DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College football team is set to take on Coe College on Oct. 3 to kickoff American Rivers Conference play fresh off their bye week. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Clark Field.

Scouting the Duhawks

Loras enters conference play with a 2-1 record following a convincing 49-13 victory over the University of Northwestern (Minn.) in its nonconference finale. The Duhawks turned in their most complete performance of the young season, finishing with 498 yards of total offense while holding Northwestern to 291.

The Purple and Gold have established one of the A-R-C's most productive passing attacks through three games. Loras is averaging 35.0 points and 430.7 yards of total offense per game, including 299.0 yards through the air. The Duhawks have scored 14 offensive touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per play.

Quarterback Joey Helminiak continues to lead the Duhawk offense. The senior has completed 65-of-105 passes for 858 yards and seven touchdowns through three games. In the victory over Northwestern, Helminiak threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns, while Brock Couch hauled in eight passes for 88 yards and two scores.

Isaiah Washington has emerged as another major threat in the passing game, leading Loras with 324 receiving yards on 14 catches for an average of 23.1 yards per reception. On the ground, Jeremy Pittman has totaled 148 yards on 22 carries and enters the weekend averaging 6.7 yards per attempt.

Loras has also created problems defensively, intercepting eight passes through its first three games while allowing just three passing touchdowns. That playmaking ability was on display against Northwestern as the Duhawks forced five turnovers, including three interceptions. Charles Williams was a major part of that effort, recording two interceptions and returning both for touchdowns.

Along with Williams, Braxten Johnson, Brandon Glover Jr., and Ivis McNeal have all recorded a pick for the Duhawk defense.

Scouting the Kohawks

Coe enters conference play with a 1-2 overall record after facing a challenging nonconference schedule. The Kohawks opened the year with a 49-7 victory over Cornell College before dropping consecutive games against No. 2 UW-River Falls, 38-6, and a receiving votes team in UW-Oshkosh, 28-7. Saturday will mark Coe's fourth consecutive home game to begin the season.

Quarterback Brady Kelly directs the Coe offense. Against UW-Oshkosh, Kelly threw for 115 yards, while Andrew White paced the ground attack with 59 rushing yards. Jeron Senters led the receiving corps with 37 yards, while Cole Barnes accounted for Coe's lone touchdown on a six-yard reception.

Defensively, Coe has been particularly effective at limiting opponents once they move deep into Kohawk territory. Opponents have scored on just five of nine red-zone trips against the Kohawks, a 55.6 percent success rate.

The Kohawks have also controlled possession for an average of 28:50 per game, slightly ahead of Loras' 28:01 average. The Kohawks have converted six of its eight offensive trips into the red zone into points, including five touchdowns.

By the Numbers

Loras travels to Cedar Rapids with several numbers near the top of the A-R-C. The Duhawks lead the A-R-C in scoring offense at 35.0 points per game and passing offense at 299.0 yards per game, while their 430.7 yards of total offense per game ranks second in the conference. Loras also ranks first in first downs, averaging 20.0 per game, and its 6.5 yards per offensive play trails only Simpson among A-R-C teams.

The Duhawk defense has also been among the conference's most productive units. Loras leads the A-R-C in scoring defense at 19.0 points allowed per game, ranks second in rushing defense at 112.3 yards allowed per game, and leads the league with their eight interceptions through three contests. The Duhawks have also forced a conference-best five fumbles while allowing opponents to complete just 57.1 percent of their passes.

Special teams have provided another advantage, as Loras leads the conference with a 46.3-yard punting average and a 42.0-yard net punting average. Individually, Daniel Giusto sits atop the A-R-C at 46.3 yards per punt, with four of his eight punts traveling at least 50 yards.

Series History

Saturday marks the 35th all-time meeting between Loras and Coe. The Kohawks lead the series 25-8-1, including a 12-4-1 advantage in Cedar Rapids. Coe has won the last seven meetings between the two programs, with Loras' most recent victory coming in a 44-38 win in Dubuque in 2017.