleb Livingston also said the team has always been motivated.

“We were always motivated to win,” Livingston said. “It was just going and getting better and eventually we got good enough where we could start winning.”

“We just stayed the course and stuck with the plan,” head coach Jim Glogowski said.

Glogowski said the reason for the Storm’s success this season was the leadership from the seniors.

“The senior class as a whole was tremendous,” Glogowski said. “We had great senior leadership.”

The most memorable highlight of the season was the win over No. 19 Wartburg in overtime during the Knights’ homecoming on Oct. 15.

“It was a turning point when we realized we could win,” Livingston said.

This was the Storm’s first win over Wartburg since 1997.

“I think that is going to be the biggest thing people will remember about this year,” Vogel said.

A few days after the upset of Wartburg, several Storm football players, sophomore quarterback Taylor Nelson, junior linebacker Mike Cronin, and senior place-kicker James Gale, were honored with Player of the Week for the IIAC.

Nelson set an Iowa Conference record for completions in a game. He was just shy of tying school and conference records with his five touchdowns against the Knights.

Gale ended the season with 5-5 field goals this season and 21-23 extra points.

The Storm had 25 seniors play their last game of football this year, leaving large gaps to fill for the future and players with fond memories of their four years at Simpson.

“Simpson football has been very memorable time for me,” Livingston said. “I’ve made a lot of great friends and have become a better person overall through my time here.”

Elsner said he is going to miss every aspect of football.

“It is going to be hard leaving something that has been so routine and part of my life for the last 12 years,” Elsner said. “Never thought I’d say this, but I might even miss two-a-days.”

Even though many players are graduating, the Storm has key players returning, and Glogowski is looking forward to returning players’ impact for next season.

The seniors also believe that Simpson will have a successful season next year.

“I know the guys are going to work hard this off-season with the experience and leadership,” Elsner said. “It won’t be a surprise to me when I see them win the conference next season.”