CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Results of the 2018 American Rivers Conference Football Preseason Poll (as voted on by the league's head coaches):
| 2018 American Rivers Conference Football Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
2017 Record |
| 1. |
Wartburg (7) |
63 |
12-1, 8-0 Conference (Conference Champion) |
| 2. |
Central (1) |
53 |
7-3, 6-2 Conference |
| 3. |
Dubuque |
50 |
6-4, 4-4 Conference |
| 4. |
Simpson (1) |
41 |
5-5, 4-4 Conference |
| 5. |
Luther |
32 |
6-4, 5-3 Conference |
| 6. |
Coe |
31 |
4-6, 2-6 Conference |
| 7. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
23 |
2-8, 2-6 Conference |
| 8. |
Loras |
20 |
4-6, 3-5 Conference |
| 9. |
Buena Vista |
11 |
3-7, 2-6 Conference |
The Wartburg College Knights are the coaches' choice to win the 2018 American Rivers Conference Football title. Wartburg was chosen first on seven ballots (coaches do not vote on their own team) and earned 63 points to earn the No.1 ranking. 2017 conference runner-up, Central, garnered 53 points and one first-place vote to take the No.2 spot. Coming in third was Dubuque, with 50 points. The Simpson Storm tallied 41 points and one first-place vote as the fourth-place team in the poll. One point separated fifth-place Luther and sixth-place Coe, collecting 32 and 31 points respectively. In seventh was Nebraska Wesleyan with 23 points, followed by Loras with 20 points, and Buena Vista with 11 points.
D3football.com Preseason Poll: The 2017 Conference Champion Wartburg Knights come into fall camp ranked 13th in D3football.com's Top 25 Preseason Poll.
New Coaches: Caleb Padilla, Luther College. Padilla previously held the role of defensive coordinator for three years at Luther before being promoted to head coach. A native of West Liberty, Iowa, Padilla joined the Norse staff as defensive coordinator from Division II Notre Dame College, South Euclid, Ohio, where he served in the same role for two years. His coaching resume also includes two years as defensive coordinator at Albion College, Albion, Michigan, (2010-12); outside linebackers coach at Colorado School of Mines (2008-09); and two years as the varsity defensive backs coach and junior varsity defensive coordinator at Rangeview High School, Aurora, Colorado (2006-07).
The Schedule: The 2018 season kicks off on Thursday, August 30th with Buena Vista University hosting the MIAC's Hamline University in a non-conference match-up. On Saturday, September 1st the eight remaining American Rivers Conference squads will take to the field for non-conference season openers. Central will travel to St. Paul, Minnesota to face Northwestern-St. Paul, a member of the UMAC, and Nebraska Wesleyan will also make a trip north to face the MIAC's Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Dubuque, Loras, and Luther will all host WIAC opponents on opening weekend. The Spartans will square off against No.12 UW-Whitewater, Loras is set to play UW-Eau Claire, and Luther is matched against UW-La Crosse. Augustana College (Ill.), out of the CCIW, will travel to Coe, the MIAC's Bethel University will make the trip to Indianola, Iowa for a tilt with Simpson, and Greenville University, an associate member of the UMAC, will face Wartburg in Waverly, Iowa.
The eight-game round-robin conference schedule begins on Saturday, September 15 and wraps up on Saturday, November 10. League games on September 15 will feature Luther at Central, Nebraska Wesleyan at Simpson, Buena Vista at Wartburg, and Dubuque at Coe. Loras will open their conference slate on Saturday, September 22 at Luther.
