GAME EIGHT | No. 7 Wartburg vs No. 14 Central 
1 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 25 | Walston-Hoover Stadium 
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The No. 7-ranked Wartburg College football team (7-0, 5-0 A-R-C) welcomes the No. 14-ranked Central College Dutch (6-0, 4-0 A-R-C) to Walston-Hoover Stadium for a Top 15 matchup on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Both teams enter the matchup undefeated, standing among just ten remaining unbeaten programs in NCAA Division III, setting the stage for one of the premier clashes in the nation this week. 
 
KNIGHTS 
Record: 7-0, 5-0 A-R-C 
Last Game: at Loras (W, 40-20) 
Rankings: D3football.com - No.7 /AFCA - No. 7 
Head Coach: Chris Winter (5th Season) | 50-7 overall 
All-time vs. Loras: 28-45 overall 
 
DUTCH 
Record: 6-0, 4-0 A-R-C 
Last Game: vs Nebraska Wesleyan (W, 34-13) 
Rankings: D3football.com - No. 14/AFCA - No. 14 
Head Coach: Jeff McMartin (22nd Season) | 169-50 overall 
 
For tailgating/tickets information, click HERE.  
 

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SERIES INFO 
The Wartburg–Central rivalry dates back to 1945, with the Dutch leading the all-time series 45-28. However, the Knights have had the upper hand in recent matchups, winning five of the last seven, including three straight. 

In 2023, Wartburg edged out Central in a defensive battle, earning a 10-6 victory in Pella. The last time the Dutch traveled to Waverly, the Knights erased an early 7-0 deficit to secure a 24-14 win. 

Wartburg's last loss to Central came on Oct. 2, 2021 (49-24), and the Knights have not fallen to the Dutch at home since Nov. 7, 2009 (44-31). 
  
Last 20 Matchups vs. Central  

• Oct. 30, 2004 at Central (W, 14-10) 
• Nov. 5, 2005 vs. Central (L, 37-20) 
• Sept. 30, 2006 at Central (L, 13-7) 
• Nov. 10, 2007 vs. Central (L, 17-14)  
• Sept. 20, 2008 at Central (W, 19-17) 
• Nov. 7, 2009 vs. Central (L, 41-33) 
• Nov. 6, 2010 at Central (W, 20-17) 
• Oct. 29, 2011 vs. Central (W, 20-13) 
• Nov. 3, 2012 at Central (L, 31-28) 
• Nov. 9, 2013 vs. Central (W, 16-14) 
• Oct. 4, 2014 at Central (W, 35-14) 
• Oct. 3, 2015 vs. Central (W, 21-13) 
• Oct. 22, 2016 at Central (L ,51-37) 
• Oct. 7, 2017 at Central (W, 44-20) 
• Oct 20, 2018 vs. #20 Central (W, 47-20) 
• Nov 9, 2019 at Central (L, 57-56) (OT) 
• Oct 2, 2021 at Central (L, 49-24) 
• Oct. 8, 2022 at Central (W, 35-28) 
• Oct 28, 2023 CENTRAL (W, 24-14) 
• Sep 21, 2024 at Central (W, 10-6) 

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WARTBURG 
Wartburg's offense continues to find success through an efficient, power-run approach. Joey Anderson leads the ground attack with 554 yards and six touchdowns on 89 carries (79.1 yards per game). Dawson Rud has added 463 rushing yards, while Carson Bruns has contributed 105 yards. The backfield has combined to score 11 rushing touchdowns this season. 

Quarterback Leo Dodd has completed 60.98% of his passes for 875 yards and six touchdowns. Backup quarterback Josh Papesh has been effective when called upon, adding 354 passing yards with a 59% completion rate. 

In the receiving game, Justis Bachman leads with 306 yards on 20 receptions (43.7 yards per game). Jagger Schmitt has hauled in three receiving touchdowns and 293 yards on 19 catches. Dylan Swanstrom recently delivered a memorable performance against Loras, scoring by reception, rush, and punt return. 

Defensively, Wartburg remains one of the nation's elite units. The Knights rank first in the A-R-C and 25th nationally in total defense (257.9 yards per game). The run defense stands second in Division III, allowing only 24.9 yards per game, while the secondary has produced 13 interceptions—third nationally and first in the A-R-C. Overall, the defense has forced 16 turnovers, ranking eighth in the nation. 

