STORM LAKE, Iowa (Nov. 8, 2024) - The Buena Vista University football team (1-7, 1-5 A-R-C) is on the road for the final time this season for its American Rivers Conference game on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Luther College (1-7, 0-6 A-R-C) with kickoff at 12 p.m. 

INSIDE THE SERIES: In the last matchup, the Beavers came away with a close victory (17-10) on homecoming (Oct.14,2023) against the Norse. The Beavers are 7-3 in their last 10 matchups against the Norse, including a thriller on Sept.24, 2022 ending in a 52-49 decision.

2024 Individual Leaders

Rushing Yds Per Game
BVU: Eman Alaniz (46.25)
LC: Aiden Damiani (35.25)

Passing Yds Per Game
BVU: Zach Herrera (171.88)
LC: Brett Liledhal (100.57)

Receiving Yds Per Game
BVU: Blaine Peebles (66.25)
LC: Aiden Damiani (25.50)

Total Tackles
BVU: Troy Reynolds (79.0)
LC: Tyler Ragan (79.0)

Kickoff Return Avg.
BVU: Blaine Peebles (20.10)
LC: Grayson Ward (17.33)

SCOUTING THE NORSE

Luther is still looking to get their first win in conference play and is coming off a 49-10 loss to No.12 Wartburg. They are currently 0-6 in conference play.

The Norse have rotated multiple quarterbacks this season, but it looks like they are going with Grady Rose as their main guy to lead their offense along with their running back Aiden Damiani. Through their eight games this season, Rose has completed under 35 percent of his pass attempts for 398 yards. He has only thrown for 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Damiani has been their workhorse with 511 all-purpose yards with 204 yards receiving and 317 yards on the ground, averaging 35.25 rushing yards per game with 1 rushing TD and 1 receiving TD. The Norse are looking to get their running game going this week.

Sophomore DB Tyler Ragan has been the anchor for the Norse defense, posting 79 tackles this year with 5.0 TFLs. Right behind him is sophomore linebacker, Bronson Knutson, with 51 total tackles and 2.0 TFLs. The unit as a whole has posted 2 Interceptions, 4 Sacks and 35 TFLs and 4 Forced fumbles. 

Sean Medcalfe has punted 29 times so far for 1,222 yards, averaging 42.14 yards per punt, with his long of 61, putting five inside the 20. He has also attempted seven field goals this season, converting only two of them, with a long of 42 yards.

ABOUT THE BEAVERS

BVU is away this weekend for their final away game of the year. The Beavers are coming off a tough fought loss against Coe 35-14 last weekend.

Zach Herrea is looking to keep improving on his consistency, having three consecutive games with 2 Passing TDs. Blaine Peebles still remains one of his favorite targets, as he has 43 receptions with 6 receiving TDs and 530 yards on the season. Gavin Honkomp and Colton Brant also notched their first receiving TD on the year last week against Coe with that being Brant's first career TD. Herrera has completed almost 60 percent of his pass attempts for a combined 1,375 yards and nine touchdowns.

On the ground, senior Eman Alaniz is still the work-horse by getting the majority of the touches with 103 carries on the season, averaging 3.1 yards per carry and has rushed for 370 yards and four scores. Meven Obregon has the team's longest run from scrimmage this season at 52 yards on just his second carry of the year. That scamper resulted in the team's first touchdown of the game against Wisconsin Lutheran.

Defensively, junior linebacker Troy Reynolds is coming off being the Conference Defensive Player of the Week averaging 11.6 tackles per game and netting 79 total tackles on the season, including 39 solo stops. 3.0 TFLs, 1.0 Sack and a INT. Following is senior Nick Moorshead with 61 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. Then Senior Safety Austin Smith with 55 tackles,1.0 TFL and 1 INT. As a unit, the Beavers have 25 TFL's overall and 6.0 sacks so far and six INTs. Still looking to get off the field on third downs consistently, opponents are converting over 50 percent of the time on third down (48-of-93).

Matthew Beisswenger has a team-leading ten pass breakups and has also gotten the job down with his leg. Through eight games, he has 44 punt attempts for a total of 1,467 yards total and an avg. of 33.34 yards per attempt. 13 of those have been fair caught with his long to this point in the year going for 57 yards, with eight being inside the 20. He's also averaging 54.9 yards per kickoff attempt and has made 3-of-5 field goal attempts.