The Wartburg College football team has its highest ranking in almost six years as they host Wisconsin-Stout this weekend. The Knights are rated ninth by D3football.com after beating a highly-rated Bethel team last week. The last time Wartburg cracked the top 10 was in the final poll of the 2008 season.
Wartburg head coach Rick Willis says they are excited by the start and the hard work they put in is showing. Logan Schrader has cemented his place as the team’s full-time quarterback, after splitting time with Taylor Jacobsmeier last year. Jacobsmeier has since moved out to wide receiver on a full-time basis.
Nineteen starters are back from last year, including 10 on the offensive side of the ball. Kicker Michael Bohlke and punter Grant Zimmerman also return. “When you have the sort of combination of things come together it is exciting, it doesn’t mean it’s easy,” Willis says.
The Knights have met Bethel three times over the last two seasons, but Saturday’s game against Wisconsin-Stout will be at the opposite end of the spectrum as they have to figure out what they do.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Walston-Hoover Stadium in Waverly.
By Austin Draude, KLMJ, Hampton