GAME NINE | No. 7 Wartburg at Nebraska Wesleyan
1 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 1 | Abel Stadium
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The No. 7-ranked Wartburg College football team (8-0, 6-0 A-R-C) travels to Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Nov. 1, to take on Nebraska Wesleyan University inside Abel Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Wartburg climbed to No. 2 in the latest NCAA Division III Power Index (NPI) following last weekend's Top-15 victory. The Knights' NPI mark of 77.496 leads the Region Five rankings and places them among just seven unbeaten teams remaining in Division III football.
KNIGHTS
Record: 8-0, 6-0 A-R-C
Last Game: vs Central (W, 28-13)
Rankings: D3football.com - No.7 /AFCA - No. 7
Head Coach:
Chris Winter (5th Season) | 51-7 overall
All-time vs. Nebraska Wesleyan: 8-0 overall
PRAIRIE WOLVES
Record: 1-6, 1-4 A-R-C
Last Game: vs Central (L, 34-14)
Rankings: D3football.com - N/A
Head Coach: Brian Keller (30th Season) | 133-156 overall
SERIES INFO
Wartburg has controlled the eight-game series against Nebraska Wesleyan ever since it joined the American Rivers Conference in 2016. The Knights remain unbeaten with a perfect 8-0 record. The last meeting in Lincoln came out to be a 45-0 rout on Nov. 4, 2023. Wartburg has scored 30+ points in each of the eight meetings, with its largest margin of victory coming on Oct. 15, 2022 (W, 65-0).
Matchups vs. NWU
- Sept. 17, 2016 at Nebraska Wesleyan (W, 38-28)
- Nov. 11, 2017 vs. Nebraska Wesleyan (W, 41-20)
- Sep 22, 2018 at Nebraska Wesleyan (W, 42-14)
- Oct 12, 2019 NEBRASKA WESLEYAN (W, 61-7)
- Nov 6, 2021 NEBRASKA WESLEYAN (W, 50-14)
- Oct. 15, 2022 NEBRASKA WESLEYAN (W, 65-0)
- Nov 04, 2023 at Neb. Wesleyan (W, 45-0)
- Sept 26, 2024 NEBRASKA WESLEYAN (W, 34-0)
WARTBURG
Wartburg's offense continues to thrive behind its efficient, power-run approach.
Joey Anderson anchors the ground game with 598 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 99 carries (74.8 yards per game).
Dawson Rud has added 561 yards and six scores, while
Carson Bruns has contributed 105 yards, helping the backfield combine for 14 rushing touchdowns this season.
Under center, quarterback
Leo Dodd has completed 59.2% of his passes for 1,114 yards and seven touchdowns, including a career-high 239-yard performance against Central last week. Backup quarterback
Josh Papesh has also been productive, throwing for 354 yards and completing 64.8% of his attempts.
In the passing game,
Justis Bachman leads the receiving corps with 430 yards on 27 receptions (53.8 yards per game). He broke out for a career-high 124 yards versus Central.
Jagger Schmitt has caught 20 passes for 295 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns, while
Dylan Swanstrom showcased his versatility against Loras—scoring by reception, rush, and punt return.
Defensively, the Knights remain among the nation's elite. Wartburg ranks first in the A-R-C and 30th nationally in total defense (261.4 yards per game). The run defense has been dominant, sitting second in Division III by allowing just 26 rushing yards per game. The secondary has been equally disruptive, recording 13 interceptions—good for No. 7 nationally and first in the A-R-C. Despite going without a pick last week against Central, the unit has forced 16 turnovers overall, ranking second in the league behind Simpson (17).
Linebacker
Keenan Tyler leads the team with 76 total tackles, along with five tackles for loss, one sack, and five pass breakups.
Mac Watts follows with 66 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and an interception. Up front,
Jake Walker and
Jack Drahos have each tallied 10 tackles for loss, combining for 92 yards lost. Walker leads the team with five sacks and 11 quarterback hurries, while Drahos has added four sacks to the defensive effort.
On special teams,
Jaxson Hoppes has been a steady contributor, punting 28 times for 1,115 yards (39.8-yard average) with a long of 84 yards against Simpson and 14 punts inside the 20. He's also 8-for-14 on field goals (57.1%), including 60% accuracy from 30–39 yards.
ABOUT NEBRASKA WESLEYAN
The Prairie Wolves come into Saturday's matchup fresh off a bye week with their most recent matchup coming in a 34.14 setback to Central on Oct. 18 in Pella. NWU currently sits at 1-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play this season, with its only victory at home against Luther on Sept. 27.
NWU allows 30.29 points per game to opponents, while just scoring 18.43. Opponents rush for 122.7 yards per game (No. 3 in the A-R-C), and throw from 220.57 (No. 5) through the air. The Prairie Wolves average 332 yards of total offense (202.57 passing and 129.4 rushing). NWU sits just behind Wartburg in time of possession (32.41).
Running back Trystin Myers ranks third in the league with 105.86 all-purpose yards per outing and leads with 6.34 yards per carry out of the backfield. Wideout Joey McLaughlin has been Connor White's favorite target, hauling in 94.9 yards and seven receptions per game – leading the team with 664 yards this season, No. 2 in the A-R-C.
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 32-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 51–7. Wartburg has now won 32 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.) 51-1 Overall (4th Season)**
Vince Kehres (2013-14 – 2019-20) – Mount Union 95-6 Overall (7 Seasons)
Geoff Dartt (2022-23 – 2025-26) – Mount Union 63-4 Overall (6th Season)**
Larry Kehres (1986-87 – 2012-13) – Mount Union 332-24 Overall (27 Seasons)
Chris Winter (2021-22 – 2025-26) – Wartburg 51-7 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).
