Contact: Emily Zadny, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Box Score

Oct 26, 2019 – The Loras College football team (3-4, 2-3 A-R-C) rivaled what many considered a thrilling American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) matchup in 2018 against Buena Vista University (2-6, 0-6 A-R-C) with a 40-39 overtime thriller on Saturday inside the Rock Bowl, as the extra point off the foot of Nicolas Farfan sealed the victory in the most fitting fashion for how the game unfolded.

Farfan put the Duhawks on the board to start the game with a 26-yard field goal in the opening three minutes. The Beavers responded with a touchdown from the team's leading receiver, Eric Pacheco, off a 52-yard pass from Dylan Laughlin. Jerry McDaniel had a 17-yard run to the endzone that would give Loras the 10-7 lead to close out the first quarter and tacked on another touchdown off a one-yard skip across the goal line midway through the second quarter.

The Duhawks held the Beavers on the following drive, forcing Buena Vista to punt, but when Loras got the ball back at 3rd and 1, Gary Weaver picked off Noah Sigwarth's pass to give Buena Vista a chance on offense. That chance only lasted one minute after Walker Even came up with the sack and forced a turnover on downs. The Duhawks capitalized on the possession as Sigwarth found Hunter Matye downfield for the 38-yard completion and the touchdown.

The Beavers found Pacheco in the endzone one more time two minutes later, but Joey Foley denied Buena Vista the extra point, blocking the kick to keep Loras' 24-13 lead going into the second half.
Buena Vista controlled the start of the second half with a five-minute possession, ultimately turning the ball over to the Duhawks on a failed 4th and 11 conversion, but the Beavers fought back and Jalen Moore blocked Farfan's put at 4th and 25 and returned the ball 13 yards for the touchdown to bring the score to 24-20, Loras. Farfan tacked on his second field goal of the day to extend the Duhawks' lead, 27-20, with 5:31 left in the third quarter. The Beavers tacked on one more touchdown to tie the game 27-27 going into the fourth quarter and setting the scene for a whirlwind final 15 minutes.

Buena Vista entered the fourth quarter looking for a comeback, forcing a Loras fumble in the first drive of the quarter to take the ball at midfield. On the first play of the drive, Buena Vista quarterback Reyes Lara III passed to Jordan Travis but Danny Kamm was there, forcing the receiver to fumble the ball and Even came up with it from the pile at the Duhawks' 30-yard line. While Loras didn't come up with any points off the drive, the defense denied Buena Vista of any success on the following possession, giving Loras another opportunity with ten minutes left in the game.

Sigwarth helped the Duhawks move the ball up field from their own 41-yard line, advancing to the Beavers' 26-yard line. The Beavers thwarted the Duhawks' momentum, as Michael Herwig came away with the pick-six to take the lead, 33-27.  The extra point was no good and the Duhawks regained possession, converting the opportunity into six points off a third touchdown for McDaniel. Farfan's extra point was also blocked and the game was yet again tied 33-33 with 2:54 remaining in regulation. Neither team forced the matter and carried the game into overtime, the first time the Duhawks played an overtime game since the 2004 matchup in Cedar Rapids, Iowa against Coe College.

Buena Vista took the first possession in overtime, starting the drive with a 21-yard completion to set up 1st and goal at the four yard line. Loras' defense came up with three huge stops to force 4th and goal at the one-yard line. Buena Vista found the opening and scored, but on the extra point, Riley Larson was there to block it, giving Loras the chance to win off a touchdown and the extra point.

Loras' overtime drive did not start as planned with the Duhawks drawing a false start to push the line of scrimmage back five yards to the 35-yard line, but a 23-yard completion from Sigwarth to McDaniel helped get Loras within striking distance. On 3rd and two, Sigwarth did what he's done best all season: a quarterback keeper for two yards to the endzone. The extra-point unit came on for what would be the biggest kick of the day and Farfan delivered, sending the ball between the posts and the Duhawks' to a 40-39 win.

Sigwarth was 17-36-3 for 280 passing yards and tallied 48 rushing yards while McDaniel had a standout performance with 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Sam Maloney had 134 receiving yards on nine receptions. Defensively, Chris Miller had 11 tackles, 3.5 of which were for a loss of nine yards, and forced on of the Beavers' two fumbles. He also had a team-high three quarterback hurries. Kamm and Even each had nine tackles and Bryce Sinn had 1.5 sacks.

Loras continued A-R-C play in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 2 against Nebraska Wesleyan University. Kickoff is set for 1 P.M.