STORM LAKE, Iowa (Oct. 25, 2025) - The Buena Vista football team hosted Loras College on Saturday afternoon with both sides going after their second conference win of the season, but it was the Duhawks who pulled away in the third quarter and would hand the Beavers a tough 28-14 loss.

Both teams struggled to sustain much offense in the first half with a combined eight first downs with Loras scoring seven of its 14 points in the half on a blocked punt attempt that was returned in the endzone for the game's first score at the 9:10 mark of the opening quarter.

BVU was held to three first downs in the first half and was 0-of-8 on third downs as Loras led 14-0 at the break. The Duhawks doubled the score in the third quarter with a pair of touchdown passes before the Beavers got on the board with a 23-yard touchdown strike from sophomore Brett Garcia to fellow sophomore Wyatt Fahey over the middle of the endzone with 1:28 left in the third, marking the first career touchdown catch for Fahey.

Sophomore Johnny Messerly hauled in a big 87-yard touchdown reception to cap the scoring with just under 50 seconds remaining in the game. The score came on the first play after a booming 70-yard punt from Duhawks. Messerly finished with a team-high six receptions on the day for 163 yards and the touchdown.

Garcia took over for starter Zy Gravitt at the start of the second half and completed 12-of-20 for 200 yards and the two touchdowns. Gravitt was 4-of-14 in the opening half for 45 yards and was intercepted three times.

Junior Adriel Fussell led the Beavers in rushing with 70 yards on 12 carries as the team finished with under 100 yards (99) for the first time since the season opener. 

The Duhawks (2-5, 2-3 A-R-C) came into the game ranked second in the A-R-C during conference play in passing yards per game. Quarterback Jacob Richtman finished 24-of-43 for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Couch hauled in five catches for 102 yards.

Senior Keaton Bindel registered a season-high 10 tackles to lead the way defensively for BVU, including six tackles for a loss. Junior Brody Boeckman was next with six tackles as was Noah Delgado. Senior Matthew Beisswenger had four stops and four pass breakups.

Buena Vista drops to 2-5 overall (1-4 A-R-C) and will be back on the road next Saturday at No. 14 Central College. Kickoff in Pella is at 1 p.m.