32 STRAIGHT WINNING SEASONS
Wartburg secured its 32nd all-time winning season. Over the last nine years, the program holds a record of 93–18. 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 – 32 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: .333 (No. 58 in NCAA)
- 4th Down Conversation Defense: .667 (No. 28)
- Blocked Punts: 1 (No. 44)
- First Down Defense: 119 allowed (No.65)
- Interceptions: 13 (No. 7)
- Rushing Defense: 26.0 ypg (No. 2)
- Scoring Defense: 8.8 ppg (No. 5)
- Team Sacks: 2.75 per game (No. 35)
- Total Defense: 261.4 ypg (No. 30)
PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS
OUT OF THE BACKFIELD
Joey Anderson and
Dawson Rud have combined for 1,159 rushing yards in the backfield that tops the A-R-C with 188.9 yards per game – No. 50 nationally. Anderson ranks second in the league with 6.04 yards per carry and third in overall rushing yards. Both Anderson and Rud have found the endzone six times to sit second in the conference.
DODD DOTS CAREER-HIGH VS CENTRAL
Quarterback
Leo Dodd threw for a career-high 239 yards on 18-of-34 passing (52.90%) and a touchdown against Central on Oct. 25.
BACHMAN BREAKOUT
Wide receiver
Justis Bachman set a career high against Central with seven receptions for 124 yards. He leads the team with 430 receiving yards this season.
TYLER TAKEOVER
Keenan Tyler ranks third in the A-R-C with 9.5 tackles per contest, totaling 76.0 to lead the Knights this season.
D-LINE PUMPIN' IT UP
The three-headed monster of
Jake Walker,
Jack Drahos, and
Conner McDonald have combined for 29.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks this season. McDonald leads the conference with .81 sacks per outing, while Walker sits directly behind with .75. Both average 1.25 tackles for loss per game to rank No. 2.
HEITHER MAKES AN IMPACT
Sam Heither blocked a punt and caught a touchdown pass from Bachman on a fake field goal in the Homecoming win over Dubuque.
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.
DRAHOS PICKS UP D3fooball.com DEFENSIVE TOTW HONOR
Drahos made his presense felt in the trenches, helping lead a Wartburg defense that held previous No. 14-ranked Central to just 34 rushing yards on 22 attempts. Drahos finished with five tackles, two and a half tackles for loss, two and half sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hits.
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. 2 in the latest NCAA Division III Power Index (NPI).
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.
REGION FIVE RANKINGS – As of Oct. 29
No. 7 Wartburg sits at the top spot in the latest Region Five rankings, with top-ranked North Central at No. 2, and No. 18 Central at No. 3.
- Wartburg – 8-0 overall, NPI (77.496)
- North Central (Ill.) - 7-0 overall, NPI (75.974)
- Central (Iowa) - 6-1 overall, NPI (66.187)
- Concordia Wisconsin – 7-1 overall, NPI (65.971)
- Wheaton (Ill.) - 5-2 overall, NPI (65.713)
- Monmouth (Ill.) - 6-1 overall, NPI (61.713
- Benedictine (Ill.) - 6-1 overall, NPI (61.296)
PRESTIGIOUS TERRITORY
Wartburg is the only Division III team to reach an 8–0 record, joining six other programs undefeated on the season – seven total.
Unbeaten Division III Teams — As of Week 7
- North Central (7–0)
- Mount Union (7–0)
- Johns Hopkins (7–0)
- Salisbury (7–0)
- Hardin-Simmons (7–0)
- Bethel (Minn.) (7–0)
- Wartburg (8–0)
- Christopher Newport (7–0)
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Wartburg remains 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 42 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
8 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
8 No. 7
D3football.com Top 25 Poll – Week 8
- North Central (Ill.) (24)
- Mount Union (1)
- Johns Hopkins
- Bethel
- Salisbury
- Hardin-Simmons
- Wartburg
- UW-Whitewater
- UW-River Falls
- UW-La Crosse
- St. John's
- John Carroll
- UW-Platteville
- Christopher Newport
- DePauw
- Hope
- Berry
- Central
- Wheaton
- Cortland
- Randolph-Macon
- Baldwin Wallace
- UW-Stout
- Muhlenberg
- UW-Oshkosh
Dropped Out: No. 16 Carnegie Mellon; No. 25 Adrian
AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll – Presented by Hudl - Week 8
- North Central (52)
- Mount Union
- Johns Hopkins
- Salisbury
- Hardin-Simmons
- Bethel (Minn.)
- Wartburg
- UW-Whitewater
- UW-River Falls
- St. John's (Minn.)
- UW-La Crosse
- John Carroll
- Christopher Newport
- DePauw
- UW-Platteville
- Cortland
- Hope
- Randolph-Macon
- Central (Iowa)
- Berry
- Wheaton
- Trinity (Tex.)
- Wabash
- Baldwin Wallace
- Muhlenberg
Dropped Out: Carnegie Mellon (19), UW-Oshkosh (24)
A-R-C STANDINGS (As of Oct. 29)
Wartburg sits atop of the American Rivers Conference standings as the only team to remain unbeaten in both conference and overall, on the season.
Team Overall Conference
Wartburg 8–0 6–0
Central 6–1 4–1
Coe 5–2 4–1
Simpson 4–3 3–2
Dubuque 3–5 3–3
Loras 2–5 1–4
Buena Vista 2–5 1–4
Nebraska Wesleyan 1–6 1–4
Luther 0–8 0–6
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)
Jack Drahos – Defensive Tackle (Week 8)
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
