WAVERLY - No. 19 Wartburg football defeated Loras College 48-7 Saturday afternoon during senior day and the 2019 regular season finale to clinch a share of its third consecutive American Rivers Conference title.
The Knights finish the season with a 9-1 overall record and 7-1 conference mark, sharing the title with Central College. The Dutch earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs with the head-to-head advantage over Wartburg.
Wartburg jumped out to a 27 lead in the first quarter with two scores each from
JoJo McNair and
Noah Dodd. Dodd connected with McNair for a 31-yard TD pass for the opening score of the game during the Knights' first drive of the game.
Dodd tallied his sixth and seventh rushing touchdowns later in the first, followed by a 65-yard pick six from McNair. Early into the second frame,
Kolin Schulte recorded one of his two record-setting touchdown receptions on the day to close out the first half, granting Wartburg a 34-0 halftime lead.
The third quarter rounded out the Knights' scoring onslaught, capped off by a pair of big plays.
Mason Carter notched an 82-yard run followed a Schulte 51-yard TD reception. Loras recorded is sole score of the game late in the fourth quarter.
Schulte's second of the game stood as his 16th of the season, breaking a Wartburg school record previously set by Ryan Rausch in 1999 and Riley Brockway in 2017 - who each recorded 15.
The Wartburg defense forced two fumbles and two interceptions.
Antonio Santillan led all tacklers with 13 and recovered both fumbles. Santillan and
Ben Weepie forced fumbles while McNair and
Eli Barrett registered the interceptions.
Jason Fisher totaled 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Wartburg makes its case as one of five teams to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Playoffs. The NCAA Division III Selection Show will take place at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.
