The Knights attempt a pass in the first half of the game on Saturday. Photo by Amanda Gahler
LUKE ULLSTEAD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Knights fell to Buena Vista 27-15 on Saturday during Family Weekend.
Both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter.
The Beavers scored first as they opened the second quarter after BJ King returned a Nick Yordi interception to put six on the board. The Beavers were able to hit the extra point, putting them up 7-0.
Late in the second quarter, Zach Stephens caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Phelan to move the Beavers in front of the Knights 13-0.
The Knights turned the ball over three times in the first half.
Two of those turnovers led to points for the Beavers.
Wartburg put three points on the board as Marcus Williams kicked a 21-yard field goal with 10:12 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 13-3.
Buena Vista’s Michael Black rushed for an eight-yard touchdown in the third to increase their lead to 20-3 late in the third.
The Knights got the ball back late in the third quarter and marched down to the Beaver three-yard line after a few completions to Levi Helbling.
Reese Thompson ran into the end-zone on fourth down for a two-yard touchdown run to start off the fourth quarter to cut the score to 20-9.
The extra point was blocked by the Beavers defense.
Nick Yordi connected with Helbling for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter to cut the score to 20-15.
The Knights failed to convert on the two point conversion due to a holding penalty.
After a few gains on the ground and through the air, the Beavers would find the end zone one last time to take a 27-15 victory over the Knights.
“We are extremely disappointed in our performance and anxious for the opportunity to respond this weekend,” head coach Rick Willis said.
The loss dropped Wartburg’s record to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the IIAC.
The Knights are now tied for third in the conference with Luther and Buena Vista.
Thompson led the Knights’ ground-attack with 23 carries for 84 yards and one touchdown.
Helbling caught six passes for the Knights for 72 yards and one touchdown.
Yordi finished the game with 267 passing yards, completing 22-for-38 passes, two interceptions and one touchdown pass.
The Knights will host Coe Saturday for Homecoming with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
“We have to get back to work. It’s the only thing you can do, pull together, and improve the things that we didn’t do as well and get a good plan together and figure out a way to execute against Coe,” Willis said.