GAME SIX | Saturday, Oct. 17 | 1:00 PM | Rock Bowl | Dubuque, Iowa
No. 11/15 Wartburg at Loras
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN (KWAY-Matt Ray/Scott Suhr)

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The No. 11/15-ranked Wartburg College football team (3-2 overall, 2-0 American Rivers Conference) returns to the road Saturday, Oct. 17, for a conference matchup against Loras College (2-3, 0-2 A-R-C) at the Rock Bowl in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Knights are one of four teams that remain unbeaten in conference play through the first two weeks of A-R-C action. Wartburg joins the University of Dubuque, Coe College and Simpson College with 2-0 conference records.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE DUHAWKS
Saturday's contest marks the 45th meeting between the programs, with Wartburg holding a 35-9 advantage in the all-time series. The Knights have won 20 consecutive matchups against the Duhawks, with their last loss in the series coming during the 2004 season. Wartburg holds a 14-6 record against Loras on the road and a 22-1 mark in conference play. Last season, the Knights earned a 40-20 victory over the Duhawks in Dubuque.

ABOUT THE DUHAWKS
Loras opened the season with a 31-16 victory over St. Olaf before earning its second win with a 49-13 triumph over the University of Northwestern (Minn.) on Sept. 19. The Duhawks have since dropped back-to-back A-R-C contests, falling 35-14 to Coe and 38-21 to Simpson.Defensively, Loras has recorded three defensive touchdowns, leading the conference and ranking third nationally in Division III. The Duhawks have also intercepted 12 passes, the second-most in the nation, and forced 15 turnovers overall. Quarterback Joey Helminiak leads the A-R-C with 1,410 passing yards, averaging 282.0 yards per game. He has thrown 11 touchdown passes this season.

LAST TIME OUT
WARTBURG
The No. 11/15-ranked Wartburg College football team earned a 72-14 victory over Buena Vista University on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Walston-Hoover Stadium during Homecoming, improving to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in American Rivers Conference play. After falling behind 7-0 early, the Knights scored 72 unanswered points across 11 scoring drives to secure the win and extend their A-R-C winning streak to 36 games. Wartburg totaled a program-record 752 yards of offense, surpassing the previous mark of 721 set against Simpson College in 2015. The Knights recorded 501 rushing yards while limiting the Beavers to 187 total yards.

LORAS
Loras fell to Simpson College 38-21 on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Rock Bowl, dropping to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in American Rivers Conference play.The Duhawks trailed 21-0 before scoring twice in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 21-14 at halftime. Simpson extended its lead with 14 unanswered points in the second half before Loras added a fourth-quarter touchdown. The Storm scored a late field goal to secure the 38-21 victory. Quarterback Joey Helminiak threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns, while the Loras defense forced six turnovers, including four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

AROUND THE A-R-C
COE AT BUENA VISTA  - 1 PM - STORM LAKE, IA
CENTRAL AT NEB. WESLEYAN - 1 PM - LINCOLN, NE
DUBUQUE AT SIMPSON - 1 PM - INDIANOLA, IA

A-R-C DOMINANCE 
Last season, Wartburg became the first program since Central (1964–67) to win four consecutive A-R-C championships. The Knights have won 36-consecutive conference games. 

RECORD-BREAKING HOMECOMING
During Wartburg's 72-14 blasting over Buena Vista on Homecoming, the Knights totaled 752 yards on offense to mark a new program record - bested the previous mark held from 2015 vs Simpson (712). 

Wartburg rushed for 501, while holding the Beavers to just 187 yards of total offense. The Knights' 501 yards were just 53 short of another program record. 

The Orange and Black held stout after an opening-drive score from BVU, scoring 72 unanswered points across 11 scoring drives to pull away. 

WEEK-BY-WEEK RANKING - AFCA
Preseason - No. 9
Week 1 - No. 10
Week 2 - No. 10
Week 3 - No. 18
Week 4 - No. 18
Week 5 - No. 16
Week 6 - No. 15

WEEK-BY-WEEK RANKING - D3football.com
Preseason - No. 9
Week 1 - No. 9
Week 2 - No. 6
Week 3 - No. 11
Week 4 - No. 12
Week 5 - No. 11
Week 6 - No. 11

CONSECUTIVE WEEKS RANKED
D3football.com - 43 weeks
AFCA - 40 weeks

Dating back to last season and into 2026, Wartburg's last four contests consisted of Wheaton (NCAA Playoffs), Monmouth, North Central, and UW-River Falls. The latest release of the national polls: North Central (No. 1), UW-River Falls (No. 2), and Wheaton (No. 3). 

