Box Score
WAVERLY, Iowa—The Wartburg football team opened the 2012 season in a big way with its 73-0 victory over non-conference opponent, MacMurray College, Saturday night.

This point total set the school record as the old mark stood at 70 points set against Upper Iowa in 1976.

The team also set a new school record in lowest total offense allowed by an opponent with negative five. The old record was negative three set against Dubuque in 1957.

With the win, the Knights move to 8-0 in night home openers and 12-0 in home openers in the Walston-Hoover Stadium era, since 2001.

“Our big focus for our season opener was to tackle well, pursue well and eliminate explosive plays,” said head coach Rick Willis. “This will also be important for us to accomplish each week.”

The Orange and Black’s defense put the team on the board first within the first minute as junior Joey Naig (Emmetsburg) returned the blocked punt for the first score of the game.

Senior Reese Thompson (Van Horne) had a four-yard touchdown run at 11:12, freshman Brandon Domeyer (Manchester) had a five-yard touchdown run at 6:14 and junior Logan Ruffridge (Cedar Rapids) hauled in a 27-yard pass with 0:30 left in the first quarter to take the 28-0 lead.

In the second quarter, senior DJ Looft (Armstrong) caught a 14-yard pass from freshman quarterback Logan Schrader (Kildeer, Ill.) at 10:57, junior Matt Kastli (Oelwein) punched one in at 6:58 and senior Connor Dahlstrom (Edlridge) scored his first rushing touchdown of the season as time expired.

Kastli scored his second touchdown of the game from five-yards out at 10:47 in the third and Wesley Bates had a 32-yard score at 1:33.

Freshman kicker Frank Loncoti (Lombard, Ill.), who made all ten point-after attempts, also made a 36-yard field goal with 12:39 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Newcomer Rodney Smith (Stewartville, Minn.) sealed the school record with his eight-yard run with 5:00 to play.
Schrader finished 15-18 for 156 total yards and two touchdowns in his Wartburg debut.

“It was important for Schrader to get some game action,” said Willis. “It was good to see him perform as well as he did.”

Bates led the running back group with his 78 yards. Sophomore Donald Miller (Maywood, Ill.) led the receivers with five catches for 50 yards.

Sophomore Spencer Capitani (Northwood) and junior Jared Wauters (LaPorte City) each had an interception in the game.

The Knights return to action next Saturday when they host No. 17 Bethel of Roseville, Minn. at 1 p.m.

Waterloo Courier recap