Sports season
2023 American Rivers Conference football season Sport Football Number of teams 9 Champion Wartburg
The 2023 American Rivers Conference football season was the season of college football played by the nine member schools of the American Rivers Conference (ARC) as part of the 2023 NCAA Division III football season . The 2023 Wartburg Knights football team compiled a 13–1 record (8–0 in conference games), won the ARC championship, and made it to the NCAA Division III semifinal where they lost to North Central (IL) 34–27.
The 2023 Wartburg Knights football team represented Wartburg College of Waverly, Iowa . In their third year under head coach Chris Winter , the team compiled a 13–1 record (8–0 against ARC opponents), won the ARC championship, and made it to the NCAA Division III semifinal where they lost to North Central (IL) 34–27.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 Monmouth (IL) * W 62–353,756 [ 1] [ 2]
September 9 at No. 16 Bethel (MN) * W 16–23,642 [ 3] [ 4]
September 16 Buena Vista Walston-Hoover Stadium Waverly, IA W 47–02,137 [ 5] [ 6]
September 23 at Simpson W 63–01,524 [ 7] [ 8]
September 30 Coe Walston-Hoover Stadium Waverly, IA W 27–213,106 [ 9] [ 10]
October 7 at Luther W 54–0317 [ 11]
October 14 Dubuque Walston-Hoover Stadium Waverly, IA W 31–105,102 [ 12] [ 13]
October 21 at Loras W 62–71,300 [ 14] [ 15]
October 28 Central (IA) Walston-Hoover Stadium Waverly, IA W 24–141,500 [ 16]
November 4 at Nebraska Wesleyan W 45–01,200 [ 17] [ 18]
November 18 Illinois College W 49–141,355 [ 19] [ 20] [ 21]
November 25 No. 20 Whitworth Walston-Hoover Stadium Waverly, IA (NCAA Division III Second Round) W 42–201,207 [ 22] [ 23] [ 24]
December 2 No. 5 Wisconsin–Whitewater Walston-Hoover Stadium Waverly, IA (NCAA Division III Quarterfinal) W 31–283,259 [ 25] [ 26] [ 27]
December 9 No. 1 North Central (IL) Walston-Hoover Stadium Waverly, IA (NCAA Division III Semifinal) L 27–343,525 [ 28] [ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 33]
The 2023 Coe Kohawks football team represented Coe College of Cedar Rapids, Iowa . In their 8th year under head coach Tyler Staker , the team compiled a 9–2 record (7–1 against ARC opponents), finished second in the ARC, and made it to the NCAA Division III first round where they lost to Aurora 7–20.
[ 34]
The 2023 Central Dutch football team represented Central College of Pella, Iowa . In their 20th year under head coach Jeff McMartin , the team compiled an 8–2 record (6–2 against ARC opponents) and finished in third place in the ARC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 at St. Olaf * W 34–24912
September 9 at Illinois Wesleyan * W 38–131,338
September 16 Coe L 11–192,000
September 23 at Luther W 41–16681
September 30 Dubuque Schipper Stadium Pella, IA W 55–161,750
October 7 at Loras W 38–141,500
October 21 Nebraska Wesleyan Schipper Stadium Pella, IA W 72–01,500
October 29 at No. 3 Wartburg L 14–241,500
November 4 Buena Vista Schipper Stadium Pella, IA W 56–221,500
November 11 at Simpson W 69–141,506
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 35]
Buena Vista defenders tackle a Dubuque player during their 2023 game.
The 2023 Dubuque Spartans football team represented Dubuque College of Dubuque, Iowa . In their 15th year under head coach Stan Zweifel , the team compiled a 5–5 record (5–3 against ArC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the ARC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 Wittenberg * L 27–281,200
September 9 Wisconsin–Platteville * Chalmers Field Dubuque, IA L 19–354,850
September 23 Loras Chalmers Field Dubuque, IA W 35–234,250
September 30 at Central (IA) L 16–551,750
October 7 Nebraska Wesleyan Chalmers Field Dubuque, IA W 56–28630
October 14 at No. 3 Wartburg L 10–315,102
October 21 Buena Vista Chalmers Field Dubuque, IA W 41–02,315
October 28 at Simpson W 45–211,377
November 4 No. 24 Coe Chalmers Field Dubuque, IA L 20–23875
November 11 at Luther W 42–10195
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 36]
The 2023 Loras Duhawks football team represented Loras College of Dubuque, Iowa . In their 11th year under head coach Steve Helminiak , the team compiled a 5–5 record (4–4 against ARC opponents) and finished in fifth place in the ARC.
[ 37]
The 2023 Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves football team represented Nebraska Wesleyan University of Lincoln, Nebraska . In their 28th year under head coach Brian Keller , the team compiled a 4–6 record (2–6 against ARC opponents) and finished tied for sixth in the ARC.
