CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Defending Iowa Conference Champion Dubuque and IIAC runner-up Wartburg share the top spot in the IIAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll with each team collecting 58 points. The Spartans hold the edge in first place votes with five compared to the Knights two.
Dubuque's 58 points come from five first place votes and three third place votes (coaches do not vote for their own team). Wartburg's 58 points are from two first place votes and six second place votes. Central earns the No. 3 spot with two first place votes, three seconds, and three third place votes. Coe sits fourth with 36 points. Loras comes in fifth with 33 points.
Simpson is sixth with 32 points. IIAC newcomer Nebraska Wesleyan is seventh with 24 points. Luther projects to finish eighth with 16 points. Buena Vista comes in ninth with 12 points.
The complete 2016 Iowa Conference Football Coaches Poll is as follows.
| Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
2015 Record |
| 1. |
Dubuque (5) |
58 |
8-3, 7-0 IIAC |
| 1. |
Wartburg (2) |
58 |
9-1, 6-1 IIAC |
| 3. |
Central (2) |
55 |
6-4, 4-3 IIAC |
| 4. |
Coe |
36 |
4-6, 3-4 IIAC |
| 5. |
Loras |
33 |
4-6, 3-4 IIAC |
| 6. |
Simpson |
32 |
4-6, 3-4 IIAC |
| 7. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
24 |
4-6, 3-6 GPAC |
| 8. |
Luther |
16 |
4-6, 2-5 IIAC |
| 9. |
Buena Vista |
12 |
1-9, 0-7 IIAC |
D3football.com Preseason Poll: Wartburg and Dubuque are each receiving votes in the Preseason Top-25. Wartburg was the first team out with 48 points while Dubuque had 13 points.
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Poll comes out in Week 3.
New Coaches: Tyler Staker has been promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach at Coe, replacing his father Steve Staker. T.Staker was a four-year letterwinner and two-time All-Iowa Conference selection for the Kohawks.
Matt Jeter returns to Simpson to take the reigns as the Storm head coach, replacing Jim Glogowski. Jeter was a two-year starter, helping the Storm to a record of 22-2 and two trips to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
The Schedule: The 2016 regular season begins on September 3 with eight games. Coe, Dubuque, Loras, Luther, and Nebraska Wesleyan all open at home while Buena Vista, Central, and Simpson open on the road. Wartburg opens on September 10 after a Week 1 bye. The eight game Iowa Conference season begins on September 17 and ends November 12. The IIAC champion earns the conferences automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
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University of Dubuque
Head Coach: Stan Zweifel (2015 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year)
2015 Record: 8-3 overall, 7-0 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 4/4
Returning Letterwinners: 31
Returning All-IIAC: Trenton Grana-Curry (First Team - TE); Pat Cusack (First Team OL); Michael Joseph (First Team - DB); Dylan Schultz (Second Team - WR).
Coaches Take: "We expect Wartburg to be the favorite in the conference,followed by Central and Coe. Although,I feel that the teams that stay healthy ,could factor into a very tight conference race.” |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Maurece Herrion - RB (So.) |
171-carries // 827-yards // 14-touchdowns // |
| Pat Cusack - OL (Sr.) |
153.1-rushing yards per game // 246.0-passing yards per game // |
| Trenton Grana-Curry - TE (Jr.) |
26-catches // 399-yards // 2-touchdowns // |
| Will Hudson - DL (Sr.) |
12-tackles // 3.0-tfl // |
| Michael Joseph - DB (Jr.) |
42-tackles // 3-interceptions // 7-passes defended // |
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Wartburg College
Head Coach: Rick Willis
2015 Record: 9-1 overall, 6-1 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 4/5
Returning Letterwinners: 39
Returning All-IIAC: Quincy Griffith (Second Team - OL).
Coaches Take: "We will have some quality experience returning, but there will also be a lot of new faces on the field. I would expect our team to improve throughout the season as we gain experience. The Iowa Conference will be very balanced which should make for an interesting and exciting finish.” |
| Players to Watch: |
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Quincy Griffith - C (Sr.)
Derek Schipper - OT (Jr.)