Linebacker Keenan Tyler leads the defense with 71 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, and four pass breakups. Mac Watts follows with 57 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one interception. Jake Walker leads the Knights with 8.5 tackles for loss (48 yards) and 4.5 sacks, along with two pass breakups, eight quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. 

On special teams, Jaxson Hoppes has punted 22 times for 919 yards (41.8 average), with a long of 84 yards against Simpson and 11 punts placed inside the 20-yard line. He is also 8-for-14 on field goals (57.1%), including 60% accuracy from 30–39 yards. 
 
ABOUT CENTRAL 
Central enters the matchup as one of the most disciplined teams in the A-R-C, allowing a conference-low 103 first downs. The Dutch average 2.83 sacks per game defensively and post a 92.89 passing efficiency on offense. 

Central averages 35.7 points per game while allowing just 16.7, outscoring opponents 214–100 this season. Offensively, the Dutch record 184 rushing yards and 238.7 passing yards per game while limiting opponents to 100.3 rushing and 185.3 passing yards per contest. 

Running back Jase Grunder leads the conference with 153.3 all-purpose yards per game. Quarterback Hunter Hoffman averages 12.55 yards per completion and has accounted for 72 total points, including 12 touchdown passes. His top receiver, Cam Schulte, leads the A-R-C with 633 receiving yards (105.5 per game) and eight touchdowns. Grunder also leads the conference in rushing yards (666), rushing yards per game (111.0), and rushing touchdowns (8). 
 

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HISTORY MADE ON HOMECOMING 
Wartburg's 33–7 Homecoming victory over Dubuque marked a historic milestone, extending the Knights' conference winning streak to 30 games, and now counting. The streak surpassed Central's 29-game run from 1983–87 and is now the longest in A-R-C history. The Knights now have a 31-game A-R-C win streak.  
 
WINTER'S WINNING LEGACY 
Head coach Chris Winter secured his 50th career win in last week's victory over Loras, improving his record to 50–7. Wartburg has now won 31 straight conference games dating back to 2021. Winter currently ranks third among active Division III head coaches in winning percentage (minimum 50 games) and fourth all-time. 
 
ALL-TIME WINNINGEST DIV. III HEAD COACHES (Min. 50 Games) – NCAA Statistics  

• Brad Spencer (2022-23 – 2025-26) – North Central (Ill.) 50-1 Overall (4th Season)**  
• Vince Kehres (2013-14 – 2019-20) – Mount Union 95-6 Overall (7 Seasons)  
• Geoff Dartt (2022-23 – 2025-26) – Mount Union 62-4 Overall (6th Season)**  
• Larry Kehres (1986-87 – 2012-13) – Mount Union 332-24 Overall (27 Seasons)  
• Chris Winter (2021-22 – 2025-26) – Wartburg 50-7 Overall (5th Season)**  

  
** - Indicates Active Head Coach   

WINTER AND CO. ON THE ROAD 
Chris Winter holds a 21–5 record in true road games. His most recent road loss came on Sept. 14, 2024, against then-No. 12 Saint John's (35–13). 

31 STRAIGHT WINNING SEASONS 
Wartburg is pursuing its 32nd consecutive winning season. Over the last nine years, the program holds a record of 92–18. The Knights' consistency ranks among the top programs across all NCAA divisions. 

Longest Active Winning Season Streaks — All Divisions 

• Linfield (Ore.) – 68 seasons 
• Mount Union – 46 seasons 
• Wartburg – 31 seasons 
• Northwest Missouri State (DII) – 30 seasons 

A-R-C DOMINANCE 
Wartburg aims to become the first program since Central (1964–67) to win four consecutive A-R-C championships. 

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE 
Wartburg leads the A-R-C in multiple defensive categories: 

• 3rd Down Conversion Defense: .272 (No. 56 in NCAA) 
• Blocked Punts: 1 (No. 35) 
• Interceptions: 13 (No. 3) 
• Red Zone Defense: .636 (No. 22) 
• Rushing Defense: 24.9 ypg (No. 2) 
• Scoring Defense: 8.1 ppg (No. 3) 
• Total Defense: 257.9 ypg (No. 25) 
• Team Tackles for Loss: 7.3 (No. 38) 
• Turnovers Gained: 16 (No. 4) 

PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS 

OUT OF THE BACKFIELD 
Joey Anderson and Dawson Rud have combined for 1,017 rushing yards. Anderson averages 79.1 yards per game and ranks second in the conference with six rushing touchdowns, while Rud averages 66.1 yards per game. 

