5 Iowa college football storylines: Upper Iowa debuts in NCAA Division II regional rankings

Upper Iowa’s success leads to regional ranking. Can Coe’s Brady Kelly stay hot against University of Dubuque? Cornell’s Gavin Soukup hits receiving milestones. Wartburg can clinch a share of the American Rivers Conference title. Here are five storylines in small college football.

Upper Iowa’s garnering regional attention

The Peacocks’ resume is receiving notice from those outside the program. Upper Iowa is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and its effort has them tied for second in the conference standings. The Peacocks were included in the NCAA Division II Super Region III rankings for the first time in program history. The rankings released Monday consist of 10 programs from four conferences representing six states. Top-ranked Ferris State (Mich.), No. 5 Augustana (S.D.), No. 11 Findlay (Ohio), No. 12 University of Indianapolis, No. 13 University of Minnesota-Duluth and No. 17 Ashland (Ohio) are included in the grouping. Updated rankings will be released the next two weeks. The top-eight teams in the final rankings will make the 32-team D-II playoffs. Upper Iowa won two straight games and six of the last seven, entering Saturday’s home game against McKendree (Ill.) University. The Peacocks have posted back-to-back six-win seasons since 2014-15. They have split the previous two meetings with the Bearcats (4-4, 4-2), winning last year’s matchup, 28-24. Upper Iowa boasts the nation’s most efficient passer in Darryl Overstreet Jr. He leads D-II quarterbacks with a 74.3 completion percentage, connecting on 156 of 210 passes. Overstreet has 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions, adding three TDs on the ground. Mante Morrow still leads the Peacocks with 36 catches for 640 yards and eight TDs. Former Montezuma standout Eddie Burgess has come on strong with 380 yards and three scores on 33 receptions. Upper Iowa’s defense has been stout, allowing just 12 points the last two games. The Peacocks have held opponents to 14 points or less in five games this season.

Wartburg can clinch share of A-R-C title

The Knights travel to Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday with a chance to clinch at least a share of the A-R-C title. Wartburg, ranked seventh nationally, is 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the A-R-C. The Knights have a 1.5-game lead with victories over Coe (5-2, 4-1) and Central (6-1, 4-1), who are tied for second. Wartburg already set the conference’s longest win streak, extending it to 32 games. The Knights are also trying to claim a fourth straight conference title, which would be the first time since Central did it from 1964-67. They have already secured a 32nd consecutive winning season, the third longest active streak. Linfield (Ore.) is first with 68 and Mount Union (Ohio) is second at 46. Wartburg has dominated the series with the Prairie Wolves (1-6, 1-4). Wartburg has won all eight meetings since NWU joined the A-R-C in 2016. Even more impressive, the Knights have shut out the Prairie Wolves the last three seasons, winning 34-0, 45-0 and 65-0. NWU has failed to score in 13 straight quarters, dating back to the fourth quarter of the 2021 game.

Kelly takes passing attack to Dubuque

The Kohawks junior is coming off his fourth A-R-C Offensive Player of the Week honor. He had 270 yards and four touchdowns, completing 15 of 18 passes in just one half of work in a 42-21 win over Luther. Kelly also received the conference award after the season-opening week victory over rival Cornell, Week 2 in a loss to University of Wisconsin-River Falls and in the conference opener versus NWU. Kelly will face the Spartans (3-5, 3-3) on Saturday. Kelly leads the A-R-C with 23 passing TDs and is four shy of the school record set by Gavin Glenn in 2016. Dubuque has given up 20 TD passes this season, tying Luther for the most allowed in the league. Interestingly, Kelly’s 2,023 passing yards is second to his Dubuque counterpart Joey Rhomberg. The former Mount Vernon prep has a conference-best 2,291 yards this season with 20 TDs. Rhomberg could surpass 4,000 career passing yards Saturday, entering with 3,941. A victory is crucial for Coe to keep its A-R-C title hopes alive.

Cornell’s Soukup surpasses receiving milestone

The former Alburnett prep and Rams receiver surpassed a receiving milestone in last week’s 49-24 loss to Lake Forest. Soukup reeled nine catches for 75 yards, giving him 108 career receptions. He already surpassed 1,000 career yards earlier this season. The Rams head to Knox in Galesburg, Ill., this Saturday. The Rams have won the last two meetings and 11 of the last 12 in the series, including a 44-14 win at home last season. Soukup had five catches for 91 yards in the 2024 contest.

Grand View looks for 68 straight regular-season win

Grand View remains atop of the NAIA national rankings. The Vikings are 7-0 this season and 4-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. They hit the road, playing at Graceland on Saturday. Grand View has won 67 consecutive regular-season games, dating back to a 24-13 loss to Benedictine (Kan.) College on Nov. 3, 2018.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com