5 Iowa college football storylines: Coe can claim national ranking for game at University of Dubuque

Coe is ranked, Cornell is on a run in its best season under Coach Dan Pifer and more. Here are five notable things in Iowa small college football this weekend.

Coe is now a ranked team

Don’t look now but Coe has climbed into the d3football.com national rankings for the first time since 2016. The Kohawks moved to 24th in the weekly poll, receiving 42 votes after a 64-2 drubbing of Luther last week. Coe is still on the outside of the coaches poll, receiving 43 votes and sitting two spots outside of the top-25.

Coe is 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference. The Kohawks are in second place in the American Rivers Conference standings, one spot behind unbeaten No. 3 Wartburg, which clinched the conference title and automatic playoff berth with a 24-14 win over Central last week. Coe heads to the University of Dubuque with a legit shot for an at-large bid for the playoffs still a possibility.

The Kohawks have been balanced all season, producing a potent offense and dominant defense. Dubuque (6-2, 4-2) provides an interesting matchup. Coe’s defense leads the A-R-C, holding opponents to 169.9 yards per game, while Dubuque’s offense is second with 302.9 pass yards a game. Coe allows just 9.1 points per game and the Spartans score at a 31.1 clip. If Coe’s defense can play similar to last week, it will win that battle and keep its postseason hopes alive.

  Buy Photo

Cornell takes on league leader Illinois College

Cornell College hosts Illinois College Saturday at Ash Park. Illinois College (7-1, 6-1 Midwest Conference) is in a four-way with Lake Forest and Monmouth College for the conference lead. Right behind them are the Rams, who are 5-3 overall and 5-2 in the league.

The game could be a milestone for the Rams. Cornell has secured a .500 record with two games remaining, which is a first under Coach Dan Pifer. One more victory and the Rams will have the most wins in a season since a 7-3 mark in 2013.

Pifer has done the resurrection thing in the past, turning around Olivet (Mich.) College from 0-10 to 9-2 in five seasons, and Cornell got the right person. He took over during the pandemic of 2020. The Rams were 7-13 in Pifer’s first two seasons and have an outside shot at matching that win total this season.

Trey Birdsong has received a lot of attention for his nine-game TD streak but keep an eye on Cole Reed. He had 10 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in a 28-21 win over Knox last week. With focus on Birdsong, Reed provides another playmaker for quarterback John Smith. Reed has 376 yards on a team-high 44 receptions and three TDs.

Grinnell looks for third win

Grinnell is 2-6 this season and hosts University of Chicago Saturday. The Pioneers have two chances for a third win, including a game at Cornell. Grinnell hasn’t had three wins in a season since 2014. The results may not seem impressive but remember where the Pioneers were just four seasons ago. Grinnell withdrew from competition after losing its first three games of the 2019 season. The school cited injuries and a desire to “protect the health and safety of student-athletes.” Only 28 of 39 players were able to play when the season was canceled. The following season was wiped out due to the CVOID-19 pandemic. Grinnell has won two games each of the last three seasons and currently has 61 players on its online roster. Two Iowans are on the team. Former Davenport Central prep and linebacker Tim Johnson ranks second on the team with 70 tackles. He has 16 solo stops, three for loss and an interception. Offensive lineman Tyrell Taylor, of Des Moines Roosevelt, is also on the team.

Eddie Burgess finding the end zone

Former Montezuma prep Eddie Burgess has been a productive tight end for Upper Iowa this season. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has become a big option for quarterbacks, reeling in 30 catches for 492 yards and six TDs. Burgess has scored in the last two games and will look to extend his scoring streak against Truman State Saturday in Kirksville, Mo. He scored in a three-game stretch earlier this season. Burgess had the lone touchdown in a 35-7 loss at No. 10 Indianapolis last week. Burgess is tied for the team lead in receiving TDs and is first with 16.4 yards per catch among players with multiple catches. He is second in yardage and third in receptions.

Wartburg closes the regular season

Wartburg concludes the regular season against Nebraska Wesleyan Saturday in Lincoln, Neb. The Knights clinched their second straight American Rivers Conference title and 19th overall with last week’s win over Central. Wartburg has secured the conference’s automatic playoff berth. The game against the Prairie Wolves has little impact on the season, so it will be interesting how third-ranked Wartburg handles its starters, including QB Nile McLaughlin and running back Hunter Clasen, who surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight year and ranks among the top four in career rushing yards, rushing TDs, overall TDs and all-purpose yards. Parker Rochford, Jordan Downing and Owen Grover are among record-setting defenders who might get a partial rest Saturday.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com