5 Iowa college football storylines: Coe, University of Dubuque continue competitive series

Coe and Dubuque could be poised for another close battle. Wartburg looks to extend its American Rivers Conference win streak. And much more. Here are five storylines in Iowa small college football this weekend.

Keeping it tight: Coe, Dubuque produce close battles

The Kohawks and Spartans have produced highly-contested games recently. The last five games in the series have been decided by just one score, dating back to 2019. It also includes two games in 2021 when spring games were held after the COVID pandemic. Coe won last year’s contest at Dubuque, 23-20, in overtime. The Spartans edged Coe, 15-14, in 2022, extending their win streak at Clark Field to six straight. The last time Coe beat Dubuque at home was in 2009.

The Kohawks are off to a strong start. They hammered Luther, 63-0, in the conference opener at Decorah last week, improving to 3-0 overall. Coe has averaged an eye-popping 53.7 points per game and ranks first in the American Rivers Conference with more than 512 yards per game. Coe’s defense is considered the backbone of the team and it hasn’t disappointed. Outside of the overtime win against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Coe’s defense hasn’t allowed a point (Cornell scored a defensive touchdown). The Kohawks are second in the conference, holding foes to 264.7 yards a game.

Dubuque is 1-2 overall but opened the conference slate with a 28-14 win over Simpson. Can the Spartans slow down Coe’s offense? Will the Spartans pass attack, which ranks fourth in the A-R-C, get the better of Coe’s pass defense that ranks fourth in the conference. Maybe the string of one-score outcomes will be snapped.

Wartburg attempts to set school record for consecutive conference wins

Wartburg has won the last the last two American Rivers Conference championships, advancing deep in the playoffs both seasons. The Knights have swept through the conference with 8-0 records and opened this year’s A-R-C competition with a 10-6 victory over rival Central in Pella. Wartburg (2-1, 1-0) enters Saturday’s home opener against Nebraska Wesleyan (1-1, 0-0) with a 19-game conference win streak, matching the program’s longest streak that was set from 1998-2000. The Knights also had a 13-game regular-season conference win streak from 2002-04. No. 13 Wartburg owns a 7-0 advantage in the series with the Prairie Wolves.

Wartburg also has a Gazette-area flavor. Former Linn-Mar prep Bricen White leads the team with two rushing TDs. Western Dubuque duo Drake George and Ben Bryant are contributors as a receiver and returner, respectively. George is just two short from the program’s career receptions record. Kicker Cael O’Neill is from Solon and former Decorah prep Keenan Tyler leads the Knights with 30 total tackles.

Michael Mulherin paces Upper Iowa defense

Linebacker Michael Mulherin is leading Upper Iowa in tackles. The former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep has tallied 26 total tackles, including a team-high 19 solo, in four games for the Peacocks (2-2, 1-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference). Upper Iowa heads to Quincy (Ill.) on Saturday.

Mulherin, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, tied for the team lead with four tackles in a 21-7 win over Southwest Baptist. Mulherin recorded 11 tackles in a loss to South Dakota Mines, matching his single-game best against McKendree (Ill.) last year. Mulherin also led Upper Iowa with eight tackles in a Week 2 win over Concordia-St. Paul.

More Miller time at North Dakota State

Former Solon prep Cam Miller is in his senior season with FCS power North Dakota State. The All-America quarterback powers the Bison offense. He has completed 70 of 92 passes (76.1 percent) for 927 yards and six TDs. Miller has posted a 182.25 efficiency rating. He connected on 17 of 19 passes for 219 yards and a score in a 41-24 win over Towson. Interestingly, his 19-yard TD pass was to Bryce Lance, the brother of Miller’s former teammate and QB predecessor Trey Lance.

The second-ranked Bison are 3-1 overall and open Missouri Valley Football Conference play at No. 15 Illinois State (3-1).

Cair’ron Hendred carrying on for Winona State

Cair’ron Hendred is leading Winona State in rushing entering Saturday’s Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game against Northern State (S.D.). Hendred, a former Kennedy prep, has rushed 38 times for 212 yards and three TDs. All three are team highs for the Warriors. Hendred is averaging more than 70 rushing yards per game.

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