DECORAH, Iowa - The Wartburg football team opened American Rivers Conference competition Saturday, Sept. 21 at rival Luther College, defeating the Norse 62-10 to improve its overall record to 3-0 on the season. 

The Knights racked up 603 yards of total offense, the most since Nov. 7, 2015, when Wartburg set a school record versus Simpson, accumulating 721 total yards. The Orange & Black rushed for 289 yards and tallied 314 through the air, both season-highs to earn a third consecutive victory over Luther. The win also stood as the largest margin of victory in 77 meetings between Wartburg and Luther. 

Jace Moore totaled 168 passing yards and two touchdowns while Noah Dodd was 9-for-9 with 102 yards. Mason Carter led the ground game 93 rushing yards along with Bennett Goettsch recording two rushing scores. Kolin Schulte recorded a career-high 10 catches and his second game this year with over 100 receiving yards. Eli Barrett and Antonio Santillan led the defense with eight tackles each, along with Santillan and Caleb Dodd recording interceptions.  

Wartburg jumped out to a 34-7 halftime advantage, scoring in five of six possessions while registering 332 total yards of offense. Four of five first half scores came on the ground, with Goettsch scoring twice, Dudd rushing from five yards out, and a 74-yard score from Carter. Near the end of the half, the Knights converted a fourth and goal opportunity with Matt Mulford catching a Dodd pass for his first touchdown of the year.

The Knights added 14 points in each the third and fourth quarters while limiting the Norse to just a field goal - which came during Luther's first possession of the second half. Wartburg opened the second half with a Schulte touchdown from Moore, followed by a trio of season/career first scores. 

Near the end of the third frame, Moore connected with Brandan Childs from 11 yards out for his first touchdown catch of the year. Freshman quarterback Nile McLaughlin then notched his first collegiate TD, a 16-yard reception to Jax Bryngelson - his first career TD catch. The final score of the game was Hunter Clasen's first of his career, a one-yard rush. 

Kain Eagle went 6-for-7 on PAT attempts, along with Matt Milewski going 2-for-2. 

Up Next
Wartburg (3-0, 1-0 A-R-C) returns to Walston-Hoover Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 28 to host the University of Dubuque at 1 p.m.