STORM LAKE, Iowa (Oct. 12, 2024) - The Buena Vista University football team was tied 7-7 with No. 16 Wartburg early in the second quarter, but the Knights used a big 35-point second quarter and went on to spoil Family Weekend for the Beavers with a 70-21 victory inside of J. Leslie Rollins Stadium.

Trailing 7-0, BVU senior quarterback Zach Herrera connected on a long seam route on the near side for a 69-yard touchdown strike to Blaine Peebles that made it 7-7 on the first play of the quarter. Wartburg responded with a 10-play drive that ate up nearly five minutes to take a 14-7 lead.

The tides began to turn on the ensuing kickoff when Peebles was hit and fumbled on the return which was picked up and returned 20 yards for a score. BVU was then pinned deep in its own territory to begin its next drive after the kickoff was fielded near the sideline and then Peebles stepped out of bounds at the seven-yard line. Wartburg would force a 3-and-out but Matthew Beisswenger's punt attempt went off the side of his foot and went out of bounds at the BVU 32. Then on the second play from scrimmage, the Knights connected on 20-yard touchdown pass and a 28-7 advantage.

Wartburg went on to add two more touchdown passes in the half, including the final one with under a minute to play, and took a 42-7 halftime lead.

The Knights received the opening second half kickoff, and on the third play from scrimmage got a 67-yard touchdown strike, and after forcing a BVU punt on the next drive, needed just three plays again to find the endzone and build a 56-7 lead.

Herrera connected for his second touchdown pass of the year with five minutes left in the third when he found Johnny Dickerson cutting over the middle of the endzone to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive. Wartburg then responded with nearly a seven-minute drive on its next possession before a one-yard touchdown burst made it 63-7 early in the fourth quarter.

Spencer Zinn recorded his second straight touchdown run for the Knights with less than four minutes to play for Wartburg's final score.

Freshman quarterback Brett Garcia took over for BVU on its final drive, and helped march the team down the field by going 6-of-8 through the air, including a 15-yard strike to Peebles for the game's final score.

Peebles finished the game with five catches for 106 yards and the two scores. Dickerson came away with a career-high six receptions for a career-best 111 yards and his one TD. Nine different Beavers hauled in passes for the day as the team finished with 373 yards through the air. Herrera set season-highs by completing 24-of-39 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice.

BVU ran the ball only 14 times on the day for only 21 net yards.

Carter Markham led Wartburg's air attack by completing 12-of-16 attempts for 167 yards and five touchdowns. The Knights did most of their damage on the ground with 401 yards rushing and had five different players gain at least 50 yards.

Troy Reynolds again led the Beaver defense with 14 tackles, including eight solo. Austin Smith was next with six to go along with one fumble recovery. Adam Link led the Knights with seven stops and one pass breakup.

Buena Vista is now 1-5 overall (1-3 A-R-C) and will be off next week before traveling to Simpson College on Oct. 26 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.