WEEK 3 | Saturday, Sept. 19 | 1:00 PM | Waverly, Iowa
No. 6/10 Wartburg vs No. 4 UW-River Falls
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN (KWAY - Matt Ray/Scott Suhr)

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The No. 6/10-ranked Wartburg College football team (1-1 overall) returns to Walston-Hoover Stadium for yet another top-10 matchup, hosting No. 4 University of Wisconsin-River Falls (2-0 overall) Saturday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m.

Fans are able to enter Walston-Hoover Stadium 1.5 hours prior to kickoff. 

WARTBURG
Last Game: L, 26-20 vs #1 North Central
Streak: L1
Last Season: 10-1, 8-0 A-R-C
'25 Playoffs: Lost in 2nd Round
Head Coach: Chris Winter (6th Season)
Career Record: 54-9
Record at Wartburg: 54-9

The Knights enter Saturday's matchup following a hard-fought 26-20 loss to top-ranked North Central last weekend. Wartburg held a 14-7 halftime advantage before the Cardinals rallied in the second half. Senior running back Dawson Rud led the Knights' offense with a season-high 112 rushing yards and a touchdown, while adding four receptions for 45 yards and a receiving touchdown. Defensively, Wartburg forced two turnovers, highlighted by Adam Link's interception return for a touchdown and Ben Wymer's first career interception. Jake Walker and Tyler Gayer each recorded nine tackles, while David Borchers added eight tackles and his first sack as a Knight. Through two games, Wartburg ranks 16th nationally with four interceptions and 19th in fewest penalty yards per game at 25.0. 

UW-RIVER FALLS
Last Game: W, 38-6 at #21 Coe
Streak: W13
Last Season: 14-1, 6-1 WIAC
'25 Playoffs: National Champion
Head Coach: Jake Wissing (1st Season)
Career Record: 2-0
Record at UWRF: 2-0

The defending NCAA Division III national champions enter Saturday's matchup unbeaten at 2-0. The Falcons opened the season with a 73-7 victory over Southern Virginia before defeating former American Rivers Conference opponent Coe, 38-6, last weekend in Cedar Rapids.UW-River Falls has been dominant on both sides of the ball. The Falcons have moved the chains 59 times this season, ranking first nationally in first downs. Defensively, UW-River Falls has allowed just 38 rushing yards through two games, an average of 19 yards per game that ranks fifth nationally.

SERIES HISTORY VS THE FALCONS
Saturday marks the first meeting between Wartburg and UW-River Falls.

ABOUT THE FALCONS
Coming off its 38-6 win over No. 21 Coe last weekend, UW-River Falls has outscored the opposition 111-13 through two games this season (55.5 ppg), and has allowed just 165.5 yards per game on the defensive side. The Falcons have recorded a total of nine sacks on the season. UW-River Falls was picked to finish third in the WIAC Preseason Poll. 

RUD RUNS THROUGH TOP-RANKED CARDINALS
Senior running back Dawson Rud rushed for a season-high 112 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against North Central, while also hauling in four receptions for 45 yards and a score - 157 all-purpose yards. The Mondovi, WI, native tallied his 10th career 100+ rushing yard performance against the Cardinals. 

LINK LOCKING UP THE OPPOSITION
Senior linebacker Adam Link has picked off opposing quarterback's three times this season, returning one for a pick-six against North Central in week two. Link holds three of Wartburg's four interceptions this season, that sit second in the A-R-C, and No. 16 nationally. 

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE AT ITS FINEST
Wartburg ranked No. 5 in average home attendance during the 2025 season, averaging 4,340 fans. The Knights boast a 56-6 overall record in the past 10 seasons at Walston-Hoover Stadium. Wartburg holds a 117-20 home record all-time. 

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

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. 

THROUGH TWO GAMES THIS SEASON
Wartburg has outscored the opposition 56-47, allowing 112.0 yards on the ground and 172.50 through the air. The Knights are 5-of-24 on third-down conversions, and 1-of-6 on fourth down. Wartburg has accounted for six touchdowns in the red zone on 10 apperances. 

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Knights hold a 25-22 record against ranked opponents since the 2003 season. Wartburg's last ranked win came last season against No. 14 Central College (W, 28-13) in Waverly. 

