GAME NINE | Saturday, Nov. 7 | 1:00 PM | Pella, Iowa
No. 12 Wartburg at Central
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN (KWAY-Matt Ray/Scott Suhr)

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The No. 12-ranked Wartburg College football team (6-2, 5-0 A-R-C) travels to Pella, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a matchup against Central College (5-3, 3-2 A-R-C) at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Knights enter the weekend tied with Coe College atop the American Rivers Conference standings, with both teams holding unblemished 5-0 league records. Central sits fourth in the conference at 3-2 and brings a three-game winning streak into Saturday's contest.

SERIES HISTORY VS THE DUTCH
Central holds a 45-29 advantage in the all-time series, with Saturday marking the 75th meeting between the two programs. However, Wartburg has claimed each of the last four matchups and holds a 7-3 record against the Dutch over the last 10 meetings.

The Knights earned a 28-13 victory over Central in Waverly last season and secured a 10-6 win in their most recent trip to Pella in 2024. Wartburg owns a 13-26 record in road games against the Dutch.

ABOUT THE DUTCH
Central enters Saturday's matchup riding a three-game winning streak, highlighted by victories over Nebraska Wesleyan (44-11), Buena Vista (56-21) and Loras (40-28) last weekend. The Dutch have been among the nation's most disciplined teams, ranking first nationally with just 24 penalties this season. Central also leads the A-R-C in red-zone efficiency, converting 90.6% of its opportunities.

LAST TIME OUT 
WARTBURG
The No. 12-ranked Wartburg College football team delivered a strong all-around performance in a 63-14 victory over Simpson College on Saturday afternoon at Walston-Hoover Stadium. The Knights piled up 657 yards of total offense, including 330 rushing yards and a season-high 327 passing yards, while scoring nine touchdowns to improve to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in American Rivers Conference play.

Defensively, Wartburg held Simpson to just 25 rushing yards, the second-lowest total allowed by the Knights this season. The victory also extended Wartburg's conference winning streak to 39 consecutive games.

CENTRAL
Central College enters Saturday's matchup following a 40-28 road victory over Loras College, earning its fifth win of the season. The Dutch (5-3, 3-2 A-R-C) jumped out to a 34-0 lead behind a balanced offensive attack before Loras added three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Central totaled three rushing touchdowns and three passing touchdowns, with Cody Klein accounting for three scores, including a 58-yard rushing touchdown and a 47-yard reception for a touchdown. Quarterback Brett Connolly threw for three touchdowns, while Gentry Dumont paced the rushing attack with 101 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, Clay Saak and Brecken Ritzert each recorded an interception as the Dutch secured the road victory.

A LOOK AT NPI (NCAA)
Wartburg jumped a few spots to No. 49 in the latest NCAA National Power Index rankings, with an NPI of 61.185. The Knights eighth overall in Region V, as Coe sits two spots below ranked No. 10 regionally - Kohawks have an overall NPI rank at No. 71. 

AROUND THE A-R-C
DUBUQUE @ COE  - 1 PM - CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
SIMPSON @ NEB. WESLEYAN - 1 PM - LINCOLN, NE
BUENA VISTA @ LORAS - 1 PM - DUBUQUE, IA

CURRENT A-R-C STANDINGS
Coe: 6-2, 5-0 A-R-C
Wartburg: 6-2, 5-0 A-R-C
Dubuque: 5-3, 4-1 A-R-C
Central: 5-3, 3-2 A-R-C
Simpson: 3-5, 2-3 A-R-C
Nebraska Wesleyan: 1-7, 1-4 A-R-C
Loras: 2-6, 0-5 A-R-C
Buena Vista: 1-7, 0-5 A-R-C

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 39-consecutive conference games. Wartburg is looking to become the first team to win five-straight league championships since Central did so from 1983-1987. No A-R-C team has won six-straight. 

SCORING AT A PREMIUM
Through the five games of conference play, the Knights have outscored their opposition 305-75. 

Oct. 3 - W, 69-26 at Nebraska Wesleyan
Oct. 10 - W, 72-14 vs Buena Vista
Oct. 17 - W, 68-7 at Loras
Oct. 24 - W, 33-14 at Dubuque
Oct. 31 - W, 63-14 vs Simpson

Wartburg is scoring 46.9 points per game this season, sitting as the 10th-best in the country - most in program history since 2019 (44.50 ppg)

THE GROUND GAME IS THE SECRET TO SUCCESS
Wartburg has rushed through its way to five-straight wins, averaging 255.1 yards per game this season - through its five league games, the Knights have averaged 353.8 yards. The Knights' season-rushing average ranks No. 13 in Division III. 

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL
Wartburg's defense has never gone without question, but the Knights allow just 86.4 yards rushing this season, and have forced a Division III leading 27 total turnovers - 21 of those coming from opposing passes that rank No. 2 in the country. 