AFCA DIVISION III COACHES' POLL
1. Wheaton (50)
2. St. John's (MN) (1)
3. UW-Platteville
4. North Central
5. UW-Whitewater (2)
6. Trinity (Texas)
7. Hardin-Simmons
8. UW-River Falls
9. WashU
10. Christopher Newport
11. Hope
12. Endicott
13. Cortland
14. John Carroll
15. Wartburg
16. Mary Hardin-Baylor
17. Bethel (MN)
18. Berry
19. Salisbury
20. Baldwin Wallace
21. Susquehanna
22. DePauw
23. Calvin
24. Lake Forest
25. Rowan

Dropped Out: UW-La Crosse (20), Franklin & Marshall (21), Randolph-Macon (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Utica, 60; UW-La Crosse, 60; Ursinus, 58; Springfield, 55; Dickinson, 52; Chapman, 36; Mount Union, 36; Heidelberg, 35; Concordia-Moorhead, 30; Illinois Wesleyan, 28; Trinity (Conn.), 17; Linfield, 16; Hampden-Sydney, 15; Wabash, 15; Franklin & Marshall, 14; Concordia (Wis.), 12; U.S. Merchant Marine, 12; Washington & Jefferson, 12; Brevard, 8; Benedictine (Ill.), 6; Allegheny, 5; Brockport, 4; Massachusetts Maritime, 4; Wesleyan, 3; Denison, 2; LaGrange, 2; Hanover, 1; Howard Payne, 1; UW-Oshkosh, 1.

D3Football.com Week Top 25
1. Wheaton (23)
2. St. John's (1)
3. North Central
4. UW-Whitewater (1)
5. UW-Platteville
6. UW-River Falls
7. Hardin-Simmons
8. Trinity (Texas)
9. Endicott
10. Washington U.
11. Wartburg
12. Hope
13. Christopher Newport
14. Cortland
15. Bethel
16. John Carroll
17. Baldwin Wallace
18. Mary Hardin-Baylor
19. Berry
20. UW-La Crosse
21. Salisbury
22. Susquehanna
23. Linfield
24. Rowan
25. Heidelberg


Dropped out: No. 22 Franklin  & Marshall, No. 23 Randolph-Macon.

Others receiving votes: Dickinson 45; Utica 43; Chapman 40; DePauw 40; Mount Union 37; Calvin 20; Trinity (Conn.) 14; Washington & Jefferson 11; Lake Forest 10; Franklin & Marshall 9; Wesleyan 8; Ursinus 6; Brockport 5; Ithaca 4; Concordia-Moorhead 3; Eastern 3; Merchant Marine 2; Whitworth 1.

SCORING AT A PREMIUM
Through the first two games of conference play, the Knights have outscored their opposition 141-40. 

Oct. 3 - W, 69-26 at Nebraska Wesleyan
Oct. 10 - W, 72-14 vs Buena Vista

2026 WARTBURG POTW HONORS
LB Adam Link - Sept. 8
WR Drew Hobart - Sept. 21
RB Dawson Rud – Oct. 5
DL Jake Walker – Oct. 5

ALL-TIME WINNINGEST DIV. III HEAD COACHES (Min. 50 Games) – NCAA Statistics  
- Brad Spencer (2022-23 – pres.) – North Central (Ill.) 62-3 Overall (5th Season)**
- Vince Kehres (2013-14 – 2019-20) – Mount Union 95-6 Overall (7 Seasons)  
- Geoff Dartt (2022-23 – 2025-26) – Mount Union 70-7 Overall (6th Season)**  
- Larry Kehres (1986-87 – 2012-13) – Mount Union 332-24 Overall (27 Seasons)  
- Chris Winter (2021-22 – 2025-26) – Wartburg 56-10 Overall (5th Season)**  
** - Indicates Active Head Coach  

32 STRAIGHT WINNING SEASONS 
Wartburg secured its 32nd all-time winning season last season. Over the last nine years, the program holds a record of 95–21. The Knights' consistency ranks among the top programs across all NCAA divisions.

LOOKING AT THIS YEARS ROSTER
The 2026 Wartburg football roster features 62 sophomores, 44 incoming freshmen, 37 juniors, 33 seniors and one 5th year. 

Longest Active Winning Season Streaks — All Divisions 
Linfield (Ore.) – 68 seasons 
Mount Union – 46 seasons 
Wartburg – 32 seasons 
Northwest Missouri State (DII) – 30 seasons

PAPESH TOSSES CAREER-HIGH 265 IN WEEK ONE
Junior quarterback Josh Papesh (Valley View, OH/Saint Ignatius HS) completed 19 of his 24 pass attempts for a career-high 265 yards and two touchdowns during week one on the road at Monmouth. 

ALL THREE PHASES OF THE GAME
Through its first five games of the season, the Knights have taken control of all three phases of the game, topping the A-R-C in several categories. Wartburg leads all of Division III with 18 forced turnovers - tied for third-most amongst all divisions of college football this season. 

Blocked Kicks - 3 (No. 24 in Division III)
Blocked Punts - 3 (No. 2)
First Downs (Off.) - 107 (No. 64)
Fumbles Recovered - 6 (No. 18)
Kickoff Returns - 22.79 (No. 47)
Passes Intercepted - 12 (No. 2)
Punt Return (Def.) - 4.88 (No. 58)
Rushing (Off.) - 205.8 (No. 36)
Scoring (Off.) - 42.2 (No. 17)
Total Defense - 317.8 (No. 94)
Turnover Margin - 1.80 (No. 4)
Turnovers Gained - 18 (Leads Division III)

94 MORE FOR 3K
Senior running back Dawson Rud needs just 94 yards to hit the 3,000-yard milestone at Wartburg. To crack the programs' top 10, Rud eyes Brandon Domeyer's (2012-2015) 3,381. 

A-R-C PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Wartburg College - 49 (7)
2. Coe College - 42
3. Central College - 38
4. University of Dubuque - 29
5. Simpson College - 27
6. Loras College - 20
7. Nebraska Wesleyan University - 10
8. Buena Vista University - 9