LINCOLN, Neb. – Simpson College came into Abel Stadium and spoiled Nebraska Wesleyan's 2019 Homecoming as they held off the Prairie Wolves for a 29-21 victory in American Rivers Conference football action.
 
The Storm remain unbeaten in conference play moving to 3-0, while NWU is handed their first loss of the season.
 
Simpson scored 20 unanaswered points to take a 20-7 lead in the second half but the Prairie Wolves mounted a comeback.  NWU scored two touchdowns to get within two points with just under four minutes left in the game.  Simpson scored a quick touchdown but the PAT was no good giving the Prairie Wolves a chance to drive the field and tie the game. 
 
NWU's offense was shut down on their three offensive plays, them Simpson was able to convert a first down after receiving the Prairie Wolves punt and that sealed the victory.
 
On the opening drive of the game, Nebraska Wesleyan marched 75 yards on 11 plays and scored a touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Jonathan Curti to Derrick Curtis.  That would be the only points for NWU until late in the 3^rd quarter.
 
A pair of 1^st quarter field goals pulled the Storm within one point as the Prairie Wolves defense bent but didn't break keeping Simpson out of the end zone.  Late in the 2^nd quarter, Simpson scored their first touchdown of the game when Sam Bartlett caught a 5-yard TD pass from Tanner Krueger with 26 seconds left before half.  The Storm took a 13-7 lead into halftime.
 
In the 3^rd quarter, Simpson went up two scores when Joe Meyer got a 12-yard TD run making the score 20-7.
 
Needing to respond, the Prairie Wolves quickly went down the field and got into the red zone. The big play was a 40-yard catch by Curtis.  Facing a 4^th & goal from the 2-yard line, Curti rolled out and found a wide open Logan Hughes in the end zone to cut the lead in half.
 
Another field goal put Simpson ahead 23-14 early in the 4^th quarter.  The Prairie Wolves once again got into the Storm red zone, but they were held on downs coming away empty for a second time without points.
 
After stuffing the Storm, the Prairie Wolves got the ball back with 4:40 remaining.  Curti scrambled away from the Storm rush then heaved the ball 43 yards down the field where Kevin Tims ran under the ball and caught the touchdown.
 
With that touchdown pass, Curti became Nebraska Wesleyan's all-time career leader with his 70^th touchdown.
 
Simpson responded on their second play of the next possession when backup QB Seth Howard found Sam Bartlett open and he ran 55 yards for the touchdown.  The PAT was no good keeping NWU within eight points.
 
The Prairie Wolves got the ball back, but three quick incomplete passes forced NWU to punt.  Simpson converted a first down that sealed the win.
 
Simpson running back Joe Meyer and wide receiver Sam Bartlett were the story of the game on offense.  Meyer ran the ball 34 times for 309 yards with a TD, while Bartlett caught 10 passes for 150 yards with two TDs.  Only one completed pass went to a receiver other than Bartlett.  Quarterback Tanner Krueger was 8-16 for 82 yards before exiting with an injury.  His backup, Seth Howard came in and was a threat with his legs running 10 times for 94 yards.
 
NWU ended the game with 368 total yards, including 303 through the air.  Simpson had 442 yards in a more balanced attack of 285 on the ground and 157 passing.
 
Curti had another big game to lead the Prairie Wolves offense.  He was 23-38 for 303 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.  It was his third 300-yard passing game on the year and he now has 17 TDs and only 1 INT.
 
Derrick Curtis caught 6 passes for 108 yards with a TD and Tims made 6 catches for 91 yards. 
 
Jacob Garnas had 12 total tackles for the Prairie Wolves with Hayden Penny making 11 tackles with 2.0 quarterback sacks.
 
The Prairie Wolves hit the road next Saturday to face nationally-ranked Wartburg College.