RUD MOVES TO NO. 6 IN CAREER RUSHING YARDS
Nearing a individual career-mark of 850 rushing yards this season, running back Dawson Rud totals 3,262 yards in his Wartburg career, moving up to   No. 6 on the all-time rushing leaders list. Rud ranks No. 10 in Division III averaging 7.33 yards per carry, and No. 7 in total touchdowns with 16 on the season - 13 rushing (career-high). Rud has reached the endzone in every game this season - caught a TD pass against Buena Vista. 

1. 4839 - Bobby Beatty (940-4839) - 1991-94
2. 4503 - Trevor Shannon (832-4503) - 1995-98
3. 4080 - Hunter Clasen (660-4080) - 2019,21-23
4. 3700 - Justin Beatty (698-3700) - 1999-02
5. 3381 - Brandon Domeyer (668-3381) - 2012-15
6. 3262 - Dawson Rud - 2023-26
7. 3235 - Gary Nelson (810-3235) - 1967-70
8. 3187 - Brad Hodapp (580-3187) - 2000-03
9. 2981 - Brad Ott (762-2981) - 1984-87
10. 2961 - Dan Hammes (580-2961) - 2003-06

2026 WARTBURG A-R-C POTW HONORS
LB Adam Link - Sept. 8
WR Drew Hobart - Sept. 21
RB Dawson Rud – Oct. 5, Oct. 26
DL Jake Walker – Oct. 5

2026 WARTBRUG D3football.com TOTW
DT David Borchers - Oct. 27

ALL-TIME WINNINGEST DIV. III HEAD COACHES (Min. 50 Games) – NCAA Statistics  
- Brad Spencer (2022-23 – pres.) – North Central (Ill.) 65-3 Overall (5th Season)**
- Vince Kehres (2013-14 – 2019-20) – Mount Union 95-6 Overall (7 Seasons)  
- Geoff Dartt (2022-23 – 2025-26) – Mount Union 73-7 Overall (6th Season)**  
- Larry Kehres (1986-87 – 2012-13) – Mount Union 332-24 Overall (27 Seasons)  
- Chris Winter (2021-22 – 2025-26) – Wartburg 59-10 Overall (5th Season)**  
** - Indicates Active Head Coach  

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

ALL THREE PHASES OF THE GAME
The Knights have taken control of all three phases of the game, topping the A-R-C in several categories. 

Blocked Kicks - 4 (No. 24 in Division III)
Blocked Punts - 4 (No. 2)
First Downs (Def.) - 135 (No. 87)
First Downs (Off.) - 187 (No. 26)
Kickoff Returns - 22.90 (No. 30)
Passes Intercepted - 21 (No. 2)
Punt Return (Def.) - 3.44 (No. 25)
Rushing (Def.) - 86.4 (No. 44)
Rushing (Off.) - 255.1 (No. 13)
Scoring (Def.) - 19.1 (No. 74)
Scoring (Off.) - 46.9 (No. 10)
Total Defense - 305.6 (No. 78)
Total Offense - 469.5 (No. 20)
Turnover Margin - 1.63 (No. 6)
Turnovers Gained - 27 (LEADS DIVISION III)

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

Dropped out: No. 19 Berry (minus-130); No. 24 Heidelberg (minus-77).

Others receiving votes: Mount Union 41; Lake Forest 32; Washington & Jefferson 25; Franklin & Marshall 21; Springfield 21; Trinity (Conn.) 18; Concordia-Moorhead 9; UW-Eau Claire 6; Concordia Wisconsin 4; Heidelberg 4; UW-Stout 3; Berry 2; Ithaca 2; Randolph-Macon 2; Hampden-Sydney 1; Salisbury 1.

AFCA DIVISION III COACHES' POLL
1. Wheaton (36)
2. UW-Platteville (16)
3. St. John's
4. UW-Whitewater (1)
5. North Central
6. Hardin-Simmons
7. WashU
8. Hope
9. Christopher Newport
10. Endicott
11. Cortland
12. Wartburg
13. Mary Hardin-Baylor
14. Baldwin Wallace
15. Trinity (Tex.)
16. Bethel
17. DePauw
18. UW-River Falls
19. Susquehanna
20. Calvin
21. Lake Forest
22. Springfield
23. John Carroll
24. Utica
25. Linfield

Dropped Out: Berry (19), Rowan (24), Heidelberg (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Chapman, 90; Mount Union, 72; Washington & Jefferson, 39; Hampden-Sydney, 31; Franklin & Marshall, 28; Benedictine (Ill.), 27; Rowan, 23; Trinity (Conn.), 23; Concordia-Moorhead, 21; Berry, 19; Concordia (Wis.), 18; Salisbury, 12; UW-Eau Claire, 8; Dickinson, 7; UW-Stout, 7; Brockport, 6; Ursinus, 6; Illinois Wesleyan, 5; U.S. Merchant Marine, 3; Amherst, 2; Montclair St., 1.

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 7 - No. 13
Week 8 - No. 13
Week 9 - No. 12

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
Week 7 - No. 11
Week 8 - No. 12
Week 9 - No. 2

CONSECUTIVE WEEKS RANKED
D3football.com - 46 weeks
AFCA - 43 weeks

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