DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras (0-6, 0-4) football team returns from its bye week and heads on the road to face Simpson (2-4, 1-3) on Saturday in Indianola.

PREVIEWING SIMPSON

The Storm enter Saturday's contest on a two-game losing skid, dropping a 24–17 loss to Luther and a 20–6 loss to Wartburg. In last year's meeting, the Duhawks held Simpson out of the endzone and to three field goals.

SCOUTING THE STORM - OFFENSE

Caleb Frye is the field general for the Storm, throwing for 943 yards and five touchdowns. Turnovers have been a bit of an issue for Frye, having thrown 10 interceptions and fumbled twice. Jackson Redmond is the primary target for Frye, averaging 60 yards per game and 15.7 yards per catch. Redmond and Matt Burrell are tied for the team lead with two touchdown receptions. When the Storm keep the ball on the ground, it's usually in the hands of Jordan Beem. Entering week seven, Beem averages 96.4 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry. Surprisingly, Braden Meints, a wide receiver, leads the team in rushing touchdowns with three. As a team, Simpson ranks last in the IIAC in scoring with 115 points.

SCOUTING THE STORM - DEFENSE

In a tale of the young and the old, senior Cole Cook and freshman Brendan Holmes are tied for the team lead in tackles with 65 each. Two of Holmes' tackles have been for loss while Cook has one interception and three pass breakups. Senior defensive end Isaac Frazier leads the team with eight sacks and a total of 9.5 tackles for loss, as well as three forced fumbles. The Storm's rush defense ranks last in the conference at an average of 221.7 yards per game, which could bode well for senior tailback Zach Minch. On the flip side, Simpson's pass defense ranks second in the IIAC at 201.2 yards per game. As a unit, Simpson averages 27 points allowed per game, which ranks fifth in the IIAC.

SCOUTING THE STORM - SPECIAL TEAMS

The placekicking duties for the Storm are handled by Drew Jensen, who enters the week having made 9-of-10 field goals this season, including a long of 39 yards. Jensen has had more difficulty with extra point attempts, missing three of his 13 attempts. Tanner Krueger averages 51 yards per punt and has placed 10 of his 31 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. While Simpson has not scored a special teams touchdown, they have yet to concede on to an opponent.

MOTORING MINCH

Zach Minch put on an impressive display in the Duhawks 38–30 loss to Wartburg on Saturday. Minch had his best game so far this year rushing for 167 yards and ending the day with 189 yards of total offense. This is Minch's fifth 100 yard rushing game of the year, which ties the number of one hundred yard or more rushing game he had last season. Not only did Minch have the most yards he has had all year on the ground, but he also had his longest rush of the year, an 80 yard  strike early in the first quarter.

RISING TO THE OCCASION

The last few games the most targeted receiver has been sophomore Brad Boelkow. However against Wartburg seniors Jon Powers and Danny Willis were able to offset Boelkow's single reception. Powers led the way with 2 touchdown receptions and a game-high of 137 receiving yards. Willis complemented well with 6 key receptions for the Duhawks. Quarterback Nolan Baumhover has multiple scoring weapons which can keep the Duhawks in games if he is able to utilize them fully.

KICK RETURN AIDING OFFENSE

Sophomore Walter Ollie not only continues to earn his spot in the starting line-up at safety but has been successful when running with the ball. Although Ollie does not play offense, he continues to put the Duhawk offense in great drive-starting positions after kick returns. The sophomore had 137 yards on four kick returns, with a long of 64 yards, which came last week against Wartburg. Joining Ollie on the kick return unit is senior Danny Willis, who has added to Ollie's 137 yards with 96 yards of his own. Between Willis and Ollie, the Duhawks started from outside the Loras 30-yard line every drive with one drive starting on the Wartburg 39-yard line.

BOELKOW AND POWERS EARNING THEIR KEEP

Sophomore Brad Boelkow and senior Jon Powers have been quite the combination as reliable passing options for Quarterback Nolan Baumhover. Through six games, the duo of Powers and Boelkow have accounted for 10 of the 13 receiving touchdowns and 991 receiving yards for the Duhawks. Even with the absence of senior Josh Schulte, the play of Boelkow and Powers has given opposing defenses plenty to be concerned about.

COMING OFF THE BYE WEEK

For a team in search of its first win this season, Loras' hope is that the bye week provided an opportunity to recalibrate the engine for the final four weeks. Last season, the Duhawks responded to their bye week in a positive way, posting a 3-1 record in next four games.