CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa --- The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today its major football awards and All-Conference team for the 2013 season. Simpson College senior quarterback Taylor Nelson (West Des Moines, Iowa / Valley) has been named the 2013 IIAC Football Offensive Most Valuable Player, while Central College senior defensive lineman Danny Samson (Baxter, Iowa / Baxter) has been named the 2013 IIAC Football Defensive Most Valuable Player. Wartburg College head coach Rick Willis has been named the 2013 IIAC Football Coach of the Year.
 
2013 Offensive Most Valuable Player – Taylor Nelson, QB, Simpson College
The Iowa Conference’s leader in total offense, Nelson ran and passed his way to an average of 319.4 yards per game this season. He led Simpson to a 7-3 record – the best for a Storm team since going 7-3 in 2008 – and a second consecutive IIAC runner-up finish at 5-2. Nelson also directed the Storm to five wins when tied or trailing in the fourth quarter or overtime.
 
Through the air, he completed 224 of 342 passes for 2,608 yards and 24 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He ranked second to Dubuque’s Bryan Bradshaw in passing yardage and touchdowns as the Storm came up just seven yards shy, on average, of matching the Spartans’ top-ranked offense (439.8 to 432.6). He also rushed for a team-high 586 yards and 10 touchdowns on 177 carries, finishing ninth among all IIAC players. All-in-all, Nelson was involved in nearly 67 percent (519 of 775) of Simpson’s offensive plays this season.
 
In league play, he threw for 1,938 yards, 16 touchdowns and just three interceptions while completing 64.6 percent (164 of 254) of his passes. He also ran for 442 yards and eight scores, averaging 63.1 yards on the ground and a league-leading 340.0 yards of total offense per game. Nelson threw for over 300 yards four times in conference play and was twice responsible for six touchdowns in an Iowa Conference game – three running, three passing in wins against Coe and Dubuque.
 
Through the end of the regular season, Nelson ranks sixth in NCAA Division III in points responsible for (210), 10th in points responsible for per game (21.4), 13th in total offense (319.4 ypg), 18th in completions per game (22.4) and 23rd in completion percentage (65.5 percent).
 
A three-time all-conference signal-caller who started all 40 games of career under center, Nelson piloted a five-game turnaround for a team that finished 2-8 in 2010 when he was a freshman. He owns Simpson career records for passing yards (9,556), completions (851), attempts (1,373), passing touchdowns (77), passing yards per game (238.9), completion percentage (62.0 percent), total offense (10,771), touchdowns responsible for (100) and total yards of offense per game (269.3) and single-season Storm marks for completions (252, 2012), completion percentage (65.5 percent, 2013) and touchdowns responsible for (34, 2013). Nelson rushed for 1,215 yards in his career. He also currently holds the Iowa Conference record for completions in a game at 39, set on Nov. 3, 2012 against Buena Vista.
 
Nelson is the sixth Simpson player to be named an Iowa Conference MVP in football and the first since Mike Donnenwerth in 2003. He joins Ricky Gales (1989), Brad Jorgensen (1996-97) and Guy Leman (1998) as Simpson honorees in addition to Donnenwerth.
 
2013 Defensive Most Valuable Player – Danny Samson, DE, Central College
Samson, a two-time First Team All-Iowa Conference selection, was the key cog in a Dutch defense that led all Iowa Conference schools in every major defensive statistical area including scoring defense (13.1 points per game), total defense (277.7 ypg), rushing defense (112.9 ypg), pass defense (164.8 ypg), and turnover margin (+9) and ranked second in interceptions (12) and sacks (28).
 
Samson made 45 tackles (20 solo) in 10 games this season ranking only 45th among Iowa Conference defensive players, but led all league players in sacks with 11.5 (11 solo) and tackles for loss with 21.5 (17 solo). He ranks sixth in Division III in tackles for loss and 11th in sacks through the end of the regular season. Samson also recovered a pair of fumbles. Additionally, Samson has been credited with three of Central’s 11 blocked kicks this season. The 11 blocked kicks by the Dutch ranks second among all NCAA Division III football programs.
 
Samson is the 14th different Central player to be named an Iowa Conference MVP, representing 15 total honors. The others are Vern Den Herder (1970), Al Dorenkamp (1974), Don Taylor (1977), Bruce Wendt (1981), Rich Thomas (1985), Mike Stumberg (1988), Ron Saak (1990), Rich Kacmarynski (1991), Mark Kacmarynski (1994), Jeff Sanger (2000), Vance Schuring (2005-06), Tim Connell (2007) and Shane Wong (2010). Wong was named IIAC Defensive MVP, all others earned the single IIAC MVP honor given at the time.
 
