CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The No. 3/3 Wartburg College Knights (11-0 overall, 8-0 A-R-C) extended their season today on their home field against Illinois College (9-2 overall, 8-1 MWC) with a 49-14 victory in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. The (RV/RV) Coe College Kohawks (9-2 overall, 7-1 A-R-C) NCAA playoff run ended this afternoon after a 20-7 loss to No. 12/9 Aurora University (11-0 overall, 8-0 NACC).
Wartburg College 49, Illinois College 14
The Knights got on the board early and never looked back en route to a NCAA first round victory. Fifth-year running back Hunter Clasen started off the scoring with a 53-yard rushing touchdown. Nile McLaughlin found Carter Henry for a 19-yard touchdown to put Wartburg ahead 14-0. Illinois College scored at the end of the first quarter to cut their deficit in half. McLaughlin recorded his only rushing touchdown of the game in the second quarter. The Knights defense was able to put another touchdown on the board when Nate Link picked up a fumble and returned it. Jagger Schmitt had a 10 yard reception to put Wartburg ahead 35-6. Henry had another touchdown as McLaughlin found him for a 17 yard touchdown. The Blueboys of Illinois College had their last touchdown in the third quarter to bring the score to 42-14. The Knights were not quite satisfied as Dawson Rud capped off scoring in the fourth quarter on a one-yard rush.
McLaughlin was 21-for-34 (61.8%) passing for 252 yards while recording three touchdowns. Henry was the leading receiver as he had five receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Clasen recorded 131 yards on 19 attempts while Rud had 14 rushes for 125 yards. On the defensive end, Jordan Downing and Mac Watts each recorded six tackles. Downing has two tackles for loss. Kaleb Lamphier had three tackles while also returning an interception 13 yards. Parker Rochford also recorded an interception while collecting two solo stops.
Wartburg advances to take on No. 20/18 Whitworth University (10-0 overall, 7-0 NWC) in the round of 16 of the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. Location of the game will be announced later.
Wartburg’s success will run into the second round as they carry a perfect 11-0 record. Wartburg secured their 19th conference title after capping a perfect 8-0 record in the A-R-C this year and are in their 16th NCAA playoff appearance. Offensive MVP Clasen and Defensive MVP Owen Grover highlight the Knights that are led by Coach of the Year Chris Winter.
Aurora University 20, Coe College 7
For the first time since 2016, the Kohawks got to experience the NCAA playoffs. After reaching the quarterfinals a year ago, Aurora came back ready to play. The Spartans led 14-0 at halftime before making a field goal in the third quarter to put them ahead 17-0. The Kohawks only points came on a Jack Shaw 100-yard pick six. Aurora capped off their scoring with a field goal late in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Kohawks were led by Ben Adelsberger with 13 tackles and Shaw and Jay Oostendorp with 12 tackles. Oostendorp had two sacks.
The Kohawks earned one of the four at-large bids to this year’s playoffs after finishing runner-up in the league standings. This was their first trip to the NCAA playoffs since 2016. Coe finished the year with a 9-2 overall record and 7-1 in league play. They were led by eighth-year head coach, Tyler Staker.
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