The American Rivers Conference champion receives the leagues' automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
| 1st |
|
Wartburg College
Head Coach: Rick Willis
2017 Record: 12-1, 8-0 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: Conference Champions
Returning All-Conference: JoJo McNair (First-Team, DB), Dillon Rademaker (First-Team, DL), Matt Sacia (Offensive MVP, QB), Peyton Imhof (Second-Team, DB), Hud Johnston (Second-Team, OL)
Offensive Starters Returning: 6
Offensive Starters Lost: 5
Defensive Starters Returning: 6
Defensive Starters Lost: 5
Rick Willis - “We expect to have a balanced veteran team with solid experience returning on both sides of the ball. At the same time, there are significant questions to address on both sides and on special teams. The Conference will be balanced and competitive every week.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Lee Bonifas - TE (Jr.) |
26-rec // 248yds-rec // 9.5yd-avg // 4-TDs |
| Denison Harrington - WR (Jr.) |
48-rec // 508yds-rec // 10.6yd-avg // 4-TDs |
| Hud Johnston - OL (Sr.) |
450.8yds-total o/g // 199.2yds-rush/g // 251.7yds-pass/g |
| Matt Sacia - QB (Sr.) |
Conference O-MVP // 3,221yds-pass // 173.10-effic. // 67.5-comp% // 247.8yds-pass/g // 35-pass TDs // 127yds-rush // 5-rush TDs |
| Connor Frerichs - DB (Sr.) |
75-tackles (38 solo) // 3.5-TFL // 1-sack // 4-PBU |
| Peyton Imhof - DB (Sr.) |
76-tackles (53 solo) // 2.5-TFL // 5-INTs // 19-PBU // 1-FF // 2-FR |
| JoJo McNair - DB (So.) |
79-tackles (52 solo) // 2-TFL // 6-INTs (134 return yds) // 17-PBU |
| Dillon Rademaker - DL (Sr.) |
56-tackles (26 solo) // 10.5-TFL // 5-sacks |
| 2nd |
|
Central College
Head Coach: Jeff McMartin
2017 Record: 7-3, 6-2 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 2nd
Returning All-Conference: Jon Alberts (First-Team, PK), Tyler Bryant (First-Team, P), Blaine Hawkins (Honorable Mention, QB)
Offensive Starters Returning: 3
Offensive Starters Lost: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 5
Defensive Starters Lost: 6
Jeff McMartin - “The conference season looks to be very balanced this fall. It is exciting to get started again.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Danny Anderson - CB (Jr.) |
33-tackles (21 solo) // 1-INT // 7-PBU |
| Colin Erickson - FS (Sr.) |
46-tackles (18 solo) // .5-TFL // 2-INT // 5-PBU // 2-FR |
| Tate Jensen - SS (Sr.) |
39-tackles (14 solo) // .5-TFL // 1-INT // 7-PBU // 1-FR |
| Tate O'Tool - OLB (Jr.) |
35-tackles (20 solo) // 1.5-TFL // 1-INT // 4-PBU |
| Donny Groezinger - RB (Sr.) |
507yds-rush // 4.7yd-avg // 5-rush TDs // 102yds-rec // 3-rec TDs |
| Blaine Hawkins - QB (So.) |
1,691yds-pass // 167.44-effic. // 62.37-comp% // 241.6yds-pass/g // 18-pass TDs // 593yds-rush // 84.7yds-rush/g // 6.9yd-avg // 9-rush TDs |
| Tylor Newhouse - OL (Sr.) |
461.9yds-total o/g // 235yds-rush/g // 226.5yds-pass/g |
| Jon Alberts - PK (Jr.) |
14-16 FGM-FGA // 40yds-FG long // 9-made 30-39yds / 3-made 40-49yds |
| Tyler Bryant - P (Sr.) |
43-punts // 1,699yds-punt // 39.5yd-avg // 69yd-long // 15-inside 20 // 6-50+yds |
| 3rd |
|
University of Dubuque
Head Coach: Stan Zweifel
2017 Record: 6-4, 4-4 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: t-4th
Returning All-Conference: Dwayne Allen Jr. (First-Team, RB), Colin Stefanowski, (Second-Team, OL)
Offensive Starters Returning: 6
Offensive Starters Lost: 5
Defensive Starters Returning: 5
Defensive Starters Lost: 6
Stan Zweifel - “Wartburg team to beat! Central, Coe, and Simpson will be right there. UD has a lot of positions to fill, how fast we identify those players will be important in our development in 2018. Our opener with UW-Whitewater will be a real test!” |
| Players to Watch: |
| Dwayne Allen Jr., RB (Jr.) |
1,238yds-rush // 7.7yd-avg // 137yds-rush/g // 10-rush TD |
| Jake Britton - OT (Sr.) |
412.5yds-total o/g // 240.2yds-rush/g // 172.3yds-pass/g |
| Colin Stefanowski - C (Sr.) |
