DUBUQUE, Iowa – Following a season-opening victory inside the Rock Bowl, the Loras College football team hits the road for the first time in 2026 on Saturday, Sept. 12, traveling to Lisle, Ill. for a non-conference match up against Benedictine University.

LAST TIME OUT

Loras opened the 2026 season with a 31-16 victory over St. Olaf College, producing 428 yards of total offense while forcing four interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. The Duhawks averaged 6.9 yards per play and held the Oles to just 3-of-16 on third down.

Quarterback Joey Helminiak led the offensive effort, completing 21-of-36 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns without an interception while also adding a rushing score. His 383 passing yards ranked second among all NCAA Division III quarterbacks during the opening week and earned him American Rivers Conference Offensive Athlete of the Week honors.

Isaiah Washington was Helminiak's top target, catching five passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Washington found the end zone from 38 yards out late in the second quarter before putting the game away with a 71-yard touchdown reception with 2:49 remaining. Preston Ellis added four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, while Isaac Oster finished with five receptions for 48 yards.

The Duhawk defense was equally impactful. Ivis McNeal, Charles Williams, Braxten Johnson and Brandon Glover Jr. each recorded an interception, while Will Speltz led Loras with 11 tackles. Henry Ivers added eight tackles and Williams finished with seven.

HELMINIAK STARTS FAST

Helminiak enters Week Two averaging more than 10 yards per completion. He accounted for four total touchdowns in the opener and did not turn the ball over through the air.

His performance marked the centerpiece of a Loras passing attack that accounted for nearly 90 percent of the Duhawks' 428 offensive yards against St. Olaf.

BIG-PLAY CONNECTION

Washington's season-opening performance provided the Duhawks with an immediate vertical threat. His 168 receiving yards represented nearly 44 percent of Loras' passing offense, and he averaged 33.6 yards per reception. Washington currently ranks fifth in the A-R-C in catches and ranks second in receiving yards.

TAKE IT AWAY

The Duhawks' ability to create turnovers played a major role in the opener, particularly as St. Olaf finished with 361 total yards but managed just 16 points. Loras also kept the Oles off schedule by allowing only three successful third-down conversions in 16 attempts.

SPECIAL TEAMS IMPACT

Punter Daniel Giusto also earned A-R-C recognition following the opener. Giusto punted four times for 186 yards, averaging 46.5 yards per punt, with two punts traveling more than 50 yards. One of those kicks pinned St. Olaf inside its own five-yard line.

Kicker Aiden Konig converted all four extra-point attempts and connected on a 22-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, accounting for seven points.

SCOUTING BENEDICTINE

Benedictine also enters week two undefeated after rolling to a 41-14 road victory over Buena Vista University in its opener.

The Eagles totaled 453 yards of offense on just 56 plays, averaging 8.1 yards per snap. Benedictine displayed a balanced attack with 252 yards through the air and 201 on the ground while scoring five offensive touchdowns.

Quarterback Marcus Martin completed 19-of-26 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Martin completed 73.1 percent of his passes and averaged 9.7 yards per attempt.

His top target was Alex Siebens, who hauled in five passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring receptions of 48 and 31 yards. Jason Moore Jr. added four receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown.

POSPISIL POWERS THE GROUND GAME

While Loras did most of its damage through the air in week one, Benedictine leaned on a productive rushing attack.

Tyler Pospisil carried the ball 14 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.4 yards per attempt. His night included a 42-yard touchdown run during the second quarter.

As a team, Benedictine averaged 6.7 yards per rushing attempt, while Buena Vista managed just 56 rushing yards and 2.4 yards per carry against the Eagle defense.

BATTLE ON THIRD DOWN

Loras converted 25 percent of its third downs against St. Olaf but was outstanding defensively, allowing the Oles to convert just 18.8 percent of their opportunities.
Benedictine converted 4-of-8 third downs against Buena Vista and held the Beavers to 4-of-11.

MATCHUP HISTORY

This week's matchup marks the ninth time these two squads have met, with the very first meeting happening in 1996. Loras leads the overall series 5-3, but have lost the last two meetings. The last Duhawk win came during week one of the 2023 season, a 42-41 victory.