LINCOLN, Neb. (November 1, 2024) - Following a dominant 40-14 victory over Luther, Nebraska Wesleyan returns home to face Dubuque on Saturday.
LOCATION, GAME TIME, LIVE STREAM & LIVE STATS
Kickoff for Saturday's game between the Prairie Wolves and Spartans is set for 1:00 p.m. at Abel Stadium, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Wesleyan will
live stream the game and carry
live stats.
ABOUT THE PRAIRIE WOLVES
Nebraska Wesleyan (3-4, 2-3 A-R-C) currently sits sixth in the American Rivers Conference. Freshman quarterback
Gunnar Link leads the Prairie Wolf offense, throwing for 225 yards and two touchdowns at an impressive 89.29% completion rate. Through seven games,
Cole Siems has emerged as NWU's top receiver, leading the team in receptions (40) and receiving yards (443). In the run game,
Nathan Athouris has rushed for 322 yards and two touchdowns. As a unit, NWU averages 21 points per game.
Defensively, the Prairie Wolves allow 29.29 points per game. Key contributors include Tony Militti, who leads the team with 38 total tackles, and Juan Donoso, who has recorded a team-high three sacks. Dillon Moralez has disrupted opposing offenses with seven tackles for loss. NWU's defense has also been opportunistic in turnover situations, with three interceptions and six fumble recoveries this season.
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
Points Per Game: 21
Yards Per Game: 346.9
Passing Yards Per Game: 221.14
Passing Touchdowns: 12
Rushing Yards Per Game: 125.7
Rushing Touchdowns: 10
Points Per Game Allowed: 29.29
Yards Per Game Allowed: 375.50
Time of Possession: 30:08
HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLER
Now in his 29th season,
Brian Keller is Nebraska Wesleyan's all-time winningest coach, with a career record of 132-138. Keller's accolades include leading NWU to a share of the 2000 GPAC championship and coaching 39 All-Conference players and 46 All-Americans since the program transitioned to NCAA Division III.
BY LAND OR BY AIR
Senior running back
Kevin Starnes has quietly put together a strong season, leading the team in rushing touchdowns with five while amassing 112 rushing yards at an average of 4.5 yards per carry. Starnes has also been effective in the passing game, with 13 receptions for 112 yards and a team-high three receiving touchdowns.
FINDING THE LINK
Nebraska Wesleyan's offense received a major boost from freshman quarterback
Gunnar Link in his first start last weekend. Link completed 24 of 26 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, while also showcasing his speed with 21 rushing yards at an average of seven yards per carry. Link looks to continue his strong performance this weekend.
NEBRASKA WESLEYAN FOOTBALL TRADITION
Established in 1896, NWU football has amassed over 500 wins and claimed 22 conference championships. The Prairie Wolves are also a national academic powerhouse, ranking seventh among all football programs for CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Dubuque enters Saturday's matchup with a 3-4 overall record. The Spartans were defeated by Central, 38-21, in their last game. Dubuque is led by first-year head coach Ryan Maiuri.
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
Points Per Game: 28.57
Yards Per Game: 405.3
Passing Yards Per Game: 332.43
Passing Touchdowns: 24
Rushing Yards Per Game: 72.90
Rushing Touchdowns: 1
Points Per Game Allowed: 28.43
Yards Per Game Allowed: 375.60
Time of Possession: 27:41
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST DUBUQUE
This will be the eighth meeting between Nebraska Wesleyan and Dubuque, with the Spartans holding a 7-0 advantage in the all-time series.
