Contact: Emily Zadny, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Box Score

Nov. 9, 2019 – A defensive stop that set up for a touchdown in the second quarter sparked a momentous comeback for the Loras College football team on Saturday as the Duhawks (5-4, 4-3 A-R-C) rebounded from a 14-0 deficit in the opening quarter to score a 38-20 Senior Day victory against the Simpson College Storm (4-5, 3-4 A-R-C).

The Storm pulled ahead 14-0 after the first 15 minutes of play and pressured the Duhawks early in the second to force a fumble and recover at midfield. The possession only lasted eight seconds after Tanner Krueger passed to Reed Worth for the completion but senior Brandon Ahlgrim forced him to fumble before he went down and senior Brett Matye was there for the recovery.

Taking over at the 50-yard line, Noah Sigwarth helped guide the offense downfield and rushed for 12 yards to get the Duhawks within striking distance. On the run, Sigwarth was met by a wall of Storm defenders and the ball came loose, but senior Dylan Connolly was there to recover and keep Loras' scoring opportunity alive. On the next play, Ty Bausch scampered into the endzone and Nicolas Farfan made the extra point to give Loras its first score of the game with 10:30 remaining in the first half.

The Storm responded with a 70-yard pass to leading-receiver Sam Bartlett to the endzone, but the extra point was no good as Simpson took a 20-7 lead. Loras came back on the following play to score off a run by Sigwarth with 5:49 left in the half and the Duhawks took the ball back from Simpson on the next drive after Krueger fumbled the ball on the snap and Brett McWilliams came up with it. With a new set of downs at the 22-yard line, Sigwarth connected with Mike McDevitt in the endzone and McDevitt tactfully kept his toes in bounds for the touchdown. With Farfan's extra point, Loras took a 21-20 lead with 2:52 remaining.

The Duhawks' defense held the Storm to a field goal attempt to end the first half and three-timeouts prior to the snap proved too much for Simpson's place kicker Zach Kreider as he sent the 43-yarder wide right to give Loras the advantage going into the locker room. From that point on, Simpson would not add to its score the remainder of the game. Jack Foley denied the Storm's first opportunity of the half with a 72-yard pick-six with 10:34 remaining. Farfan added on a field goal to extend the lead 31-20 with 3:57 to go in the third quarter.

Sigwarth scored his second touchdown of the day with 13:39 remaining in the game after finding Kabryn Cook downfield for a 34 yard completion to set up for first and goal. Just as Simpson set up for its new set of downs, Zach Kemp came up with an interception at the 28-yard line to put the ball back into Loras' possession with 13:39 remaining in the game. For the remainder of the contest, the Loras defense held steady for its third straight win, marking the first time to do so in a season since 2015. That season was also the last time Loras defeated Simpson in 41 meetings.

Sigwarth was 13-32-1 for 172 yards and rushed for 118 yards, good for two touchdowns. Cook had a team-high 79 receiving yards and senior Trey Simmons had 39 yards. McWilliams had two sacks for a loss of 16 yards, one quarterback hurry and the fumble recovery. Foley had two interceptions for 72 yards and a team-high eight tackles.

Loras plays the final game of the season on Nov. 16 at No. 8 Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Kickoff is set for 1 P.M.