Nolan Boyd - OG (Sr.) |
187.7-rushing yards per game // 283.1-passing yards per game // |
| Riley Brockway - WR (Jr.) |
38-catches // 477-yards // 2-touchdowns // |
| Hunter Baldus - DL (Jr.) |
24-tackles // 10.0-tfl // 4.5-sacks // |
| Rob Rottler - LB (Sr.) |
83-tackles // 5.5-tfl // |
| Sawyer Anderson - DB (Sr.) |
76-tackles // 5.0-tfl // 5-passes defended // |
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Central College
Head Coach: Jeff McMartin
2015 Record: 6-4 overall, 4-3 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 6/7
Returning Letterwinners: 51
Returning All-IIAC: Sam Markham (First Team - WR); Corbin Blythe (First Team - DL); Zach Matter (First Team - DB); Aaron Marcellus (First Team - PK); Drew Carlson (Second Team - LB).
Coaches Take: "This will be another exciting year in the Iowa Conference. Adding Nebraska Wesleyan University will bring a new excitement to our conference." |
| Players to Watch: |
| Sam Markham - WR (Jr.) |
69-catches // 980-yards // 7-touchdowns // |
| Mitchell Boerm - TE (Sr.) |
33-catches // 328-yards // 3-touchdowns // |
| Kyle Gritsch - SB (Jr.) |
15-catches // 167-yards // 4-touchdowns // |
| Corbin Blythe - DL (Sr.) |
41-tackles // 9.0-tfl // 6.0-sacks // |
| Drew Carlson - LB (Sr.) |
79-tackles // 3.5-tfl // 2-interceptions // |
| Zach Matter - DB (Sr.) |
57-tackles // 4-interceptions // 12-passes defended // |
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Coe College
Head Coach: Tyler Staker
2015 Record: 4-6 overall, 3-4 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 6/6
Returning Letterwinners: 31
Returning All-IIAC: None.
Coaches Take: “I am very excited for the 2016 season and the competition we will face in the IIAC. The conference will be very competitive from top to bottom. I have high expectations for the 2016 Kohawks. The leadership from our upperclassman has been outstanding throughout the summer, and we have a great group of young men coming in this fall. I believe this team can accomplish what everyone is striving to achieve, and that is to win a Conference Championship.” |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Trevor Heitland - RB (Sr.) |
17-carries // 114-yards // 55-catches // 633-yards // |
| Dalton Kuehl - OL (So.) |
152.5-rush yards per game // 295.2-passing yards per game // |
| Nick Elsburg - LB (Sr.) |
40-tackles // 8.5-tfl // 3-forced fumbles // |
| Robbie Peters - DL (Sr.) |
30-tackles // 6.0-tfl // 3.0-sacks // 11-qb hurries // |
| Dylan Stepleton - DB (Sr.) |
35-tackles // |
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Loras College
Head Coach: Steve Helminiak
2015 Record: 4-6 overall, 3-4 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/6
Returning Letterwinners: 51
Returning All-IIAC: Zach Minch (Second Team - RB); Liam Kirwan (Second Team - DL).
Coaches Take: "We are excited about the upcoming season and look forward to competing in one of the best D3 conferences in the country." |
| Players to Watch: |
| Nolan Baumhover - QB (So.) |
221-361 comp-att // 2563-yards // 27-passing touchdowns // 138.9-effic. // |
| Zach Minch - RB (Sr.) |
186-carries // 1043-yards // 6-touchdowns // |
| Joe Paguar - OL (Sr.) |
136.4-rushing yards per game // 369.5-passing yards per game // |
| Josh Schulte - WR (Sr.) |
53-catches // 631-yards // 7-touchdowns // |
| Austin Epple - DL (Sr.) |
54-tackles // 9.0-tfl // 2.5-sacks // |
| Calvin Harridge - LB (Sr.) |
86-tackles // 6.0-tfl // |
| Bryan Hermann - S (Sr.) |
112-tackles // 3.0-tfl // 2-interceptions // 9-passes defended // |
| Liam Kirwan - DL (Jr.) |
46-tackles // 7.0-tfl // 4.5-sacks // |
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Simpson College
Head Coach: Matt Jeter
2015 Record: 4-6 overall, 3-4 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/7
Returning Letterwinners: 45
Returning All-IIAC: Jordan Beem (First Team - RB); Isaac Frazier (First Team - DL); Davey Jergens (First Team - RS); Dustin Ihns (Second Team - OL).
