The Wartburg football team needed to clear its field on Tuesday before practice but coach Rick Willis says the players did not mind. They are getting ready for this weekend’s trip to Wisconsin-Whitewater for the quarterfinal round of the division three playoffs. The Knights advanced after a dramatic last second victory over previously unbeaten Monmouth of Illinois.

Willis says a lot of people are getting excited about the team, and the team is excited about playing in December. Wisconsin-Whitewater is the defending national champion, and Willis says it will be a great challenge against one of the best programs in the country. He says it’s a tough challenge, but a great opportunity.

Willis says the Knights are riding a wave of momentum and gaining confidence each week as the win streak has reach 7 games. He says they beat the team two weeks ago that beat Whitewater. This is the second straight year that an Iowa Conference team has made it this far. A year ago, Central College advanced to the national quarterfinals before falling to Bethel of Minnesota.

Willis says they take the responsibility of representing the Iowa Conference very seriously.