# 2023 Wartburg Knights football team

The 2023 Wartburg Knights football team represented Wartburg College as a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. The Knights, led by third-year head coach Chris Winter, played home games at Walston-Hoover Stadium in Waverly, Iowa. The Knights clinched their 19th conference championship on October 28, 2023, with a win over Central College and then capped of the regular season 10–0 following a win at Nebraska Wesleyan. Wartburg ended the season in the national semifinals for the second straight year, losing to North Central 34–27.
Senior linebacker Owen Grover was named the Cliff Harris Award winner, awarded to the defensive player of the year in division III. He was also named ARC Defensive player of the year and 1st team all-American along with 3 other teammates, including running back Hunter Clasen, who was also named ARC Offensive player of the year.

## Schedule

Wartburg's 2023 regular season scheduled consisted of five home and five away games. The Knights also hosted 4 postseason games.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Monmouth (IL)* | No. 5 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA | W 62–35 | 3,756 |
| September 9 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 16 Bethel (MN)* | No. 3 | Royal StadiumArden Hills, MN | W 16–2 | 3,642 |
| September 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Buena Vista | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA | W 47–0 | 2,137 |
| September 23 | 1:00 p.m. | at Simpson | No. 3 | Buxton StadiumIndianola, IA | W 63–0 | 1,524 |
| September 30 | 1:00 p.m. | Coe | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA | W 27–21 | 3,016 |
| October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | at Luther | No. 4 | Carlson StadiumDecorah, IA | W 54–0 | 317 |
| October 14 | 1:30 p.m. | Dubuque | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA | W 31–10 | 5,102 |
| October 21 | 1:00 p.m. | at Loras | No. 3 | Rock BowlDubuque, IA | W 62–7 | 1,300 |
| October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | Central (IA) | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA | W 24–14 | 1,500 |
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | at Nebraska Wesleyan | No. 3 | Abel StadiumLincoln, NE | W 45–0 | 1,200 |
| November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | Illinois College* | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA (NCAA Division III First Round) | W 49–14 | 1,355 |
| November 25 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 20 Whitworth* | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA (NCAA Division III Second Round) | W 42–20 | 1,207 |
| December 2 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 5 Wisconsin–Whitewater* | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA (NCAA Division III Quarterfinals) | W 31–28 | 3,259 |
| December 9 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 1 North Central (IL)* | No. 3 | Walston-Hoover StadiumWaverly, IA (NCAA Division III Semifinals) | L 27–34 | 3,525 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from D3Football.com Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| D3football.com | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| AFCA | Not released | Not released | Not released | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

## Awards and honors

Individual awards :
| Player | Award |
| Owen Grover | William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist Gagliardi Trophy Finalist ARC Defensive Player of the Year Cliff Harris Award D3Football.com Defensive Player of the year DIII Academic All-American of the Year D3football.com 1st team All-American AFCA 1st team All-American AP 1st team All-American |
| Hunter Clasen | ARC Offensive Player of the Year D3football.com 1st team All-American AP 2nd team All-American |
| Parker Rochford | D3football.com 1st team All-American AP 1st team All-American |
| Riley Konrardy | D3football.com 1st team All-American |
| Jordan Downing | D3football.com 3rd team All-American AP 2nd team All-American |
| Tucker Kinney | D3football.com 4th team All-American |
| Coach | Award |
| Chris Winter | ARC Coach of the year AFCA Region 5 Coach of the year |
| Reference: ||
All-Conference :
| Player | Position | Team | Year |
| Jordan Downing | DL | 1 | SR |
| Riley Konrardy | DL | 1 | SR |
| Owen Grover | LB | 1 | SR |
| Nate Link | LB | 1 | SR |
| Parker Rochford | DB | 1 | JR |
| Hunter Clasen | RB | 1 | SR |
| Tucker Kinney | OT | 1 | SR |
| Alex Lahmon | OG | 1 | SR |
| Justin Grieff | DL | 2 | SR |
| Preston Rochford | LB | 2 | SR |
| Drew Wyffels | DB | 2 | SR |
| Nile McLaughlin | QB | 2 | SR |
| Tom Butters | TE | 2 | SR |
| Ethan Stockwell | OT | 2 | SR |
| Cael O'Neill | K | 2 | SR |
| Jaxson Hoppes | P | HM | SO |
| Dylan Steen | DB | HM | SR |
| HM = Honorable mention. Reference: ||||