No. 24-ranked Wartburg travels to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake Saturday, Oct. 9 – Kickoff at 1 p.m. – J. Leslie Rollins Stadium, Storm Lake
For the fans: Live audio and video are available on the scrolling schedule section of the home page at www.go-knights.net
Knights notes: The Orange and Black are off to their best start since the 2007 season in which they also began 4-0. … Buena Vista holds a two-game win streak in the series, but the Knights have the all-time edge 39-27-2 which includes nine wins in the last 13 contests. The series has been closely contested in Storm Lake of late with the margin of victory being seven points or less in the last three meetings at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium. … Coach Rick Willis’ squad, besides cracking the American Football Coaches Association’s top 25, also earned 33 ranking votes on D3Football.com’s top 25 released Oct. 4. The total places them No. 27 on the list. … Through four weeks, Wartburg holds several high slots on the Iowa Conference statistics chart. Those are highlighted by being third in scoring offense (30.5 ppg), first in scoring defense (giving up only 6.8 ppg), first in total defense (allowing only 224.5 yards per game), first in both rushing offense (221 ypg) and defense (70 ypg allowed), first in passing (surrendering only 154.5 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (giving up an opposing quarterback rating of 92.5), first in kickoff returns (24.7 ypr), first in sacks (19) and fewest sacks allowed (one), and first in turnover margin (plus seven). … Individually, the Knights are led in the league, on offense, by the sophomore backfield tandem of Reese Thompson (Van Horne) and Brandon Sims (South Holland, IL)Thompson tops the conference in rushing (109.5 ypg), while Sims is seventh (63.2 ypg), and they are both in the top five in points off touchdowns (Thompson – third – 7.5 ppg/Sims – T-5 – six ppg). The special teams group of junior place-kicker Marcus Williams (Council Bluffs), junior kick returner Josh VanDenHul (N. Sioux City, SD), and junior punter Robby Salmon (Mason City) also rank high. Williams is third in kicker scoring (6.5 ppg), tied for first in field goal conversion percentage (100) and third in extra point conversion percentage (87.5), while VandenHul is third in punt return yardage (six ypr), and Salmon is first in punting average (43.6 ypk). The defensive unit also shines with senior linebacker Blake Suckow (West Union) (10.2 pg) and senior defensive back Andrew Creary (Knoxville)(8.2 pg) ranking in the top 10 in tackles, junior defensive lineman Matt Tschetter (Milford) leading the league in sacks (six), Creary tied for first in fumbles forced (four), sophomore defensive back Garrett McGrane (Fairbanks) leading the way in interceptions (three), and VanDenHul second in fumble recoveries (.5 pg). … The Knights’ numbers have also earned them strong rankings on the NCAA Division III statistics report. The defense is in the top 10 in points allowed (fifth) and sacks (fourth), while Tschetter is tied for fourth in the individual sack category. Other top marks include the offense’s sacks allowed figures ranking ninth and Salmon’s punting average ranking fourth in the nation. … Junior quarterback Dan Stiefel (Sterling Heights, MI), looks to increase an impressive streak for Wartburg signal callers this weekend. They’ve had 37 consecutive 100-yard passing games. … Willis enters the game just one win shy of 100.