[ 38]
The 2023 Simpson Storm football team represented Simpson College of Indianola, Iowa . In their first year under head coach Reed Hoskins , the team compiled a 3–7 record (2–6 against ARC opponents) and finished tied for sixth in the ARC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 Augustana (IL) * L 27–491,452
September 9 at Crown * W 48–46455
September 16 at Nebraska Wesleyan L 13–21350
September 23 No. 3 Wartburg Buxton Stadium Indianola, IA L 0–631,387
September 30 at Buena Vista W 55–28400
October 14 Coe Buxton Stadium Indianola, IA L 0–281,462
October 21 at Luther W 56–14215
October 28 Dubuque Buxton Stadium Indianola, IA L 21–451,377
November 4 at Loras L 16–821,250
November 11 Central (IA) Buxton Stadium Indianola, IA L 14–691,506
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 39]
The 2023 Buena Vista Beavers football team represented Buena Vista University of Buena Vista, Iowa . In their first year under head coach Austin Dickinson , the team compiled a 2–8 record (2–6 against ARC opponents) and finished tied for sixth in the ARC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 at Gustavus Adolphus * L 7–512,137
September 9 Lakeland * L 16–34450
September 16 at No. 3 Wartburg L 0–472,137
September 30 Simpson Rollins Stadium Storm Lake, IA L 28–55400
October 7 at Coe L 7–52479
October 14 Luther Rollins Stadium Storm Lake, IA W 17–10600
October 21 at Dubuque L 0–412,135
October 28 Loras Rollins Stadium Storm Lake, IA L 21–49120
November 4 at Central (IA) L 22–561,500
November 11 Nebraska Wesleyan Rollins Stadium Storm Lake, IA W 25–20400
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 40]
Venues
Bradford Field (1947–1979)
J. Leslie Rollins Stadium (1980–present)
People Seasons
The 2023 Luther Norse football team represented Luther College of Decorah, Iowa . In their second year under head coach Joe Troche , the team compiled a 0–10 record (0–8 against ARC opponents) and finished last in the ARC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 9 St. Olaf * L 21–52559
September 16 at Loras L 29–442,500
September 23 Central Carlson Stadium Decorah, IA L 16–41681
September 30 at Nebraska Wesleyan L 10–35500
October 7 No. 3 Wartburg Carlson Stadium Decorah, IA L 0–54317
October 14 at Buena Vista L 10–17600
October 21 No. 3 Simpson Carlson Stadium Decorah, IA L 14–56215
October 28 at Coe L 2–640
November 4 Lyon * Carlson Stadium Decorah, IA L 21–28157
November 11 Dubuque Carlson Stadium Decorah, IA L 10–42195
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 41]
^ Svenson, KatieJo (September 2, 2023). "No. 5 Wartburg wins season opener, Clasen sets school record" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Warrington, David (September 2, 2023). "Wartburg sprints past Monmouth, 62-35" . KWWL News 7 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (September 9, 2023). "No. 3 Wartburg defeats No. 16 Bethel" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Reusse, Patrick (September 9, 2023). "Bethel and Wartburg's matchup displayed best of D-III football — in more ways than one" . StarTribune .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (September 16, 2023). "No. 3 Wartburg blanks Buena Vista in conference opener" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Promnitz, Donald (September 16, 2023). "The buzz from Wartburg's win over Buena Vista" . The Courier . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (September 23, 2023). "No. 3/4 Wartburg silences Storm" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Swadner, Andrew (September 24, 2023). "Simpson Football Falls To Powerhouse Wartburg After Stellar Start" . KNIA-KRLS . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "Football's upset bid falls short at #3 Wartburg" . Coe College Athletics . September 30, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Promnitz, Donald (October 1, 2023). "Wartburg beats Coe in nail-biter" . The Courier . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (October 7, 2023). "No. 4/4 Wartburg blanks Luther for third-straight year, Rochford sets season record" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (October 14, 2023). "Grover sets career record in comeback win over Dubuque" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "Football Led #3-Ranked Wartburg at Halftime" . University of Dubuque . October 14, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Lindholm, Brandon (October 21, 2023). "Duhawks Fall to No. 3 Wartburg College" . Loras College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ O'Neill, Tim (October 22, 2023). "Former area products help Wartburg beat Loras, close in on A-R-C title" . Telegraph Herald . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "Wartburg defense turns away Central football bid" . Central College Athletics . October 28, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (November 4, 2023). "No. 3/3 Wartburg finishes the regular season undefeated for the second-straight year" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "Football Suffers Defeat in Home Finale" . Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletics . November 4, 2023.
^ Svenson, KatieJo (November 18, 2023). "No. 3/3 Wartburg advances to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Nelson, Jim (November 18, 2023). "No. 3 Wartburg Steamrolls Illinois College In Division III Playoff Opener" . The Courier . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "Wartburg defeats Illinois College 49-14 in home playoff game" . KWWL News 7 . November 18, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (November 25, 2023). "No. 3/3 Wartburg defeats No. 18/20 Whitworth 42-20 in NCAA Playoff Second Round" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Myers, Ethan (November 25, 2023). "Whitworth outmatched by Wartburg in second round of DIII playoffs" . The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Promnitz, Donald (November 25, 2023). "No. 3 Wartburg crushes Whitworth, advances to D-III quarters" . The Courier . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (December 2, 2023). "No. 3/3 Wartburg advances to the NCAA semifinals with 31-28 win over No. 5/6 UW-Whitewater" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Nelson, Jim (December 3, 2023). "No. 3 Wartburg rallies from 18 down, tops UW-Whitewater" . The Courier . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Kelm, Angela (December 2, 2023). "No. 5 Warhawk Football Falls to No. 3 Wartburg in NCAA Quarterfinal" . Whitewater Banner . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Svenson, KatieJo (December 9, 2023). "Knights falls in heartbreaker to North Central in NCAA Playoff Semifinal" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Nelson, Jim (December 9, 2023). "Wartburg fights to finish, stunned late in loss to No. 1 NCC" . The Courier . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Coleman, Patrick (December 9, 2023). "North Central passes fourth quarter test at Wartburg" . D3football . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Feder, Curtis (December 10, 2023). "Wartburg falls in a classic against North Central 34-27, season ended in D-III semifinal" . Iowa's News Now . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ Thompson, Nick (December 10, 2023). "Wartburg drops all-time classic in national semifinal to North Central 34-27" . Community Newspaper Group . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Wartburg College Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Coe College . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Central College Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . University of Dubuque . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Loras College Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletics . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Simpson College (IA) . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Buena Vista University . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Luther College . Retrieved July 9, 2024 .
Current teams Championships & awards Seasons