Defending Iowa Conference champion Wartburg is favored to win the title again this season in a survey of league coaches. The Knights return 13 starters — seven on offense and six on defense — from a 2010 team that went 10-1 a year ago.
Coach Rick Willis is entering his 13th season at Wartburg and says to have success the Knights must develop some depth. He says they are pretty solid at every spot, but he says there are some areas where the difference between the first and second teamer is significant.
Willis says some other things must come together for Wartburg to be successful, such as meshing the offensive line with the right combinations. He says the tight end spot may be the biggest question mark, and linebackers are the question on defense.
The 15th-ranked Knights open the season Saturday with a non-conference game at Monmouth of Illinois. Willis says the game will not be an easy one for Wartburg. He says it will be a tough opener, as Monmouth has one of the best quarterbacks in the country and is coming back after a medical redshirt.
Alex Tanney is the senior quarterback for the Fighting Scots. He enters the season challenging for the all-time Division-Three passing record.
By Elwin Huffman KOEL Oelwein