Spartans Receive Votes in D3football Top 25 and Coaches Poll
Oct 21, 2013 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA – The University of Dubuque Football team is beginning to receive national recognition in the polls after their 38-14 win over previously unbeaten Coe College. The Spartans are off to a 4-2 start and sit atop the Iowa Conference at 3-0. UD received 14 votes in the D3football Top 25 for Week 7 and 13 votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Coaches Poll.
The Spartans have the top scoring offense in the Iowa Conference at 34.0 points per game and also lead the IIAC with a +8 turnover margin (15th in NCAA Division III). The UD offense leads the conference in passing offense (380.0 yards/game) and passing touchdowns (19). The Spartans rank ninth in Division III with a red zone offense scoring percentage of 90.9% (20 of 22 attempts have led to points). The Dubuque defense has a conference best 16 forced turnovers with nine interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. The Spartans kicking game is a perfect 27-27 in extra point attempts. UD is second in the IIAC in total offense (405.7 yards/game) and first downs (210).
Individually, wide receiver Tyler Rutenbeck (Maquoketa, Iowa/Maquoketa) has been the breakout performer of the 2013 season with an IIAC best 732 receiving yards (9th in DIII), 12 touchdown catches (2nd in DIII), 21.5 yards per reception (3rd in DIII), and 872 all-purpose yards. Rutenbeck set a new school record in the win against Coe with his 11th straight game with a touchdown reception. He is third in the league with 34 catches.
Senior Bryan Bradshaw (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge), a first year starter at quarterback for the Spartans, currently leads the Iowa Conference with 1,644 yards passing (274.0/game, 26th in DIII) and 19 touchdown passes (8th in DIII). He ranks second in the IIAC in completions (120), passing efficiency (143.9), and total offense (277.0 yards/game). Fellow senior Kyle Acker (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee) also leads the IIAC with 568 rushing yards (94.7/game) through six games. Acker moved into fourth place all-time at UD with 2,339 career rushing yards after running for 151 yards versus Coe.
The Spartans special teams have done a terrific job converting when called upon as Curtis Prull (Monticello, Iowa/Monticello) is a perfect 27-27 on extra points and 5-6 on field goals with a long of 40 yards. Prull’s 42 points is third in the IIAC and first among kickers. Shaun Grewal (Bakersfield, Calif./Golden Valley) leads the Iowa Conference with a 21.1 yards per kickoff return average.
The Spartans are currently starting seven sophomores on the defensive side of the ball including three on the defensive line. Leading the way defensively is Blaine Snitker (Waukon, Iowa/Waukon), who has an IIAC best 60 tackles. Reggie Cole, Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis./Wauwatosa West) is second in the Iowa Conference with eight passes defended. The 16 forced turnovers by UD ranks 24th in Division III.
The complete AFCA Poll can be found at: AFCA – October 21
The complete D3football.com Top 25 can be found at: D3football – Week 7
UP NEXT: The Spartans host Wartburg College (5-1, 3-0 in IIAC) on October 26th in a match-up of the last two undefeated teams in Iowa Conference play. Game time at Chalmers Field is 1:00 pm.
LIVE Video/Stats available at: UD Football Video/Stats or Listen LIVE with Tim Lary on 101.1 FM The River
Follow all UD Athletics action on Twitter at: @UDubuqueSports
