Boxscore
WAVERLY – A 24-point second half explosion guided Wartburg College to a 34-14 win in its Iowa Conference home opener Sept. 18.
Head coach Rick Willis’ Knights, improving to 3-0, used the full complement of its offensive back. Sophomore running backs Reese Thompson (Van Horne), Brandon Sims (South Holland, IL), and Connor Dahlstrom (Eldridge) each got into the end zone. Thompson scored twice, once from one yard and once from four yards, as part of a 71-yard day. Sims led the trio, yardage-wise, with 89 yards on 14 carries.
“We’re excited to see all three of the backs get in and there and do things,” Willis said. “It will help us down the road.”
Wartburg had to rally after the visiting Cornell College Rams (0-3 overall, 0-1 IIAC) parlayed a 51-yard strike from sophomore quarterback Andrew Burdick to senior wide receiver Harry Herbert as part of a seven-play, 90-yard drive early in the second period. Burdick closed the march, hitting freshman wide receiver Samuel O’Donnell for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The Orange and Black answered, going 44 yards in nine plays with junior place-kicker Marcus Williams (Council Bluffs) connecting on a 30-yard field goal to make it 7-3. After stopping the visitors on their ensuing drive, Wartburg concluded the first half with a six-play, 80-yard drive for a score to take the lead for good.
“We did a good job of adjusting as the game went on,” Willis said. “Cornell certainly deserves some credit for their effort. The second half run we got on was really good for our offense. We were able to take control of the line of scrimmage.”
Junior quarterback Dan Stiefel (Sterling Heights, MI), was an integral part of the offensive attack as well. He hit on 12-of-16 attempts for 199 yards. Senior wide receiver Jason Roskam (Sioux Center)topped the reception chart with five catches for 100 yards.
“Dan was very efficient today,” Willis said. “He continues to improve each week.”
Defensively, the Knights were opportunistic. The backfield tandem of senior Andrew Creary (Knoxville) and sophomore Garrett McGrane (Fairbanks)each gathered in an interception. The unit also picked up four sacks.
Wartburg resumes its set of back-to-back home games Saturday, Sept. 25, when Loras College of Dubuque visits Walston-Hoover Stadium. Kickoff for the Family Weekend 2010 game is 1 p.m.
Notes – Stiefel’s day increased the run of Knights’ quarterbacks with 100-yard games to 36 straight. … The win moved Willis two short of 100. He is 98-25. … Wartburg won an IIAC home opener for the 12th time in the last 13 years. … The series history with Cornell now stands at 16-2, in the Orange and Black’s favor, with nine consecutive victories in tow.
