WAVERLY, Iowa—The Wartburg football team (0-1 overall, 0-0 IIAC) travel to play Nebraska Wesleyan (1-1, 0-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. to open the Iowa Conference portion of its schedule. The Prairie Wolves became members of the IIAC on July 1.

The Series
This marks the inaugural meeting between the programs.

Wartburg
Junior Connor Schrader (Lake Zurich, Ill.) leads the team on the ground with 35 yards and one TD through the first game of the year. Sophomore Matt Sacia (Eldridge) is 26-51-2 for 296 yards and two TD passes.

Junior Griffin Brennecke (Marion) has the most receiving yards at 120 with one touchdown and classmate Riley Brockway (Postville) has a team-best nine receptions for 99 yards.

Senior Dalton Ciavarelli (Clarksville) leads the defense with 13 total tackles and one tackle for loss.

Nebraska Wesleyan
Joel Wiedel is the team's leading rusher with 256 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Ben Green has thrown for 319 yards and two TDs.

Ryan Schneider has been his top target as he has seven receptions for 164 yards and one score.

Kramer Rath is 4-4 in field goal attempts and 5-5 in PATs.

Preston Franzen leads the defense with 23 total tackes and two tackles for loss.

National Stat Rankings
Wartburg ranks in the top 100 of 22 national stat categories, which the NCAA released on Tuesday.

The Knights rank: first in blocked punts (2), blocked kicks allowed, blocked punts allowed, fumbles lost, and kickoff return defense all with (0) respectively, 3^rd in blocked kicks (2), 8^th in net punting (41.38), 13^th in fewest penalties (5), 20^th in first downs defense (17), 24^th in fewest penalty yards (50), 33^rd in sacks allowed (1), 37^th in 3^rd down conversion percentage defense (0.267), 43^rd in rushing defense (89), 47^th in passing offense (296), 49^th in fewest penalties per game (5), 55^th in time of possession (32:20), 60^th in turnovers lost (2), 61^st in red zone defense (0.667), 73^rd in fewest penalty yards per game (50), 77^th in punt return defense (4), 88^th in punt returns (9.25), and 92^nd in fumbles recovered (1).

Individually, nine Knights rank in the top 100 of 13 different categories. Brockway ranks 21^st in receptions per game (9), 37^th in all-purpose yards (175), and 80^th in receiving yards per game (99).

Brennecke ranks 11^th in yards per reception (30), and 35^th in receiving yards per game (120).

Sacia ranks 22^nd in completions per game (26), 31^st in passing yards per game (296), and 35^th in total offense (313).

Senior Sawyer Anderson (New Hampton) ranks 3^rd in forced fumbles (1), and 25^th in solo tackles (8). Junior Noah Dahlstrom (Mount Vernon) ranks 18^th in fumbles recovered (1). Senior Chris McNutt (Solon) and junior Tony Anstoetter (Farley) both rank 48^th in passes defended (2). Junior Jake Pisarik (Mount Vernon) ranks 26^th in punting (42.4) and Ciavarelli (Clarksville) ranks 20^th in total tackles (13).