Scott Vierow

INDIANOLA — A funny thing happened toward the end of Scott Vierow’s college football career. He got a chance to play.

The senior defensive end from West Union was on the junior-varsity team his first two years at Simpson and was a varsity backup last season, getting into just four games. It was the same reserve role initially this season, too.

But an injury to a teammate finally gave him an opportunity in the second game that he has made the absolute most of.

“He has just blossomed,” said Simpson Coach Jim Goligowski. “He’s a great kid from a great family. He’s a tall, rangy kid who is very quiet. He never says much.”

Which might be a good thing considering the way he has produced. He could have reason to complain about not playing earlier.

Vierow leads the Iowa Conference in sacks and his team in tackles for loss. Simpson (5-2) plays today at Dubuque.

“It’s been fun doing it. It’s been great this year,” Vierow said. “They gave me a chance to start, and I guess I’ve made the most of it. That first game, against Gustavus Adolphus, made me a little nervous. I was excited, though, too. Once I got a couple of plays in, I was able to play just like it was any other game.”

Vierow isn’t big at 205 pounds, but is tall (6-foot-3) and able to use his quickness to get around tackles and to the quarterback. He played as a stand-up defensive end at North Fayette High School, with constantly being in a three-point stance an adjustment he had to make at the collegiate level.

“He’s incredibly intelligent,” Goligowski said. “You tell him something once, and he gets it.”

“This is not something I was expecting at all,” Vierow said. “But I’m happy, for sure. Yes, I consider myself fast, but a lot of my success has to do with the guys I’m playing with. There are a lot of guys there that other teams have to have accountability for.”

Now he’s one of them.

Around the IIAC

— Coe can pretty much put a stranglehold on an NCAA Division III playoff berth with a win today at home against Wartburg. The Kohawks (7-0 overall) are the only unbeaten team in league play at 4-0, a game up on Wartburg and Simpson.

Coe already has beaten Simpson, which gives it the postseason edge in a potential tiebreaker. The Kohawks play next week at winless Luther and conclude the regular season in two weeks at home against Central.

Since every other team has lost at least twice, it appears the IIAC will be a one-bid league this year.