5 Iowa college football storylines: Coe returns from bye week to face Luther

Coe returns to action against winless Luther. Central and Wartburg battle for the American Rivers Conference lead. Upper Iowa tries to remain among Great Lakes Valley Conference leaders and more in five small college football storylines this weekend.

Coe returns from bye week against Luther

The Kohawks are fresh off a bye week and start the final stretch of the regular season with a home game against Luther Saturday at Clark Field. Coe is still in the thick of the A-R-C title race but needs to run the table and get some help from Central this week. The Kohawks (4-2, 3-1) won two straight before the break, scoring 71 points against Buena Vista and Simpson. The Kohawk offense has been outstanding all season. A week off can recharge batteries or create rust. Bet on the former against the Norse, which allows 492.1 yards per game. The Coe pass attack led by Brady Kelly (1,753 yards, 19 touchdowns) could thrive against the A-R-C’s worst defense that gives up 282.6 passing yards a game. A victory would give Coe a seventh straight season with at least five wins and a .500 record. Luther (0-7, 0-5) has lost 21 straight conference games with the last victory coming against Nebraska Wesleyan on Nov. 12, 2022. Norse defensive back Tyler Ragan has been a bright spot. The junior from Flagstaff, Ariz., leads the A-R-C with 94 total tackles and 50 solo stops. Coe has won 23 of the last 26 meetings, including the last six.

Central, Wartburg battle for A-R-C’s top spot

Sole possession of the A-R-C lead is at stake when No. 14 Central heads to No. 7 Wartburg’s Walston-Hoover Stadium in Waverly. The Knights have won the last three matchups between the league’s power programs. Central is 6-0 and 4-0 in the conference, while Wartburg is 7-0 and 5-0. They are two of just 10 unbeaten NCAA Division III teams this season. Wartburg has won 31 straight A-R-C game, breaking Central’s old mark Oct. 11 against Dubuque. If Wartburg wins, it would be in the driver’s seat with a game-lead and wins over Coe and Central. If Central wins, it would be in first with a season-finale at home against Coe looming.

Upper Iowa attempts to stay among GLVC leaders

So far, the GLVC preseason coaches’ poll has been accurate with the top teams. UIU was third in those rankings behind league leader University of Indianapolis and Truman State, which has a win over and owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against UIU. The Peacocks are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the GLVC, entering Saturday’s game at William Jewell (2-5, 0-4). Upper Iowa’s defense is coming off an impressive showing in a 39-2 win over Southwest Baptist. It was the fewest points allowed by UIU since 2013. The Peacocks had a season-high 11 tackles for loss. UIU linebacker Trevor Thompson was named GLVC Defensive Player of the Week, tallying seven tackles, three solo and an interception. Teammate Nathan Behne garnered the GLVC Special Teams Player of the Week award for two field goals, including a 51-yarder, and a 53.7-yard average over three punts.

Cornell welcomes Lake Forest

The Rams have suffered two straight losses, falling to 2-4 overall and 3-3 in the Midwest Conference. They host Lake Forest (3-2, 3-3) at Van Metre Field of Ash Park on Saturday. Cornell has had just one victory against the Foresters since 2012. Lake Forest has won the last eight meetings. The Rams last win came at home in 2014. Cornell’s secondary has been impressive this season, leading the conference with 11 interceptions. Rams defensive backs Conner Lewis and Josh Martin are tied for the league lead with three apiece. Teammate Luca Schoensee has two interceptions as well.

Henderson carries more for Minnesota State-Mankato

Former Linn-Mar standout Carter Henderson has seen an uptick in action, carrying the ball for Minnesota State-Mankato, which travels to Wayne State (Neb.) after a bye week. During the Mavericks’ 47-21 win over Winona State on Oct. 11, Henderson posted a game-high 136 rushing yards on 20 carries. Henderson improved his total to 313 offensive yards, including 299 on the ground, and a TD.

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