5 Iowa college football storylines: Cornell faces favorable matchup at Beloit

Cornell is coming off a bye week and could be poised for a second victory. Coe attempts to rebound against Buena Vista. Upper Iowa takes a trip to Missouri S&T, while William Penn’s strong start leads them to perennial power Grand View. A local trio leads Central’s defense. Here are five small-college football storylines to watch this weekend.

CORNELL LOOKS FOR VICTORY NO. 2 AT BELOIT

The Rams finally broke into the win column with a win at Lawrence and return to Wisconsin for a shot at a second victory. Cornell travels to Beloit College (0-3) on Saturday. The Rams are coming off a bye week, and should be rested and refocused. They suffered a tough start with a lopsided loss to rival Coe and dropped the Midwest Conference opener at home against University of Chicago. The schedule is easier for a few weeks. Beloit has lost 10 straight games, dating back to a Sept. 21, 2024 win over Grinnell. The three teams to Beloit this season – Rockford University, Grinnell and Knox – are a combined 3-7 overall. Their only wins have come against Beloit.

Cornell has been powered by its defense. The Rams are coming off a shutout against Lawrence after a solid outing against Chicago. This week promises to be a favorable matchup for Cornell’s defense. Beloit averages just nine points per game and have more turnovers than touchdowns. Beloit has thrown three interceptions, fumbled four times and surrendered four sacks. Cornell has five interceptions and seven sacks through three games. Beloit has amassed 50 total rushing yards and 267 passing through three games. If the Rams offense can find its identity out of the bye week, they could move to .500 and have a winning conference record under first-year Rams head Curt Ritchie.

COE TRIES TO BOUNCE BACK VERSUS BEAVERS

The Kohawks lost a tough one last week against Wartburg. The Knights prevailed, 17-7, and Coe didn’t get on the board until the final minute. An uncharacteristic performance from the Coe offense, which remains the top-ranked offense in the American Rivers Conference. Coe (2-2, 1-1) is tied for third in the league standings, trailing Wartburg and Central, who have yet to play. Coe plays Central in the regular-season finale on Nov. 15 at Pella. Expect an explosion this week against Buena Vista (1-2, 0-1). Coe is still averaging 44.5 points, while the Beavers have allowed almost four TDs per game. BVU’s inability to stop the run (239.7 yards per game) has it last among A-R-C teams. On paper, the Beavers are tops in pass defense but opponents have thrown the ball just 19 times per game. Kohawk quarterback Brady Kelly (1,312 yards and 14 TDs passing; 129 yards and 1 TD rushing) could have a field day against the Beavers. Coe’s Devon Kollasch is the A-R-C’s top receiver with 408 yards. He also has five TDs in 22 catches. Teammates Latrell Taylor (24-378-3) and Jeron Senters (24-327-3) rank fifth and sixth, respectively. BVU might have trouble covering all of Kelly’s targets. It could also allow Coe to establish its rush attack, which has averaged only 114 yards per game, which is fifth in the A-R-C.

UPPER IOWA MAKES LONG TRIP TO MISSOURI S & T

The drive from Fayette to Rolla, Mo., is estimated at 6 hours, 30 minutes. Adjust the calculation to account for the ride made in two charter buses. The Peacocks have a long road trip to face Missouri S & T this weekend. Upper Iowa is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, winning three straight. S & T is 3-2 with a 1-1 GLVC mark. Quarterback play could highlight this game. Upper Iowa’s Darryl Overstreet Jr. is fifth in the conference, averaging 249.3 yards per game. He also has 10 TDs. S & T boasts the GLVC’s leading passer in Jake Farrell, a former Arizona prep who transferred from the University of Hawaii. Farrell has passed for 1,418 yards and 12 TDs. The Peacocks are third in the league in pass defense. Overstreet has the conference’s top receiver in Mante Morrow, who has 22 catches, 426 yards and seven TDs. Morrow is the only receiver to average more than 100 yards per game (106.5). Upper Iowa owns a 2-1 series lead, losing its only appearance in Rolla.

WILLIAM PENN STARTS 5-0, FACES NO. 1 GRAND VIEW

The Statesmen have produced a great start to the season, winning their first five games and climbing to No. 20 in the latest NAIA Coaches’ poll. William Penn is up four spots after last week’s 48-21 win over Culver-Stockton. The Statesmen have scored 34 or more points in all but one game. They have scored 196 points (39.2 per game), but the challenge is much tougher. Grand View was the unanimous No. 1 pick in the rankings and is 4-0. The Vikings have allowed just 51 total points and 10 in the last two games combined. Grand View has dominated the series, winning 13 of the last 16 and the last seven in a row. The Vikings won last year’s meeting, 42-6, and have allowed just 12 points in the last five games of the series.

LOCAL TRIO LEADS CENTRAL DEFENSE

The Dutch are 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the A-R-C, entering Saturday’s game at Loras. Central ranks second in the league in most defensive categories. The Dutch are led by a trio of former Eastern Iowa high school football players. Cole Clark, a former Lisbon standout, leads the way with 32 total tackles with 12 solo and 20 assists. Former Belle Plaine prep Ben DeMeulenaere and Elkader Central’s Evan Schroeder are in a three-way tie for second with 16 total tackles apiece. DeMeulenaere has 11 solo and five assists, while Schroeder tallied seven and five. Schroeder also leads the Dutch with four sacks.

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