STORM LAKE, Iowa (Sept. 30, 2023) - The Buena Vista football team returned to action on Saturday to host Simpson College for a Family Weekend showdown inside of J. Leslie Rollins Stadium, but it was the Storm holding off the Beavers 55-28.

The Storm came out using their aerial attack with touchdown passes of 65 and 94 yards from quarterback J Jensen III to Reed Worth within the first five minutes of the contest to take a 14-0 lead.

Isaia Morones electrified the home crowd following the later of those Simpson scores with a 95-yard kickoff return down the home sideline to cut the deficit in half with just under 10 minutes left in the first quarter.

Jensen III and Reed Worth connected for the third time in the opening stanza - this time from 32 yards out - to make it 21-7.

BVU drove 75 yards down the field in 12 plays and capped it off with an 8-yard touchdown run by Eman Alaniz just over a minute into the second quarter to make it 21-14.

It turned into a frenzy of points over the last 2:30 of the half starting with the Storm forcing a sack-fumble from the BVU 12-yardline which resulted in a scoop-and-score with 2:22 remaining. The PAT was missed left keeping the score at 26-14. The Beavers then marched right back down the field, aided by a career-long 67-yard touchdown reception by Jack Wahl, that set up a nine-yard touchdown run by Alaniz with 1:33 remaining. 

Simpson began the ensuing drive at its own 33, but wasn't content to run out the clock to end the half. Jensen went to the air again, picking up completions of 32 and 11 yards before throwing a 29-yard TD pass up the visitor sideline with just 55 seconds left. The Storm also added a successful two-point conversion attempt en route to a 35-21 halftime lead.

BVU got the ball first to begin the second half, but despite picking up a first down on its first play, was forced to punt from its own 39-yard line. Simpson, meanwhile, would score on its third straight drive of the game, this time using the ground attack, as Desmond Alexander found the end-zone from 39 yards out midway through the quarter.

It remained 42-21 at the start of the fourth quarter, and BVU caught a break when a 30-yard field goal attempt went off the goal post just four plays into the period. The Beavers, however couldn't take advantage of the miscue as they would turn it over on downs inside of Simpson territory.

The Storm extended the margin to 48-21 after a two-yard touchdown pass from Jensen III to Cole Staska with under 7:00 remaining. 

Buena Vista struck right back as Herrera hooked up with Alaniz on a 67-yard pass play on the first play of the ensuing drive before being brought down at the Storm three-yard line. BVU would face a third-and-goal from the seven before Herrera and Alaniz connected again for a touchdown that pulled the Beavers within 48-28.

Simpson went back to the ground game late in the quarter and tacked on the game's final score on a 48-yard TD run from Briley Hayes.

Simpson outgained the Beavers in the contest 534-307, including a 199-48 margin on the ground. Jensen III completed 17-of-28 pass attempts for 335 yards and five touchdowns. Worth ended up with 209 yards receiving on five catches, including three touchdowns. Staska added six grabs for 78 yards and two scores.

Herrera was 13-of-24 passing for a season-high 259 yards and one touchdown. Alaniz hauled in a team-high four catches for 104 yards and the one touchdown. He also rushed for a team-leading 32 yards and two scores and added 22 yards on a pair of kick returns.

Matthew Beisswenger intercepted the team's first pass of the year, defensively, as Dylan Berens led the way with five tackles and one sack.

Buena Vista is on the road next Saturday, Oct. 7 at Coe College for a 1 p.m. kickoff before hosting Luther College on Oct. 14 for Homecoming.