WAVERLY, Iowa - The Coe College football team pushed #3 Wartburg to the brink on Saturday afternoon but ultimately came up just short in its upset effort, falling 27-21 to the Knights. Coe got off to the perfect start, getting an 87-yard pick-six from
Jack Shaw in the final moments of the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. The Kohawks then added to their lead with a long touchdown drive, making it 14-0 with a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Wartburg woke up midway through the second quarter, answering with its own 75-yard drive that was capped off with a 25-yard touchdown pass. The hosts tied the game at 14 less than 30 seconds later, returning the favor with a 37-yard pick six with just under seven minutes left in the half. Coe had a strong close to the opening 30 minutes, putting together a touchdown drive just before the period ended. Wartburg owned the final two quarters, scoring the final 13 points of the game to keep its unbeaten record intact.
#3 WARTBURG 27 - COE 21
GAME FACTS
- Coe and Wartburg were nearly scoreless after 15 minutes before Shaw's game-opening touchdown. The Kohawks started with the ball and marched down into Wartburg territory before turning the ball over on downs at the Knight 24. Wartburg and Coe then traded a trio of scoreless drives, each of which ended with a punt. The Kohawks opened the scoring on the final drive of the opening quarter, coming up with the defensive touchdown as Wartburg threatened to score itself. Jack Shaw made the play to begin the scoring, intercepting a pass at the Coe 13 before taking it back to the house.
- The Kohawks continued the strong start to begin the second quarter, forcing a quick punt on Wartburg's first possession of the frame to take over at their own 20. Coe moved the ball down the field and finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Carter Maske to Zamari Bruce, increasing the advantage to 14. The Knights immediately answered with their next possession, slicing the deficit to seven with a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Wartburg turned the momentum even more in its favor on the first play of Coe's next possession, picking off Maske and returning it for a touchdown to tie it at 14.
- Coe got the last points of the first half just before the end of the period, putting together a quick seven-play drive that lasted just over two minutes. The visitors started with the ball at their own 42 and got a pair of long catches from Bruce who set his team up in the redzone. Ray Seidel punched in the third touchdown of the game with under 40 seconds to play in the half, scoring from one yard out to make it 21-14.
- Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, each turning the ball over once. The biggest play of the period came with less than two minutes to go in the frame as Wartburg picked off a pass inside Coe's own 10-yard line. The Knights began the fourth quarter with a fourth and goal opportunity, getting a three-yard rushing touchdown from Hunter Clausen to knot the game at 21. The hosts took the lead four possessions later, capitalizing on good field position with another rushing touchdown from Clasuen. The Kohawks had three more drives before the end of the game but failed to manage any true threats, registering one first down in the final nine-plus minutes of action.
Up next: Coe is back at Clark Field for its next matchup, hosting Buena Vista on Saturday, October 7 at 1 PM.
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