STORM LAKE, Iowa (Sep. 12, 2024) - The Buena Vista University football team (0-2, 0-0 A-R-C) is set to play its American Rivers Conference opener on Saturday, Sep. 21, as it travels to Loras College (1-1, 0-0 NACC) for a 1 p.m. kickoff inside of the Rock Bowl.

GAME COVERAGE

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INSIDE THE SERIES: Loras has won six straight games in the series…the two teams last met on Oct. 28, 2023 in Storm Lake with the Duhawks picking up a 49-21 victory…BVU's last triumph against the Duhawks came on Oct. 1, 2016 in Dubuque (W, 34-24)..the series dates back to the first meeting in 1929 where BVU won, 6-0.

2024 Individual Leaders

SCOUTING THE DUHAWKS

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The Duhawks begin their A-R-C schedule in search of their first overall win of the year after losses to Hope College (Mich.) and Benedictine University, respectively. Loras, which was picked fifth in the 2024 A-R-C Preseason Coaches Poll, is coming off a 5-5 record (4-4 A-R-C) from a year ago.

Quarterback Evan England, who is a three-year starter and two-time all-conference performer, is back this season to help lead the Duhawks offensively. Through the first two games this season, he has completed over 70 percent of his pass attempts for 250 yards. He's still looking for his first TD pass of the year and has been intercepted only once. Jaheem Haynes has hauled in a team-leading 10 catches for 62 yards with Brock Couch right behind with eight grabs and a team-best 63 yards. The team is looking to get the ground game going as it's gained only 155 total yards rushing and averaging 46.5 yards per game.

Defensive back Owen Kelly has already registered 19 total tackles for the Duhawks and has added a pair of pass breakups. Linebacker Michael Carney is right behind with 14 total stops and has two of the team's six TFL's. The unit is still searching for its first sack of the year while Jonah Irving has the team's lone interception.

Jacob Sanchez was named the A-R-C Special Teams Performer of the Week on Monday after he blocked a punt in the fourth quarter against Benedictine that helped lead to a Loras touchdown and erased a 19-point deficit as it gained its first lead (22-21). Daniel Guisto has punted 14 times and averaging nearly 37.0 yards per attempt. He already has five punts land inside the 20-yard line with two boots of at least 50 yards. The Duhawks are 0-for-2 in field goal attempts on the young season with both misses under 40 yards.

ABOUT THE BEAVERS

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BVU remains on the road for the second straight week as it opens up its American Rivers Conference schedule. The Beavers are coming off a tough 44-13 setback last Saturday at Wisconsin Lutheran after the Warriors closed the game with 24 unanswered points to break open a 20-13 game midway through the third quarter.

The Beavers are looking for consistency on the offensive side of the ball where it is only averaging 10.0 points and 182.0 yards per game. The team has had the ball for nearly an average of 15 minutes less per game than its first two opponents. Senior quarterback Zach Herrera has completed 58 percent of his pass attempts for a combined 197 yards and one touchdown. Freshman Blaine Peebles has been among his favorite targets in the early going by catching nine passes for 82 yards and one score. Five receivers have hauled in multiple receptions through two games with three of those totaling over 30 yards. 

On the ground, senior Eman Alaniz, has gotten the majority of the touches with 23 of the 37 overall rushing attempts. He's averaging 3.5 yards per carry and has rushed for 80 yards and one score. He's also caught five passes for 30 yards. 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 WLC.

Defensively, senior defensive back Austin Smith has helped lead the way with 18 total tackles, including 15 solo stops. Linebacker Troy Reynolds and lineman Alonzo Davis are next with 12 tackles apiece with Reynolds also recording one of the team's two interceptions of the year. As a unit, the Beavers have seven TFL's overall and still looking to record its first sack. It is also looking to get off the field on third downs as opponents are converting nearly 50 percent of the time on third down (13-of-27).

Matthew Beisswenger has a team-leading three pass breakups and has also gotten the job down with his leg. Through two games, he has 11 punt attempts for an average of 36.2 yards per attempt. Four of those have been fair caught with his long to this point in the year going for 57 yards. He's also averaging nearly 56.0 yards per kickoff attempt