BACHMAN BREAKOUT 2.0 
Wide receiver Justis Bachman set a career high against Luther with five receptions for 92 yards. He leads the team with 306 receiving yards this season. 

PAIR OF 50+ TACKLERS 
Linebackers Keenan Tyler (71) and Mac Watts (57) have both surpassed the 50-tackle mark this season. 

HEITHER MAKES AN IMPACT 
Sam Heither blocked a punt and caught a touchdown pass from Justis Bachman on a fake field goal in the Homecoming win over Dubuque. 

TYLER SECURES A-R-C POTW HONORS 
Tyler was all over the field once again in No. 8 Wartburg's 40–20 road win at Loras. He notched his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season, finishing with 12 stops (eight solo). Tyler also added two pass breakups, one tackle for loss, one hurry and a forced fumble in the victory. The senior leads the Knights with 71 total tackles this season, averaging 10.1 per game — the third-best mark in the A-R-C. 
 
This marks Tyler's second career A-R-C Defensive Player of the Week honor. 

HOPPES' HISTORIC PUNT 
Jaxson Hoppes recorded a school-record 84-yard punt in the win over Simpson, surpassing the previous 64-yard mark set in 2013. His effort earned A-R-C Special Teams Player of the Week and D3football.com Team of the Week honors. 
 
NCAA Div. III Longest Punts  
Yds.         Player, Team (Opponent)                                                 Year  
95             Austin Baker, Heidelberg (John Carroll)                         2018  
91            Gunnar Rastenburg, Maranatha Baptist (Presentation)  2014  
90            Jake Baumgartner, Bluffton (Saint Vincent)                    2021  
90            Sean Lipscomb, Redlands (Pomona-Pitzer)                   2002  
90            Dan Heeren, Coe (Lawrence)                                         1974  
88            Brooks Barker, Hardin-Simmons (Howard Payne)          2021  
88            Steve Vagedes, Ohio Northern (Capital)                         1999  
86            Vicente Lyon, Hobart                                                       2024  
86            Kurtis Brondyke, Central (IA) (Loras)                              2010  
86            David Anastasi, Buffalo (John Carroll)                            1989  
86            Dana Loucks, Buffalo (Frostburg St.)                             1987  
86            John Pavlik, Wabash (Centre)                                        1978  
85            Jeff Shea, Cal Lutheran (Azusa Pacific)                         1996  
  
With Hoppes' performance, he earned his second consecutive A-R-C Player of the Week award, as well as being named to the D3football.com Team of the Week as a punter in week three.  

NCAA POWER INDEX (NPI) 
Wartburg ranks No. 3 in the latest NCAA Division III Power Index (NPI). Within the American Rivers Conference, Central also appears in the top 25 at No. 12. 
 
The NPI is a system that houses the division's statistical data and objectively applies the selection criteria to the data based on the sport committee's established weighted criteria. NPI is a combination of the following: winning percentage; strength of schedule; home-away multiplier; quality win bonus; and overtime results (when relevant). The weight of winning percentage versus strength of schedule is often referred to as one of the "dials" that a sport committee can adjust, placing any subjectivity within the criteria themselves. For example, a sport committee could set the dials to 30/70; 25/75, etc. Other "dials" a sport committee can also choose to apply are home and away multiplier, quality win bonus (QWB), and overtime win/loss weights.   

NCAA DIV. III REGION FIVE RANKINGS – As of Oct. 20 
No. 7 Wartburg holds the top position in the latest NCAA Division III Region Five rankings, followed by top-ranked North Central at No. 2 and No. 14 Central at No. 3. 

• Wartburg – 7-0 overall, NPI (74.544) 
• North Central (Ill.) - 7-0 overall, NPI (74.5) 
• Central (Iowa) - 6-0 overall, NPI (69.366) 
• Concordia Wisconsin – 6-1 overall, NPI (64.096) 
• Wheaton (Ill.) - 4-2 overall, NPI (63.294) 
• WashU – 5-1 overall, NPI (62.446) 
• Augustana (Ill.) - 5-1 overall, NPI (61.273) 

To see a complete list of Regional Rankings, click HERE. 

PRESTIGIOUS TERRITORY 
Wartburg is the only Division III team to reach a 7–0 record, joining eight other programs undefeated on the season.  

