DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – Despite dropping their final game of the regular season to No. 13 Wartburg on Saturday, the Loras football team showed heart and resiliency for the entire game before falling 49-34. Junior Zach Minch led the way offensively, showcasing his ability to do it all on offense. Minch rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while hauling in five receptions for 102 yards and his second touchdown of the game.

After losing to the Knights (9-1, 6-1) by a final score of 81-21 a season ago, the Duhawks (4-6, 3-4) displayed just how much this program has grown in the last year. Although they trailed 42-12 early in the second half, Loras battled back to outscore the Knights 22-7 over the remainder of the game.

Early mistakes cost the Duhawks on Saturday, as a fumble and interception from freshman Nolan Baumhover translated to 14 points going the other way. Sophomore Mason Quigley also experienced his fair share of woes, missing a 20-yard field goal and an extra point. The Duhawks inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities proved costly against a Wartburg team that requires its opponents to be fully locked-in in order to have a chance.

Despite allowing the Knights to score 49 points, the Duhawk defense played well in stretches, showing off their immense potential moving forward. Freshman Mo Flanigan hauled in his first career interception, jumping a route in the first quarter and wrestling the ball away from the Wartburg receiver.

In the same half, senior Bryan Hermann scooped and scored a fumble to cut Loras' deficit to two, 14-12. Sophomore Bob Brophy and Hermann had their names called all game long, combining for 30 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Loras' defense also held Wartburg quarterback Logan Schrader in check for a majority of the game, limiting his ability to create big plays with both his arm and his legs. Schrader, who is Wartburg's all-time leading passer, threw for just 244 yards, which goes down as Loras' third best performance from their secondary this season. After Schrader ran for 153 yards against Simpson last week, the Duhawks held him to 17 yards of gained yardage, and a long of six.

Offensively the Duhawks played well, accumulating 543 yards of total offense against a defense that came in averaging 363.8 yards allowed per game. Aside from turnovers, the Duhawks had little trouble moving the ball. Baumhover passed for 295 yards and a touchdown, while senior Nik Schulte added 46 yards and senior Nate Even added 39 of his own.

All season long, teams have been forced to defend the screen pass against Loras to any one of its receivers. While at times opposing defenses have had success against it, it has been a go-to for Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Jake Olsen. With 13:27 to play in the game, the Duhawks unleashed a play they've been sitting on for weeks. After Nik Schulte dumped the screen pass off to Even on the left side, the Cedar Rapids native took a step back and lofted a pass deep over the Wartburg secondary where Minch ran under it and scampered into the endzone. The six-point play was Even's 27th of his career, but first of the passing variety.

Minch was a jack of all trades on Saturday, rushing for 88 yards and hauling in five receptions for 102 yards. The junior from Davenport, Iowa provided big plays for the offense, adding the 39-yard touchdown reception from Even to a 55-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

SCORING SUMMARY
Q1 | WAR 7-0 | Brandon Domeyer 5-yard reception from Logan Schrader
Q1 | WAR 7-6 | Zach Minch 55-yard rush
Q1 | WAR 14-6 | Robbie Anstoett 9-yard reception from Schrader
Q2 | WAR 14-12 | Bryan Hermann 15-yard fumble recovery
Q2 | WAR 21-12 | Schrader 5-yard rush
Q2 | WAR 28-12 | Sawyer Anderson 35-yard interception return
Q2 | WAR 35-12 | Riley Brockway 73-yard reception from Schrader
Q3 | WAR 42-12 | Jake Haberman 1-yard rush
Q3 | WAR 42-19 | Nate Even 12-yard reception from Nolan Baumhover
Q4 | WAR 42-26 | Minch 39-yard reception from Even
Q4 | WAR 49-26 | Logan Pitz 19-yard fumble recovery
Q4 | WAR 49-34 | Nate Carrier 1-yard rush

KEY MOMENTS
Q1 | A fumbled snap on the second play of the game set Wartburg up at the Loras 21-yard line, leading to Wartburg's first touchdown
Q1 | An interception by Mo Flanigan deep in Duhawk territory gave Loras the ball with an opportunity to take the lead
Q1 | Bob Brophy forced a fumble following a 19-yard reception by Mitch Rahm, but Rahm recovered to sustain the Knights drive
Q2 | After plays of 18 and 7-yards respectively, Nolan Baumhover threw an interception that killed the drive's momentum with 13:59 to play in the second quarter
Q2 | A 55-yard rush from Brandon Domeyer set-up Logan Schrader for a 5-yard touchdown rush
Q2 | Baumhover was picked off on the first play of the ensuing drive and returned for a touchdown
Q3 | A missed field-goal by Mason Quigley left the Duhawks with nothing to show for an 11 play 72-yard drive
Q4 | After Wartburg pinned the Duhawks on the one-yard line following a punt, Baumhover found Jon Powers down the sideline for a 57-yard gain,which set up Even's touchdown pass to Minch
Q4 | Wartburg had a field-goal attempt blocked by the Duhawks, but the next play was ruled a backwards pass and returned for a touchdown by the Knights
Q4 | With Nik Schulte under center the Duhawks put together a 16-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to cut Wartburg's lead to 15

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Bryan Hermann | The senior from Tinley Park, Illinois led the team with 16 total tackles (10 solo) and a fumble return for a touchdown
Zach Minch | Minch continued to terrorize IIAC opponents, collecting 190 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.