DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College football team wraps up its nonconference schedule on Saturday, Sept. 19, traveling to St. Paul, Minn. to take on the University of Northwestern (Minn.) at Reynolds Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.

SCOUTING THE DUHAWKS

Loras enters week three averaging 28.0 points and 396.5 yards of total offense per game. The Duhawks have done most of their damage through the air, averaging 296.5 passing yards per contest, while the rushing attack took a step forward with 153 yards against Benedictine. Loras is averaging 6.8 yards per offensive play through its first two games.

Quarterback Joey Helminiak leads an offense that has shown big-play ability early in the season. Helminiak has completed 40-of-69 passes for 593 yards and four touchdowns while also accounting for two rushing touchdowns. After throwing for 383 yards and three scores against St. Olaf, the senior threw for 210 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing score against Benedictine.

The ground game showed improvement in week two behind Jeremy Pittman, who rushed for 95 yards on 12 carries, including a 57-yard run. Loras averaged 7.0 yards per rushing attempt against Benedictine after being held to 48 yards on the ground in its opener.

Defensively, turnovers have been an early strength for the Duhawks. Loras has intercepted five passes through two games, including four in the season-opening victory over St. Olaf. The defense added three sacks against Benedictine, while Will Speltz led the unit with 10 tackles and Braxten Johnson followed with nine.

The Duhawks enter week three ranking in the top two in total offence and defense in the American Rivers Conference. The Purple and Gold are tied for second in scoring offense, putting up 28.0 points per game, while giving up 22.0 points per game.

DUHAWKS TO WATCH

Helminiak will once again be at the center of the Loras offense. The senior quarterback is averaging has accounted for six total touchdowns through the first two weeks. His 8.6-yards per pass attempt has helped the Duhawks create explosive plays through the air.

Pittman is another name to watch after his performance against Benedictine. The freshman made the most of his first extended action, rushing for an average of 7.9 yards per attempt. His 57-yard run is Loras' longest rushing play through two games.

In the passing game, Washington and Isaac Oster have each produced standout performances. Washington caught five passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, while Oster followed with seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown against Benedictine.

On defense, Brandon Glover Jr. enters Saturday having recorded an interception in each of the first two games. Speltz and Johnson have been active around the football as well, combining for 19 tackles against Benedictine.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

Northwestern returns home looking for its first win after opening the season with losses to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Central. Despite its 0-2 start, the Eagles showed offensive potential in week two, scoring 20 points in the second quarter against Central and entering halftime down just 23-20 before the Dutch pulled away for a 51-27 victory.

The Northwestern offense has leaned on its passing attack behind quarterback Elijah Alexander. Against Central, the Eagles threw for 238 yards compared to 60 on the ground. Alexander completed 16-of-25 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in the contest.

Northwestern's receiving corps gives Alexander several options. Trey Ulmer is coming off a four-catch, 84-yard performance in which he caught two touchdowns. Braeden Little recorded eight receptions for 70 yards, while Isaiah Voss added four catches for 62 yards against Central. Little entered the season after earning Second Team All-UMAC honors as a freshman in 2025.

Stopping the run will be an area of emphasis for the Eagles after Central rushed for 342 yards and seven touchdowns on 55 attempts last Saturday. Northwestern did find some success on third down defensively, holding Central to three conversions on nine attempts.

EAGLES TO WATCH

Alexander provides Northwestern with a dual-threat option at quarterback and will be a key scout for the Duhawks. Through the air, Alexander has yet to throw an interception in Northwestern's first two games.

Ulmer enters Saturday following his best performance of the young season. The receiver caught two touchdowns against Central, scoring 21 and 37-yard TD receptions during Northwestern's 20-point second quarter.

Little is another key piece of the passing attack. After earning Second Team All-UMAC honors in 2025 with 454 receiving yards and three touchdowns, Little caught eight passes for 70 yards last week.

Defensively, Alex Schultz and Gideon Cruver are coming off double-digit tackle performances. Schultz recorded 12 tackles against Central, while Cruver finished with 10 tackles and a sack.

BY THE NUMBERS

Loras enters Saturday as the American Rivers Conference leader in passing offense, averaging 296.5 yards through the air per game. The Duhawks also rank second in the conference in total offense at 397.0 yards per game, trailing only Simpson. Their 28.0 points per game are tied for second in the league through the opening two weeks.

The Duhawks have also been among the conference's best at protecting the football and creating turnovers. Loras' defense leads the A-R-C with their five interceptions, while the Duhawk offense has allowed only one sack through 117 offensive plays.

Aiden Konig also leads the conference in punting at 46.3 yards per punt, with a league-best 42.0 net punting average.

Defensively, Loras has allowed 22.0 points per game, the second-lowest mark in the A-R-C through two weeks. The Duhawks are also allowing 133.5 rushing yards per contest and have held opponents to 38.7 percent on third down.
 
Saturday will mark just the second meeting all-time between Loras and Northwestern. The Duhawks have a 1-0 advantage in the series, with the only previous meeting taking place in 2021.