ALL-TIME WINNINGEST DIV. III HEAD COACHES (Min. 50 Games) – NCAA Statistics  
- Brad Spencer (2022-23 – pres.) – North Central (Ill.) 60-2 Overall (5th Season)**
- Vince Kehres (2013-14 – 2019-20) – Mount Union 95-6 Overall (7 Seasons)  
- Geoff Dartt (2022-23 – 2025-26) – Mount Union 67-7 Overall (6th Season)**  
- Larry Kehres (1986-87 – 2012-13) – Mount Union 332-24 Overall (27 Seasons)  
- Chris Winter (2021-22 – 2025-26) – Wartburg 54-9 Overall (5th Season)**  
** - Indicates Active Head Coach  

NCAA PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Knights have appeared in 18 NCAA Playoff games in program history with an 18-17 overall record. Wartburg has never made it to the Stagg Bowl in Canton, OH. 

MCDONALD COLLECTS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Wartburg senior defensive lineman Conner McDonald was named a First-Team Preseason All-American by D3football.com. McDonald (Congerville, Ill./Eureka) enters the 2026 season following a standout junior season in which he earned D3football.com First-Team All-American, All-Region and All-Conference honors. He led the Knights' defensive line with 13.0 tackles for loss, including a team-high seven sacks.

McDonald becomes the 16th Knight in program history to earn D3football.com Preseason All-American recognition.

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 95–20. 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 
Last season, Wartburg became the first program since Central (1964–67) to win four consecutive A-R-C championships. The Knights have won 34-consecutive conference games. 

WEEK-BY-WEEK RANKING - AFCA
Preseason - No. 9
Week 1 - No. 10
Week 2 - No. 10

AFCA DIVISION III COACHES' POLL
1. North Central (52)
2. Wheaton
3. UW-Platteville
4. UW-River Falls (1)
5. St. John's (Minn.)
6. John Carroll
7. Bethel (Minn.)
8. Mount Union
9. UW-Whitewater
10. Wartburg
11. Trinity (Texas)
12. Hardin-Simmons
13. Berry
14. Salisbury
15. Johns Hopkins
16. Christopher Newport
17. Mary Hardin-Baylor
18. Hope
19. Susquehanna
20. Linfield
21. Cortland
22. Endicott
T23. UW-La Crosse
T23. WashU
25. DePauw

Others Receiving Votes: Springfield, 61; Randolph-Macon, 52; Coe, 37; Utica, 36; Franklin & Marshall, 35; Wabash, 18; Calvin, 15; Hanover, 12; Mount St. Joseph, 9; UW-Oshkosh, 8; Hampden-Sydney, 6; Illinois Wesleyan, 6; UW-Stout, 6; Baldwin-Wallace, 5; Dickinson, 4; Grove City, 4; LaGrange, 4; Lake Forest, 4; Adrian, 2; Augustana (Ill.), 1; Chapman, 1; Hobart, 1.

WEEK-BY-WEEK RANKING - D3football.com
Preseason - No. 9
Week 1 - No. 9
Week 2 - No. 6

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

Others receiving votes: Utica 50; Franklin & Marshall 50; DePauw 23; Wabash 19; Coe 16; Trinity (Conn.) 15; Wesleyan (Conn.) 10; Springfield 7; Hanover 6; Ithaca 5; Muhlenberg 5; Wis.-Stout 4; Rowan 4; Adrian 3; Lake Forest 3; Baldwin Wallace 2; Grove City 1

CONSECUTIVE WEEKS RANKED
D3football.com - 39 weeks
AFCA - 36 weeks

CURRENT A-R-C STANDINGS
Loras: 1-1 overall, 0-0 A-R-C
Central: 1-1 overall, 0-0 A-R-C
Coe: 1-1 overall, 0-0 A-R-C
Wartburg: 1-1 overall, 0-0 A-R-C
Simpson: 1-1 overall, 0-0 A-R-C
Buena Vista: 1-1 overall, 0-0 A-R-C
Neb. Wesleyan: 0-2 overall, 0-0 A-R-C
Dubuque: 0-2 overall, 0-0 A-R-C