412.5yds-total o/g // 240.2yds-rush/g // 172.3yds-pass/g |
| Logan Benter - LB (Jr.) |
44-tackles (27 solo) // 5-TFl // 2-sacks |
| Chad Marsh - LB (Jr.) |
62-tackles (21 solo) // 4.5-TFL // 1-INT |
| Jake Owens - LB (Sr.) |
41-tackles (17 solo) // 3.5TFL // 1-INT |
| 4th |
|
Simpson College
Head Coach: Matt Jeter
2017 Record: 5-5, 4-4 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: t-4th
Returning All-Conference: Brendan Holmes (First-Team, DB), Ryan Lehr (Second-Team, DB), Cam Bunting (Second-Team, RB), Michael Connor (Honorable Mention, LB),
Offensive Starters Returning: 6
Offensive Starters Lost: 5
Defensive Starters Returning: 9
Defensive Starters Lost: 2
Matt Jeter - “We are fired up for the 2018 Season! The Storm have extremely high expectations for the very competitive Conference. With a record number of returners on both sides of the ball and outstanding senior leadership, we will look to take another step in the American Rivers Conference.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Michael Connor - LB (Sr.) |
83-tackles (45 solo) // 8.5-TFL // 2-sacks // 2-FF |
| Brendan Holmes - DB (Jr.) |
89-tackles (43 solo) // 3-TFL // 1-FF // 1-FR // 6-INTs |
| Ryan Lehr - DB (Jr.) |
84-tackles (52 solo) // 2-TFL // 1-FF // 5-INTs (164 return yds) |
| Nic Tusha - DT (Sr.) |
22-tackles (6 solo) // 5-TFL // 2.5-sacks // 1-FR |
| Cam Bunting - RB (Sr.) |
1,049yds-rush // 5.1yd-avg // 104.9yds-rush/g // 11-rush TDs |
| Ricky Reeve - WR (Sr.) |
697yds-rec // 11.4yd-avg // 69.7yds-rec/g // 6-rec TDs |
| Mat Wingerson - OL (Sr.) |
423.7yds-total o/g // 276.3yds-pass/g // 147.4yds-rush/g |
| 5th |
|
Luther College
Head Coach: Caleb Padilla
2017 Record: 6-4, 5-3 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 3rd
Returning All-Conference: Dante Joseph (Second-Team, DB)
Offensive Starters Returning: 6
Offensive Starters Lost: 5
Defensive Starters Returning: 5
Defensive Starters Lost: 6
Caleb Padilla - "I expect American Rivers Conference football to be highly competitive in the 2018 season. The Conference is unique from other leagues in that there are no bottom-dwellers. Anyone can beat anyone, and I expect that to be especially true for the 2018 season. Our players are excited to compete at the highest level this season, and our coaching staff looks forward to maximizing their potential on and off the field." |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Dante Joseph - DB (Sr.) |
80-tackles (48 solo) // 3.5-TFL // 1-INT // 5-PBU // 1-FR |
| Mike Noll - DL (Sr.) |
35-tackles (14 solo) // 6.5-TFL // 2.5-sacks // 3-FF // 2-FR |
| Ian Kuykendall - QB (Jr.) |
349yds-pass // 17-38-3 Cmp-Att-Int // 3-pass TDs // 294yds-rush // 4.4yd-avg // 5-rush TDs |
| Justin Montgomery - WR (Sr.) |
588yds-rec // 13.7yd-avg // 58.8yds-rec/g // 3-rec TDs |
| 6th |
|
Coe College
Head Coach: Tyler Staker
2017 Record: 4-6, 2-6 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: t-7th
Returning All-Conference: Dalton Kuehl (First-Team, OL)
Offensive Starters Returning: 6
Offensive Starters Lost: 5
Defensive Starters Returning: 6
Defensive Starters Lost: 5
Tyler Staker - "I am excited for the upcoming season and look forward to the great competition we will face in 2018. The Conference looks to be very strong once again from top to bottom. The Kohawks look to make a big improvement from last year and be in the hunt for a conference championship at the end of the season." |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Jacob Elsbury - DB (Jr.) |
87-tackles (49 solo) // 1.5-TFL // 3-INTs // 4-PBU // 1-FR |
| Terrence Hall - LB (Sr.) |
77-tackles (44 solo) // 9.5-TFL // 2-sacks // 2-INTs // 1-FR // 2-FF |
| Daniel Vega - DL (Sr.) |
51-tackles (23 solo) // 3-TFL // 2-sacks // 3-PBU // 1-FR |
| Dalton Kuehl - OL (Sr.) |
422.1yds-total o/g // 166.2yds-rush/g // 255.9yds-pass/g |
| 7th |
|
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Brian Keller
