WAUWATOSA, Wis. (Sept. 14, 2024) - Wisconsin Lutheran College chalked up 396 rushing yards in the game and scored 21 fourth quarter points to pull away from the Buena Vista University football team on Saturday afternoon en route to a 44-13 non-conference victory over the Beavers.

Trailing 6-0 after holding the Warriors to a pair of first quarter field goals, BVU was able to pull even midway through the second quarter when Meven Obregon, who had only two carries on the day, blasted through the line en route to a career-long 52-yard touchdown run. The PAT attempt was missed and the game remained tied at 6-6.

Wisconsin Lutheran (1-1) drove down the field late in the first half and went back in front with just over 1:00 left in the period on a five-yard touchdown run by Liam Heiges, who chalked up 179 and the touchdown on the day. 

Karson Koehler added 175 yards on the ground for the Warriors and came up big in the second half with touchdown runs of 24, 37 and 13 yards, with the final two coming in the fourth quarter that helped extend a 10-point cushion entering the final frame.

The Beavers pulled within a touchdown midway through the third quarter when quarterback Zach Herrera hooked up with Blaine Peebles on a six-yard touchdown pass that made it 20-13. That scoring drive made up 57 of BVU's 64 yards of total offense in the second half until its final drive, when it drove 47 yards in seven plays before time expired.

Mason Griffith added 35 yards rushing on four attempts in the game with Eman Alaniz carrying the ball a team-high nine times for 26 yards. Herrera completed 14-of-22 pass attempts on the day for 112 yards and one the one touchdown. Half of those completions went to Peebles (7) for 66 yards. Gavin Honkomp caught three passes for 22 yards. Peebles also returned six kickoffs for 106 yards, including his longest return of 22 yards.

Defensively, senior Austin Smith led the way with a career-high 11 tackles while Alonzo Davis and Troy Reynolds each added eight. 

Buena Vista is now 0-2 overall and begins American Rivers Conference play next Saturday, Sept. 21 at Loras College. Kickoff inside of the Rock Bowl is at 1 p.m.