WAVERLY, Iowa -- The No. 6 Wartburg College football team (10-0, 8-0 A-R-C) claimed its fourth consecutive American Rivers Conference championship on Saturday, setting a new league record with a 63-20 Senior Day win over Buena Vista at Walston-Hoover Stadium. The Knights surpassed a mark that had stood since 1967 and earned the 21st conference title in program history.
Head coach
Chris Winter captured his fourth league crown in five seasons and extended Wartburg's A-R-C winning streak to 34 games. The 2025 senior class finished its career undefeated in conference play, winning the title in every season of its four-year run.
Wartburg overwhelmed BVU with 603 yards of total offense, including 451 on the ground—the program's highest rushing output since 2022 against Simpson (441). The Knights averaged 10.77 yards per play and 11.0 yards per rush on 41 attempts.
Quarterback
Leo Dodd totaled four first-half touchdowns, throwing for 137 yards and three scores while adding another on the ground.
Sam Heither caught two touchdown passes and finished with a team-high 54 receiving yards, while
Dylan Swanstrom added both a rushing and receiving touchdown.
Dawson Rud posted 88 rushing yards on six carries.
Defensively,
Keenan Tyler anchored the unit with a game-high 13 tackles (eight solo).
Adam Link,
Cam Stalzer, and
Jake Walker each recorded a sack, and the Knights finished with five tackles for loss.
On special teams,
Jaxson Hoppes went a perfect 9-for-9 on PATs to match the school record and delivered 587 yards on 10 kickoffs with five touchbacks. Wartburg did not punt in the contest.
Wartburg set the tone immediately, forcing a three-and-out on BVU's opening drive before scoring just 57 seconds into the game on a 24-yard touchdown run by
Dawson Rud. Four minutes later, a blocked punt by
Sam Heither set up the Knights' second score, as
Dylan Swanstrom hauled in a one-handed grab to make it 14-0. Swanstrom struck again on the next possession, taking a 27-yard end-around into the end zone to give Wartburg a 21-0 lead after one quarter.
Buena Vista broke through with a touchdown early in the second, but the Knights answered quickly. Quarterback
Leo Dodd delivered a perfectly placed 44-yard touchdown pass to Heither, then found him again on a push-pass later in the quarter to extend the margin to 35-7. With under two minutes left in the half, Wartburg regained possession and Dodd used his legs to add a 29-yard rushing touchdown, sending the Knights into halftime with a commanding 42-7 advantage.
Dodd finished the first half with four total touchdowns, while Rud posted 88 rushing yards on just six carries.
Wartburg wasted no time adding on after the break. On the first offensive play of the third quarter,
Levi Pingel broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 49-7. BVU added a score midway through the quarter, but the Knights responded again—this time with an
Aidan Skoda touchdown to make it 56-14.
In the fourth quarter, Wartburg capped its dominant offensive day when
Micah Holmberg secured his second career touchdown on a pass from
Josh Papesh, sealing the 63-20 Senior Day victory.
UP NEXT
Wartburg now awaits its postseason NCAA Playoff arrangements. The NCAA Division III selection show airs Sunday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. The Knights entered the week at No. 3 in the National NPI rankings, and an upset win by Franklin & Marshall over Johns Hopkins improves Wartburg's chances of hosting throughout the regional rounds. Further information will be announced once selections are finalized.
