FOOTBALL SLAYS SPARTANS: KNIGHTS NOW 4-0 OVERALL, 2-0 IN CONFERENCE

PEYTON MEISNER, GUEST WRITER

In a rematch of a game that determined last year’s American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) champion, the No. 15/20 Wartburg Football team emerged victorious with a 42-25 triumph over the University of Dubuque Saturday, Sept. 28 at Walston-Hoover Stadium.

Dubuque came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter, opening with a field goal and two touchdowns to take a 17-0 lead. However, those were the only points the Spartans scored in the first three quarters.
Wartburg took over in the second half, scoring with 5:33 left in the half, when Bennett Goettsch ’21 got the Knights on the board with a 4-yard touchdown rush.

Jason Fisher ’20 recovered a fumble with 1:47 left and the Knights wasted no time running a double pass. Jace Moore ’21 threw a pass to Brandan Childs ’20 who then completed a wide open 36-yard touchdown pass to Kolin Schulte ’20. Dubuque took a three point lead into halftime, 17-14.

“We knew we had to start getting more movement up front to get us into position to make plays,” Fisher said. “The fumble recovery helped us gain some momentum going into the half. The offense did a great job of punching it in and bringing us back within three points.”

In the third quarter, Schulte snagged the go-ahead score, a 25-yard pass from Moore. Will Hasken ’20 followed the touchdown with his first interception of the season. Over the next four minutes, Wartburg fought to get into the red zone and finally scored off a one-yard quarterback sneak by Moore for the last score of the quarter.

Wartburg capitalized on UD miscues, as Trey Heffner ’22 brought down the Spartan punter to set Wartburg up with first and goal. Moore found Childs in the end zone on the third down for the first touchdown of the fourth.

The Spartans attempted an onside kick after scoring a touchdown of their own, but Nick Wall ’20 recovered it at Wartburg’s 49-yard line. Moore scored the consequent touchdown, giving the Spartans only 3:29 to make a comeback. Instead, Antonio Santillan ’22 recorded his second career interception on the second play of the drive, creating the final score of 42-25.

Moore led in both passing and rushing, going 22-29 with one interception and scoring on two rushing touchdowns. Kolin Schulte finished with another 100-yard receiving game, coming away with 114 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six catches. Kain Eagle went 6-for-6 on PAT attempts.

Wartburg is now 4-0 overall and 2-0 in A-R-C action. The Knights will continue conference play on the road against Buena Vista University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.