STORM LAKE, Iowa (Sept. 14, 2023) - The Buena Vista football team is back on the road this weekend to begin American Rivers Conference play at No. 3 Wartburg College inside of Walston Hoover Stadium in Waverly.

GAME COVERAGE

Radio: 97.5FM KBVU (local)
Live Audio: https://www.kbvu975.com/
Live Video: https://www.wartburgknightvision.com/
Live Stats: https://go-knights.net/sidearmstats/football/summary

INSIDE THE SERIES:  Saturday marks the 84th all-time meeting between the two programs with Wartburg leading the series at 50-30-3…The last three games played have been held in Storm Lake…The Knights are 9-1 over the last 10 meetings and won last year's meeting 65-0 after BVU picked up a 24-20 win in 2021…Buena Vista's last win in Waverly was in 2009 (27-15).

2023 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing yds per game
BVU: Eman Alaniz (33.0)
WAR: Hunter Clasen (175.5)

Passing yds per game
BVU: Zach Herrera (88.5)
WAR: Nile McLaughlin (223.5)

Receiving yds per game
BVU: Eman Alaniz (54.5)
WAR: Thor Maakestad (89.0)

Total Tackles
BVU: Dylan Berens (18.0)
WAR: Owen Grover (19.0)

Total Sacks
BVU: Dylan Berens & Keaton Bindel (2.0)
WAR: Riley Konrardy (1.0)

Interceptions
BVU: N/A
WAR: Parker Rochford (4)

KO Return Avg.
BVU: Eman Alaniz (19.0)
WAR: Brock Califf (24.0)

Punt Return Avg.
BVU: Eman Alaniz (25.0)
WAR: Ben Parker (20.0)

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS

SCHEDULE | ROSTER | STATS

Wartburg, which made it deep into last year's NCAA Playoffs, is ranked No. 3 for the second straight week in the D3football.com Top-25 Poll after being ranked fifth in the preseason poll. The Knights are coming off a big 16-2 road victory last Saturday at No. 16 Bethel University. It's a veteran team with all but three starters (including offense and defense) listed as either a senior or a fifth-year player.

It has been a balanced attack for most of the season led by fifth-year quarterback Nile McLaughlin and fifth-year running back Hunter Clasen. The duo has helped lead the Knights to an average of nearly 450 yards of total offense per game which is third in the A-R-C and sits 50th in DIII. Clasen leads the A-R-C and is ranked fourth, nationally, at 175.5 rushing yards per game. Through the team's first two games, he has scored six rushing touchdowns on 48 total carries. Three other players have ran the ball this season and have a combined 16 carries.

McLaughlin, a Third Team All-Region selection in 2022, is completing just under 60 percent of his pass attempts this season for 447 yards and three touchdowns. He has been intercepted four times. His 223.5 yards per game is currently fifth in the A-R-C. His top targets to this part have been Thor Maakestad and Drake George. The duo have combined to catch 13 passes for over 300 yards with Maakestad hauling in two scores.

Defensively, the Knights are allowing just over 350.0 yards of total offense per contest. Fifth-year linebacker Parker Rochford has recorded all four of the team's interceptions, has three pass breakups, and is also third with 14 total tackles. Fellow fifth-year linebacker Owen Grover leads the unit with 19 total stops. The team has 12 tackles for a loss this season and a pair of sacks.

On special teams, the kicking game has also been strong, with the Knights averaging just shy of 40 yards per punt attempt with five of their eight attempts on the year landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line. It has not had to do much kick returning of any kind this season (10 combined returns) but does have one blocked punt return for a score.

ABOUT BUENA VISTA

The Beavers (0-2) are looking to avoid its first 0-3 start to a season since beginning the 2016 season at 0-4 overall. This week will be the team's second opponent through the first three games either ranked or receiving votes in the D3football.com Top-25 poll (Gustavus Adolphus was receiving votes).

The team is looking to find its groove on the offensive side of the ball. It posted season-highs a week ago with 112 yards on the ground and 204 through the air, but are just a combined 2-for-23 on third down opportunities to begin the year.

Eman Alaniz ranks 27th in DIII in all-purpose yard average per game this season at 157.0ypg. He enters this week leading the team in rushing at 33 yards per contest and one touchdown while Keaton Huebner leads the way with two touchdown runs and an average of nearly 4.0 yards per carry.

BVU has gone with multiple quarterbacks in each of the first two games. Junior Zach Herrera has made the start in each contest with junior Austin Smith seeing equal playing time in reserve. Both are completing right around 45 percent of their attempts for a combined 262 yards and no touchdowns. Herrera has also been intercepted twice. Alaniz is the leading receiver with eight grabs and 109 yards. No other player has more than three catches. 

Defensively, the Beavers will need to be able to get off the field and limit the big plays. The team is allowing over 570 yards of total offense per game with opponents also scoring on five of their seven red zone opportunities. Dylan Berens leads BVU with 18 total tackles, including a team-best two sacks. Keaton Bindel is tied with two sacks and is right behind with 12 total tackles. Senior Trey Ortman, who lead the team a year ago with three INT's, is second in tackles with 14 and also had one blocked punt last week against Lakeland that resulted in a safety. 

Sophomore Matthew Beisswenger has punted 12 times through two games and averaging nearly 35 yards per attempt and has landed five kicks inside the 20-yards line.