2017 Record: 2-8, 2-6 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: t-7th
Returning All-Conference: Shaka Taylor (First-Team, RB), Jonathan Curti (Second-Team, QB), Caleb Conway (Honorable Mention, TE)
Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Offensive Starters Lost: 3
Defensive Starters Returning: 5
Defensive Starters Lost: 6
Brian Keller - “The 2018 conference race appears to be as strong and as balanced as it has been in years with a number of teams capable of winning the title. For Nebraska Wesleyan to improve upon the 2017 season, we will need to eliminate the big plays on defense and do a better job of taking care of the ball on the offensive side”. |
| Players to Watch: |
| Andrew Stolpe - DL (Sr.) |
24-tackles (12 solo) // 2.5-TFL // 2-sacks |
| Caleb Conway - TE (Sr.) |
246yds-rec // 10.7yd-avg // 24.6yds-rec/g // 2-rec TDs |
| Johnathan Curti - QB (Jr.) |
3,255yds-pass // 130.0-effic // 57.2-comp% // 325.5yds-pass/g |
| Shaka Taylor - RB (Sr.) |
1,077yds-rush // 5.0yd-avg // 119.7yds-rush/g // 5-rush TDs // 607yds-rec // 10.6yd-avg // 67.4yds-rec/g // 6-rec TDs |
| 8th |
|
Loras College
Head Coach: Steve Helminiak
2017 Record: 4-6, 3-5 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 6th
Returning All-Conference: None Returning
Offensive Starters Returning: 2
Offensive Starters Lost: 10
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Lost: 3
Steve Helminiak - “We are anxiously awaiting the 2018 American Rivers Conference football season. There was some great players that have graduated, even such, the league should be as competitive as ever, but it will be interesting to see which players emerge from each program. We are excited to see our team grow and bond during the pre-season heading into a hard non-conference schedule which should prepare us for the ever difficult Conference competition.” |
| Players to Watch: |
| Brad Boelkow - WR (Sr.) |
743yds-rec // 18.6yd-avg // 74.3yds-rec/g // 3-rec TDs |
| Ryan Heinrichs - OL (Sr.) |
437.5yds-total o/g // 135.9yds-rush/g // 301.6yds-pass/g |
| Cody Mighell - RB (Sr.) |
314yds-rush // 3.5yd-avg // 34.9yds-rush/g // 3-rush TDs |
| Brian Gilles - DL (Sr.) |
15-tackles (5 solo) |
| Riley Larson - DB (Jr.) |
63-tackles (45 solo) // 1-TFL // 12-PBU // 1-FF |
| Chris Miller - LB (Jr.) |
64-tackles (28 solo) // 5.5-TFL // 3-sacks // 3-PBU // 1-FR |
| Jabari James Turner-Smith - DL (Jr.) |
29-tackles (19 solo) // 4-TFL // 1.5-sacks |
| Alex Wernimont - LB (Sr.) |
64-tackles (35 solo) // 7.5-TFL // 4.5-sacks // 2-INTs // 1-FF |
| 9th |
|
Buena Vista University
Head Coach: Grant Mollring
2017 Record: 3-7, 2-6 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: t-7th
Returning All-Conference: Cole Miller (Second-Team, QB), Gary Weaver (Second-Team, DL), Eric Pacheco (Honorable Mention, RS)
Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Offensive Starters Lost: 4
Defensive Starters Returning: 6
Defensive Starters Lost: 5
Grant Mollring - “The BVU football program continues its second year in rebuilding and will potentially be one of the youngest teams in all of college football. We feel that we can be competitive if we can accelerate the learning curve for this young team. Expect Wartburg, Central, and Dubuque to vie for the conference lead with Simpson poised for a breakout year, much like Luther a year ago. Parity will be evident again this year in this outstanding conference.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Reed Kruse - LB (So.) |
64-tackles (27 solo) // 1.5-TFL // 1-INT |
| Gary Weaver - DE (Jr.) |
40-tackles (23 solo) // 6.5-TFL // 5-sacks // 2-FF |
| Cole Miller - QB (Sr.) |
3,203yds-pass // 134.0-effic // 57.2-comp% // 320.3yds-pass/g // 22-pass TDs // 178yds-rush // 17.8yds-rush/g // 6-rush TDs // 2,830yds-total O in Conf. play - Conf. record |
| Eric Pacheco - WR/RS (So.) |
664yds-rec // 19.5yd-avg // 66.4yds-rec/g // 4-rec TDs // 447yds-KR // 20.3yd-KR-avg // 1-PR TD |