2013 Iowa Conference Football Coach of the Year – Rick Willis, Wartburg College
Willis led the Knights to a 8-2 mark overall, the schools’ first Iowa Conference title since 2010 – and 13th title overall – and a berth in the 2013 NCAA Division III Football Championship. Under his guidance this year, Wartburg ranked among the top-three in the Conference in 12 statistical areas including leading the IIAC in interceptions (7) and sacks (26) and ranking second in scoring defense (18.6 points per game), rushing offense (200.3 yards per game), pass defense efficiency (115.4), fewest sacks against (8) and field-goal percentage (5-of-6, 83.3 percent).
 
This is the third Iowa Conference Football Coach of the Year honor for Willis, who in his 15th season directing the Knights program. He also won the award in 1999 and 2010 and is one of four Wartburg coaches to have won the award (Lee Bondhus, 1968; Don Canfield, 1982-83; Bob Nielson, 1993), accounting for seven total honors.
 
2013 All-Iowa Conference Football Team
The IIAC also announced today the 2013 All-Conference Football Team. The 56-member Team (there was one tie on each team) includes 18 repeat All-Conference honorees, including five – Nelson, Coe offensive lineman Nathan Yelton, Luther defensive back Robby Jewell, Central placekicker Kevin Sheldon, Simpson return specialist Brad Vogel – who become three-time All-Conference performers. Each of the honors earned by Yelton, Sheldon and Vogel as a return specialist were first-team honors. Additionally, Vogel earned his second all-conference honor as a wide receiver, his regular position. He was an honorable mention in 2010 and a second-teamer a year ago as a receiver. Buena Vista freshman Tyler Stolen received first-team all-conference honors at both punter and placekicker, tying with Sheldon for the latter honor. Stolen is the first player to be selected first team at both punter and placekicker under the current format. The last player to be selected all-conference (regardless of team) as both a punter and placekicker in the same year was Buena Vista’s Chris Kemmerer in 2006 (first-team PK, second-team P). Coe’s Keaton Juergens was also honored twice by the coaches, being named to the second team as both a receiver and a return specialist.
 
Conference champion Wartburg had a league-best 11 players selected All-Iowa Conference – five on the first team, six on the second team. Wartburg’s selections were also fairly evenly distributed on either side of the ball. There were four on offense, six on defense and a punter. Central and Coe followed with nine selections each, just ahead of Buena Vista and Dubuque with eight apiece and Simpson with seven. Luther received three all-conference nods and Loras had one.
 
The complete 2013 IIAC All-Conference Football Team follows this release.
 
 

