5 Iowa college football storylines: Cornell seeks best start since 2014

Cornell tries to make it a streak. Coe is ready to rebound. Upper Iowa faces a rare rematch. Wartburg’s Owen Grover approaches a career tackles record. Here are five things to watch in non-FBS Iowa college football this week.

Cornell looks for consecutive victories

Cornell College could complete a couple of achievements against Beloit (Wis.) College, during Saturday’s Homecoming game at Van Metre Field at Ash Park. The Rams enter the weekend with a 2-2 overall mark. They are trying to rise above a .500 record for the first time since they had a 2-1 mark at one point in 2019. A victory would secure Cornell’s best start since a 4-1 record to open the 2014 season. Beloit is 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the Midwest Conference.

The Rams are coming off a thrilling 36-33 victory at Ripon (Wis.) College last week. Quarterback John Smith earned Midwest Conference Football Offensive Performer of the Week, passing for 255 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for another. Smith hit Trey Birdsong for a 47-yard game-winning score with 3:55 left that capped a 15-point fourth quarter.

Cornell is 2-1 in the conference and tied for second. The Rams have averaged 24.7 points per game in conference play so far and Beloit has allowed 34.8 points per game this season.

Coe’s rebound

Coe suffered its first loss of the season last week, falling to American Rivers Conference leader and fourth-ranked Wartburg, 27-21, at Waverly. The Kohawks return to Clark Field Saturday to host Buena Vista (0-4, 0-2 A-R-C). The matchup could be the perfect remedy to get back to Coe’s winning ways. The Beavers allow 46.75 points per game, allowing 55 last week to Simpson and 47 to Wartburg.

Watch for the Kohawk ball hawks. Coe has 12 takeaways this season, including eight interceptions. Jack Shaw returned an interception 87 yards for a TD last week. The Kohawks are plus-6 in turnover margin this season. Buena Vista has thrown five interceptions in four games.

Coe is second in the conference and has played the other top three teams already. The Kohawks have a great opportunity to run the table, which starts Saturday.

Rare regular-season rematch for Upper Iowa

If it seems like Upper Iowa has already played Missouri S&T this season, you’d be right. The Peacocks beat the Miners, 38-26, Sept. 16 in Fayette. This is the second time Missouri S&T has played a team twice in the same regular season and the first since 1945. The first game was a non-conference contest. The rematch in Rolla, Mo., on Saturday counts toward the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings. Both are looking for their first conference win.

Owen Grover’s record watch

Wartburg linebacker Owen Grover is creeping up on the career total tackles record. The former Dyersville Beckman prep tallied 14 total tackles in last week’s win over Coe, giving him 50 this season. Grover has 300 career stops entering Saturday’s game against Luther. He ranks third all-time behind Blake Suckow (2007-10) and Chad Hake (1985-86). Suckow holds the record with 313, one ahead of Hake. Another 14-tackle performance and Grover will take over the program’s top spot.

Iowa City Liberty duo ranks among Morningside leaders

Former Iowa City Liberty duo Kaleb Williams and Griffin Kraft are among the offensive leaders for NAIA No. 3 Morningside.

Williams, a junior running back, ranks second with 50 carries for 249 yards and two touchdowns. His carries are just six behind team leader Lennx Brown, who leads with 372 yards.

Kraft is fifth in receiving, hauling in five passes for 104 yards and a score. He had 22 yards on three catches in a 38-7 victory over Doane.

Morningside hosts Concordia (Neb.) Saturday for Homecoming.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com