MENOMONIE, WIS. – The No. 10-ranked Wartburg College football team (2-0 overall) posted a 16-0 shutout victory over the University of Wisconsin-Stout on Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium, fueled by another dominant defensive performance. With the win, the Knights secured the 500th victory in program history.
The Wartburg defense forced three interceptions, a fumble, and a turnover on downs to hold the Blue Devils to just 135 yards of total offense and six first downs. Offensively, the Knights tallied 344 total yards and moved the chains 23 times.
Quarterback
Leo Dodd went 19-for-36 through the air for a career-high 225 yards, spreading completions to eight different receivers.
Jagger Schmitt led the way with five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown—all in the first half.
Defensively,
Conner McDonald recorded Wartburg's first sack of the day to force a three-and-out on UW-Stout's opening drive. The defense continued to swarm, producing a second consecutive stop on the Blue Devils' next possession.
The Knights struck first when Schmitt made an acrobatic adjustment on a tipped ball for a 27-yard touchdown, giving Wartburg a 7-0 lead with 6:52 remaining in the opening quarter. The score held through the first.
Early in the second quarter,
Jaxson Hoppes converted a 32-yard field goal to extend the Wartburg advantage to 10-0. The defense continued to dominate, forcing another three-and-out as Stout remained without a first down. Hoppes later connected from 34 yards with just over two minutes left in the half, making it 13-0. The Blue Devils finally picked up their first first down of the game with 1:58 left in the second quarter. After another defensive stop, Wartburg's offense drove inside the five-yard line in the final minute, but time expired before the Knights could add to their lead. Wartburg entered halftime up 13-0.
At the break, Dodd had completed 16-of-28 passes for 189 yards, with Schmitt hauling in five catches for 71 yards and a score.
Mac Watts registered four first-half tackles as the defense held UW-Stout to just one first down and 36 total yards. Wartburg produced 237 yards of offense in the opening half and averaged just under five yards per play.
In the third quarter,
Keenan Tyler came up with a crucial tackle to force a turnover on downs with 6:43 left. The Blue Devils fumbled on their next possession, with
Sam Roose recovering to give the Knights the ball at their own 44. Wartburg maintained its 13-0 advantage heading into the fourth.
Jackson Othmer added to the lead with a 25-yard field goal at the 3:03 mark, pushing the score to 16-0. Roose sealed the game in the final seconds with an interception, securing the shutout and Wartburg's historic 500th win.
UP NEXT
Wartburg continues its road swing next Saturday, Sept. 20, traveling to Indianola to face Simpson College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Buxton Stadium.