Unbeaten Division III Teams — As of Week 7 

• North Central (6–0) 
• Mount Union (6–0) 
• Johns Hopkins (6–0) 
• Salisbury (6–0) 
• Hardin-Simmons (6–0) 
• Bethel (Minn.) (6–0) 
• Wartburg (7–0) 
• Central (6–0) 
• Christopher Newport (6–0) 
• Adrian (6-0)

NATIONAL RANKINGS 
Wartburg has climbed to No. 7 in both the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll and the D3football.com Top 25. The Knights have now appeared in the Top 25 for 41 consecutive weeks (since Sept. 19, 2022) and have entered each of the past three seasons as a preseason Top-10 program. 

Wartburg Preseason Rankings - AFCA 
2023 — No. 5 
2024 — No. 4 
2025 — No. 9 

D3football.com Rankings by Week (2025 Season) 
Week     Rank 
1            No. 10 
2            No. 10 
3            No. 7 
4            No. 8 
5            No. 8 
6            No. 8 
7            No. 7 

AFCA Rankings by Week (2025 Season) 
Week     Rank 
1            No. 9 
2            No. 10 
3            No. 11 
4            No. 9 
5            No. 9 
6            No. 8 
7            No. 7 
 
AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll – Presented by Hudl - Week 7 

1. North Central (52)  
2. Mount Union  
3. Johns Hopkins  
4. Salisbury 
5. Hardin-Simmons 
6. Bethel (Minn.)  
7. Wartburg  
8. UW-Whitewater  
9. UW-Platteville  
10. UW-River Falls  
11. St. John's (Minn.)  
12. UW-La Crosse  
13. John Carroll  
14. Central 
15. Christopher Newport 
16. DePauw  
17. Cortland  
18. Hope  
19. Carnegie Mellon  
20. Randolph-Macon  
21. Berry  
22. Wheaton  
23. Trinity (Tex.)  
24. UW-Oshkosh  
25. Wabash  

Dropped Out: Maryville (25) 
 
 D3football.com Top 25 Poll – Week 7  

1. North Central (Ill.) (23) 
2. Mount Union (2)  
3. Johns Hopkins  
4. Salisbury  
5. Bethel  
6. Hardin-Simmons  
7. Wartburg  
8. UW-Platteville  
9. UW-Whitewater  
10. UW-River Falls  
11. St. John's  
12. UW-La Crosse  
13. John Carroll  
14. Central  
15. Christopher Newport  
16. Carnegie Mellon  
17. DePauw  
18. UW-Oshkosh  
19. Hope  
20. Wheaton (Ill.)  
21. Berry  
22. Cortland  
23. Randolph-Macon  
24. UW-Stout  
25. Adrian 

Dropped Out: No. 24 Linfield 
 
A-R-C STANDINGS (As of Oct. 21) 
Only two teams remain unbeaten in A-R-C play — Wartburg and Central. 
 

• No. 7 Wartburg (7–0, 5–0 A-R-C)
• No. 14 Central (6–0, 4–0 A-R-C) 
• Coe (4–2, 3–1 A-R-C)
• Dubuque (3–4, 3–2 A-R-C)
• Simpson (3–3, 2–2 A-R-C) 
• Buena Vista (2–4, 1–3 A-R-C)
• Loras (1–5, 1–3 A-R-C)
• Nebraska Wesleyan (1–6, 1–4 A-R-C) 
• Luther (0–7, 0–5 A-R-C)

A-R-C PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS 
Defense: 
Keenan Tyler (Week 1) 
Sam Roose (Week 2) 
Keenan Tyler (Week 7) 

Special Teams: 
Jaxson Hoppes (Week 2, Week 3) 
 
D3FOOTBALL.COM TEAM OF THE WEEK HONOREES 
Jake Walker — Defensive Tackle (Week 4) 
Jaxson Hoppes — Punter (Week 3) 
Sam Roose — Cornerback (Week 2) 
 
PRESEASON CONFERENCE RECOGNITION 
Wartburg was selected to win the A-R-C in the 2025 Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving five first-place votes and 61 total points. 

Team                             Points First-Place Votes 
Wartburg                         61             5 
Central                            58             3 
Coe                                 49             1 
Dubuque                         46 
Simpson                         35 
Nebraska Wesleyan       27 
Loras                              24 
Buena Vista                   16
Luther                             8