COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The 2022 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) champion No. 12/12-raanked Wartburg Knights (12-0) football team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 23-20 victory over No. 4/6-ranked Saint John’s University (10-2) on their home turf. The Knights gave up just two field goals in the first half to lead the Johnnies 16-6 at halftime. Saint John’s scored 14 points in third quarter before the Knights defense kept up their dominance by not allowing the Johnnies to score in the fourth quarter.
 
Next up for head coach Chris Winter and the Knights are the Aurora University Spartans (11-1). Wartburg will face the Spartans next Saturday, December 3 at a site to be announced tomorrow. The Spartans defeated No. 22/23 Alma College (11-1) 48-26 in Alma, Michigan this afternoon in another second-round matchup.
 
Wartburg recorded 330 yards of total offense, passing 230 yards while rushing for 100 yards. Starting at quarterback was Nile McLaughlin, who had 19 completions for 205 yards including a touchdown pass. Sophomore Carter Markham entered the game for the Knights and recorded a 25-yard completion. Carter Henry recorded 84 yards on five receptions including a touchdown while Drake George had 75 yards on eight catches. This year’s A-R-C Offensive Most Valuable Player, Hunter Clasen, led the Knights in rushing with 88 yards on 24 attempts and recorded the first touchdown of the game.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Nate Link led the Knights with 13 tackles, including seven solo stops and one for a loss. Parker Rochford made his presence known this afternoon as he recorded seven tackles, an interception, and forced a fumble that he took back for a touchdown. Also picking up interceptions for Wartburg was Trent Roling, Owen Grover, and Antonio Santillan. Santillan’s interception came with 1:40 left in the game to secure the victory for the Knights. Wartburg’s kicker, Cael O’Neill had a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter to put the Knights up 9-0 in addition to making two PATs.
 
The Wartburg Knights claimed the school’s 18^th conference crown to earn their place in this year’s 32-team Division III playoff field as the A-R-C’s automatic qualifier. It marks the 15^th time in program history that Wartburg is in the NCAA playoffs and the first time since 2017 the Knights advance to the quarterfinals of the Division III Playoffs.
 
After winning the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC), the Aurora Spartans earned the conference’s automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division III Playoffs. Aurora is making its first appearance in the Division III Quarterfinals, defeating UW-Whitewater 33-28 in the first round and Alma 48-26 this afternoon.