INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson College football team showcased versatility with scoring contributions on offense, defense, and special teams, but the effort wasn't enough as the Storm suffered a 42-41 overtime loss to Augustana at Buxton Stadium.
The Storm (0-1) scored on long field goals, a defensive return, a kickoff return, and both rushing and passing touchdowns, but the Vikings' overtime score and a missed two-point conversion sealed the heartbreaking finish.
A 20-yard touchdown run by Demarico Young gave Simpson a 35-32 lead with 2:54 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Augustana (1-0) managed to tie the game with a 36-yard field goal as time expired, forcing overtime. The Vikings scored on their opening possession of the extra period, and Simpson answered with a touchdown set up by more strong rushing from Young. Opting to go for the win, Jayden Thoreson's two-point conversion attempt was swatted away, handing the Storm a 42-41 overtime defeat.
Aiden Lanier went 3-for-3 in field goal attempts, CJ Hangartner returned a fumble 63 yards to the house, MJ Burks recorded a school-record 98-yard kickoff return, and Cole Staska and Noah Cracraft added touchdown scores through the air.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Augustana struck first with a 25-yard touchdown pass, then added another score late in the first to lead 14-3. Aiden Lanier connected on a 49-yard field goal for Simpson's first points.
- Lanier drilled another 49-yarder early in the second before CJ Hangartner scooped up a fumble forced by Connor Stephens and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown to put the Storm ahead 16-14. Augustana closed the half with a field goal to lead 17-16.
- Back-to-back interceptions from Christian Lee set up momentum for Simpson in the third, and Jayden Thoreson hit Cole Staska for a 46-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the quarter to give the Storm a 23-17 advantage.
- Augustana scored on a 50-yard pass before MJ Burks answered immediately with an electrifying 98-yard kickoff return touchdown, the longest kick return in program history.
- Demarico Young's 20-yard TD run put Simpson up 35-32 with 2:54 remaining, but a late field goal from Augustana forced overtime at 35-35.
- In overtime, Augustana scored on a 7-yard TD pass from Jimmy Makuh to Sean Schlanser.
- Simpson answered with a 3-yard TD from Jayden Thoreson to Noah Cracraft, but the two-point try fell short as the Storm dropped a 42-41 heartbreaker.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Jayden Thoreson: 220 pass yards, 2 TD
- Cole Staska: 139 rec yards, 1 TD
- Demarico Young: 102 rush yards, 1 TD
- Noah Cracraft: 1 rec TD
- Mekhi Holmes: 12 tackles, 2 pass breakups
- Noah Noland: 12 tackles
- Connor Stephens: 10 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 TFL
- JJ Martin-England: 8 tackles, 1 forced fumble
- CJ Hangartner: 6 tackles, 63-yard fumble return
- Christian Lee: 3 tackles, 2 interceptions
- MJ Burks: 4 returns, 153 return yards, 98-yard kickoff return
- Aiden Lanier: 3-for-3 FG
- Tanner Philpott: 4 punts, 160 yards, 1 IN20
NOTES
- MJ Burks' 98-yard kick return in the fourth quarter goes down as the longest in program history, besting 95-yard returns by Rex Gray in 1999 and Travis Young in 1989.
- Burks' kick return is the first for Simpson since Brad Vogel recorded a 93-yarder on Sept. 22, 2012.
- Aiden Lanier's two 49-yard field goals are tied for the fourth-longest field goals in program history and represent the longest made field goal by a Storm kicker since 2007.
- This game marked Simpson's first overtime contest since a 37-36 victory over Wartburg on Sept. 29, 2018.
UP NEXT
Simpson travels to Crown next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.