Coaches Take: "I'm fired up to be back competing in the Iowa Conference. There's a lot of tradition at Simpson College and our goal is to revive that tradition and raise expectation of excellence." |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Jordan Beem - RB (Sr.) |
232-carries // 1254-yards // 13-touchdowns // 254-receiving yards // |
| Caleb Frye - QB (Jr.) |
135-241 comp-att // 1660-yards // 16-passing touchdowns // 130.0-effic. // |
| Dustin Ihns - OL (Jr.) |
190.0-rushing yards per game // 181.5-passing yards per game // |
| Isaac Frazier - DE (Sr.) |
40-tackles // 11.5-tfl // 8.0-sacks // 3-forced fumbles // |
| Adream Johnson - DB (Sr.) |
78-tackles // 5-passes defended // |
| Patrick Steffen - DB (Sr.) |
31-tackles // 2-interceptions // 10-passes defended // |
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Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Brian Keller
2015 Record: 4-6
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/6
Returning Letterwinners: 40
Returning All-IIAC: None (First year in IIAC)
Coaches Take: "We are extremely excited to be joining the IIAC and look forward to competing in one of the best D-III leagues in America." |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Garret McCarthy - OL (Sr.) |
122.9-rushing yards per game // 179.7-passing yards per game // |
| Shaka Taylor - RB (Jr.) |
121-carries // 484-yards // 3-touchdowns // |
| Joel Wiedel - RB (Sr.) |
97-carries // 409-yards // 5-touchdowns // |
| Dakota Buss - DB (Jr.) |
64-tackles // 3-interceptions // 10-passes defended // |
| Riley Shoemaker - DB (Sr.) |
42-tackles // 1-interception // 4-passes defended // |
| Tyler Sorensen - DL (Jr.) |
39-tackles // 4.5-tfl // 2.0-sacks // |
| Kramer Rath - K (Sr.) |
20-22 on extra points // 8-10 on field goals // |
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Luther College
Head Coach: Aaron Hafner
2015 Record: 4-6 overall, 2-5 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): 7/6
Returning Letterwinners: 36
Returning All-IIAC: James Ostlie (Second Team - OL).
Coaches Take: "There are several quality teams in our conference that produce year in and year out. Every team has strengths that will make them a contender for the IIAC title. With the addition of Nebraska Wesleyan, the conference will be strong from top to bottom. There will be some great match-ups early in the season that will be fun to watch. I believe there are several teams that will be in the running for the conference championship late in the season." |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Trevor Joiner - TE (Jr.) |
10-games played // |
| Christian Moore - RB (Sr.) |
151-carries // 1039-yards // 14-touchdowns // |
| James Ostlie - OL (Sr.) |
312.7-rushing yards per game // 35:43-time of possession per game // |
| Ricky Humes - DB (Sr.) |
47-tackles // 2.5-tfl // |
| Josh Olerud - LB (Sr.) |
20-tackles // 2.0-tfl // |
| Mitch Van Epps - DL (Jr.) |
16-tackles // 2.0-tfl // |
| Cory Wirth - K/P (Jr.) |
30-32 on extra points // 2-4 on field goals // |
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Buena Vista University
Head Coach: Jay Anderson
2015 Record: 1-9 overall, 0-7 in the IIAC
Returning Starters (Offense/Defense): --
Returning Letterwinners: --
Returning All-IIAC: Jalen Henningsen (First Team - WR); Tyler Stolen (First Team - P).
Coaches Take: "We are excited to get going with the 2016 season. We have a good amount of experience returning, I'm anxious to see their development from last year." |
| Players to Watch: |
| Jalen Henningsen - WR (Sr.) |
66-catches // 994-yards // 6-touchdowns // |
| Tanner Heckt - OT (Sr.) |
98.8-rushing yards per game // 244.0-passing yards per game // |
| Nick Amundson - DB (Jr.) |
56-tackles // 3.0-tfl // 2-interceptions // |
| Quamaree Harris - DE (So.) |
28-tackles // 5.5-tfl // 3.5-sacks // |
| Tyler Stolen - K/P (Sr.) |
18-20 on extra points // 4-field goals // 40.2-yards per punt // |
