DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Loras College football team dropped its third game of the season against crosstown rival, the University of Dubuque, 34-27.
 
Loras (0-3 overall, 0-1 A-R-C) was able to steal the momentum early on as Loras safety Braxten Johnson was able to take a Joey Rhomberg pass the other way for 25 yards and the first touchdown of the game.
 
After forcing a Dubuque (1-2 overall, 1-0) punt, the Duhawks' offense took the field for the first time where it didn't take long for the Duhawks to extend their lead. Loras quarterback Joey Helminiak went 4-of-4 for 58 yards, culminating in a 31-yard touchdown pass to Sai McWilliams, putting the Duhawks out to an early 14-0 lead.
 
Trailing by 14, the Spartans were looking to swing the game into their favor, and they were able to do so. Dubuque only needed four plays to get on the board with a Blake Heffron 48-yard touchdown reception.
 
Loras' offense continued to be stagnant throughout the first half, allowing Dubuque to hold a 27-14 lead, but a late 30-yard field goal from Aiden Konig would get them back on the board, making it 27-17 at halftime.
 
Loras started the second half the same way the first half ended, with a Konig field goal, this time from 19 yards out.
 
Both sides would then trade a pair of punts before Dubuque would extend its lead back to 14 after a Rhomberg pass found Dereck-Earl Saint-Hilaire for a 36-yard touchdown.
 
The two defenses would not break until Helminiak and McWilliams connected for their second touchdown of the afternoon, bringing the Duhawks back within seven.
 
A Spartan punt would keep the Duhawks' hope alive in the fourth quarter, as Helminiak and Ian Broshous would connect for an 11-yard reception to move the chains on third and 10. After two Carter Cahill rushing attempts, Helminiak found Avery Tuttle for 15 yards and another set of downs. A pass interference against the Spartans set the Duhawks up at the Spartan four-yard line. A pair of incomplete passes would result in third and goal. Loras caught a break after a pass interference call on third and goal, but a 3-yard loss and a pair of incomplete passes gave the Duhawks a fourth and goal from the five, but Helminiak's pass was broken up, giving the Spartans the ball at their own five.
 
Four plays later, Johnson intercepted another pass from Rhomberg, giving the Duhawks one final chance.
 
Starting at their own 24, Helminiak found Isaac Oster for six yards on first down. Later in the drive, Helminiak found Brock Couch for 21 yards on second down. Coming out of the two-minute timeout, Loras set up first and 10 from the Dubuque 40, but a Helminiak interception would end any hope the Duhawks had to tie the game at 34.
 
Helminiak got it done through the air, completing 26-of-52 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, while Cahill led with 41 rushing yards on 24 carries. Defensively, Will Speltz led the Duhawks' defenders with nine tackles and one quarterback hit.
 
Up Next: The Duhawks will return home for a matchup against No. 25-ranked Central College on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m.