2013 All-Iowa Conference Football
Offensive MVP - Taylor Nelson, sr., QB, Simpson
Defensive MVP - Danny Samson, sr., DL, Central
Coach of the Year - Rick Willis, Wartburg
First Team - Offense	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Taylor Nelson & $	Simpson	Sr.	QB	West Des Moines, Iowa / Valley
Bryan Bradshaw	Dubuque	Sr.	QB	Crystal Lake, Ill. / Prairie Ridge
Josh Osborn %	Central	Jr.	RB	Burlington, Iowa / Burlington
Kyle Acker	Dubuque	Sr.	RB	Waunakee, Wis. / Waunkee
Adam Cave	Buena Vista	Jr.	TE	Harlan, Iowa / Harlan
Tyler Rutenbeck	Dubuque	Jr.	WR	Maquoketa, Iowa / Maquoketa
Brad Vogel ~ $	Simpson	Sr.	WR	Donnellson, Iowa / Central Lee
Nathan Yelton ¥ #	Coe	Sr.	OL	Bloomington, Ill. / Central Catholic
Lathan Bass	Coe	Jr.	OL	Rockwell City, Iowa / Rockwell City-Lytton
Dominique Ravenell	Dubuque	Jr.	OL	Fort Worth, Texas / R.L. Raschal
Pat Thompson $	Simpson	Sr.	OL	Perry, Iowa / Perry
Chris Brinkmeier	Wartburg	Jr.	OL	Orangeville, Ill. / Orangeville
First Team - Defense	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Eric Larson $	Central	Jr.	DB	Waverly, Iowa / Waverly-Shell Rock
Robby Jewell & $	Luther	Sr.	DB	Decorah, Iowa / Decorah
Spencer Capitani	Wartburg	Jr.	DB	Northwood, Iowa / Northwood-Kensett
Jared Wauters	Wartburg	Sr.	DB	La Porte City, Iowa / Union Community
Brady Randall	Buena Vista	Sr.	LB	Storm Lake, Iowa / Alta
Mike Young $	Central	Sr.	LB	Country Club Hills, Ill. / Hillcrest
Blaine Snitker	Dubuque	So.	LB	Waukon, Iowa / Waukon
Ryan Billings #	Wartburg	Sr.	LB	Sterling, Ill. / Sterling
Danny Samson #	Central	Sr.	DL	Baxter, Iowa / Baxter
Jack Shipley	Central	Sr.	DL	Tipton, Iowa / Tipton
Mitch Montgomery $	Coe	Sr.	DL	Lisbon, Iowa / Lisbon
Ben Bentil %	Wartburg	Sr.	DL	Milwaukee, Wis. / Wisconsin Lutheran
First Team - Specialists	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Tyler Stolen	Buena Vista	Fr.	PK*	Sioux City, Iowa / Heelan
Kevin Sheldon ¥ #	Central	Jr.	PK*	West Des Moines, Iowa / Valley
Tyler Stolen	Buena Vista	Fr.	P	Sioux City, Iowa / Heelan
Brad Vogel ~ ¥ #	Simpson	Sr.	RS	Donnellson, Iowa / Central Lee
Second Team - Offense	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Bobby Brown	Buena Vista	Jr.	QB	Storm Lake, Iowa / Storm Lake
Gage Mohs	Coe	Sr.	RB	Fredericksburg, Iowa / Sumner-Fredericksburg
Josh Vos	Luther	Jr.	RB	Morrison, Ill. / Morrison
Brandon Domeyer	Wartburg	So.	RB	Manchester, Iowa / West Delaware
Jalen Henningsen	Buena Vista	So.	WR	Alta, Iowa / Alta-Aurelia
Keaton Juergens $	Coe	Sr.	WR	Elkader, Iowa / Central
Donald Miller	Wartburg	Jr.	WR	Maywood, Ill. / Romeoville
Matt Sefcik	Buena Vista	Sr.	OL	Alta, Iowa / Alta
Travis Hook	Central	Sr.	OL	Grundy Center, Iowa / Grundy Center
Andrew Waites	Luther	Sr.	OL	Pevely, Mo. / Herculaneum
Corey Meyer	Simpson	So.	OL	Iowa City, Iowa / West
Casey Krull	Wartburg	Jr.	OL	Allison, Iowa / North Butler
Second Team - Defense	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Jake Edleman	Central	Sr.	DB	Mechanicsville, Iowa / North Cedar
Antoine Allen-Jackson $	Coe	Sr.	DB	Aurora, Ill. / Oswego East
Reggie Cole	Dubuque	So.	DB	Milwaukee, Wis. / Wauwatosa West
Vincent Whipple	Dubuque	Jr.	DB	Eagle Grove, Iowa / Eagle Grove
Keith Rush ~ ¥	Central	Sr.	LB	Griswold, Iowa / Griswold
Dylan Youel	Coe	Sr.	LB	Traer, Iowa / North Tama
Ted Haag	Simpson	Sr.	LB	Waukee, Iowa / Waukee
Drew Kooi	Wartburg	Jr.	LB	Minooka, Ill. / Minooka
TJ Bruch $	Buena Vista	Sr.	DL	Arcadia, Iowa / Carroll Kuemper
Ryan Arnold	Dubuque	Sr.	DL	Kenosha, Wis. / Tremper
Clay Finley	Simpson	Jr.	DL	Muscatine, Iowa / Muscatine
Martin Hyatte	Wartburg	Sr.	DL	Rockford, Ill. / East
Second Team - Specialists	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Wes Anderson $	Coe	Sr.	PK	Newhall, Iowa / Benton Community
Grant Zimmerman #	Wartburg	So.	P	Mendota, Ill. / Mendota
Keaton Juergens	Coe	Sr.	RS*	Elkader, Iowa / Central
Danny Willis	Loras	Fr.	RS*	Morrison, Ill. / Morrison
Honorable Mention	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Spencer Matlock	Central	Sr.	DL	Naperville, Ill. / Waubonsie Valley
Jason Breon	Central	Sr.	DB	Anamosa, Iowa / Anamosa
Lee Jones	Dubuque	Jr.	TE	Fairbanks, Alaska / North Pole
Dan Murray	Loras	Sr.	OL	Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South
Rich Vickers	Luther	Sr.	DB	Greene, Iowa / North Butler
Colin White %	Luther	Sr.	DL	Glenwood, Iowa / Glenwood
Aric Elton	Luther	So.	LB	Spring Grove, Minn. / Spring Grove
Andrew Turnacliff ^	Luther	Sr.	OL	Northfield, Minn. / Northfield
Michael Chia	Simpson	Sr.	RB	Indianola, Iowa / Indianola
Nate Conneally	Simpson	Jr.	WR	Council Bluffs, Iowa / Lewis Central
Johnnie Sims %	Simpson	Jr.	DL	New Sharon, Iowa / North Mahaska
Joey Naig	Wartburg	Sr.	DL	Emmetsburg, Iowa / Emmetsburg
Taylor Jacobsmeier	Wartburg	Sr.	QB	Wapello, Iowa / Wapello
Previous Honors
# - 2012 First Team All-Conference
$ - 2012 Second Team All-Conference
% - 2012 Honorable Mention
¥ - 2011 First Team All-Conference
& - 2011 Second Team All-Conference
^ - 2011 Honorable Mention
~ - 2010 Honorable Mention