ST. PETER, MINN. – Powered by a single-game career high rushing day by sophomore running back Reese Thompson of Van Horne, Wartburg College continued its strong start to the 2010 season Sept. 11.
Thompson picked up 164 yards, the most by a Knights’ back since the 2008 campaign, and one touchdown to lead Wartburg past Gustavus Adolphus 27-6 inside Gustavus Adolphus Football Stadium and on Hollingsworth Field. His ground effort was part of the Knights’ solid 432-yard offensive attack.
Head coach Rick Willis’ squad, bolting to the program’s first 2-0 start since 2007, had to rally after the host Gusties drove 71 yards off the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Wartburg did gain some momentum, despite the early march, after senior defensive back Brandon Moeller of Fort Dodge, playing a role on special teams, got through Gustavus’ line and blocked the extra point. The Orange and Black answered right back on their first drive. Junior quarterback Dan Stiefel of Sterling Heights, Mich, found junior wide receiver Levi Helbling of Malvern on a 64-yard strike to the Gusties’ one-yard line. Two plays later, Stiefel bowled in for six. Junior place-kicker Marcus Williams of Council Bluffs hit the extra point, giving the Knights a lead they wouldn’t surrender.
Wartburg tacked on three more rushing scores to generate the final margin. Sophomore running back Brandon Sims of South Holland, Ill., made the count 13-6 at halftime after completing a second quarter march with a 13-yard scoring run. Stiefel came back in the third period for another one-yard keeper, completing an 82-yard drive, and Thompson put up his touchdown for the Knights’ final points, closing a 14-point third period and 67-yard drive, with a four-yard gallop.
The Knights’ “D” earned high marks for the second successive game. A week after limiting the vaunted offensive attack of highly-touted quarterback Alex Tanney and Monmouth College of Illinois to seven points, Wartburg held Gustavus Adolphus to under 250 yards (239) and was opportunistic with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. The linebacking corps led the tackle charts with senior Blake Suckow of West Union accounting for 13 and fellow senior Jourdan Cousin of Spencer adding six and a half. Cousin and junior defensive lineman Matt Tschetter of Milford combined for four of the Knights’ five sacks.
Willis’ group now turns its attention to back-to-back home weekends inside Walston-Hoover Stadium. The Knights open the Iowa Conference portion of the 2010 slate and the two consecutive home dates Saturday, Sept. 18, with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Cornell College of Mount Vernon.
