For the second time in school history the Wartburg College football team will play in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA division three playoffs when the Knights visit Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday. Whitewater is the defending national champion and has won 29 straight games. Wartburg coach Rick Willis says Whitewater is a giant and played them in 2008 in the same round and they know what they are up for. He calls it a “tremendous challenge and a tremendous opportunity.”
The Knights are 12-0 for the first time after beating St. Johns of Minnesota and Willis says balance on both sides of the football has been a strength. He says they are not an offensive team or defensive team, they can win both ways and that should serve them well in the playoffs.
The last time Wartburg played in the quarterfinals was in 2008 when they lost at Wisconsin-Whitewater. Willis says that does help them a little, but he says this is a different team than 2008.
By Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Oelwein