The Simpson Storm football team trailed by 19 in the second half against Crown on Saturday, but rallied to earn a 48-46 win, the first for new head coach Reed Hoskins, over the Polars as heard live on 94.3 KNIA.
The Storm had a disastrous start, throwing an interception in the endzone and having a punt returned for a touchdown to trail 13-0 in the opening minutes. The two teams traded touchdowns, with the Storm earning touchdowns through the air with J Jensen III throwing to Reed Worth, Cole Staska, and Tristan Bushey, but never got closer than six points in the first half and trailed 33-21 at the half.
The Polars scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter to take a dominant 40-21 lead, with the Storm defense seemingly not having any answers for the Crown throwing attack. The Storm earned another touchdown to cut the lead to 40-28 as Jensen found Desmond Alexander for a touchdown, and the defense found answers as they would get interceptions on the next two possessions, with the Storm offense taking advantage with a Danny Rankins Jr. rushing touchdown and another connection from Jensen to Worth for the Storm to take their first lead of the day 41-40.
Simpson earned another touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run from Jerad Fischer to lead 48-40. After nearly being able to get to kneel down territory, the Storm were forced to punt with just over a minute to go, only to see the Polars score on their first play, but failed the two-point conversion as the Storm held on to their 48-46 lead.
The Polars converted on their first onside kick try, but a penalty called the play back, and the Storm recovered the next attempt and ended the game in the victory formation.
Head coach Reed Hoskins tells KNIA Sports it feels good to get the first win, and he credits the guys for not giving up despite being down by three scores in the third quarter, and credits them for fighting all the way back.
Simpson improves to 1-1 on the season, and will travel to Nebraska Wesleyan next week to begin American Rivers Conference play.