Matt Behrendt
5th-ranked Wartburg dominated the first three quarters of their NCAA Division 3 quarterfinal game at Whitewater and took a 33-16 lead into the fourth quarter. That’s when the top-ranked Warhawks put their foot down and scored three unanswered touchdowns to pull out a 37-33 win at Perkins Stadium on Saturday.
The Warhawks reached the National semifinals by winning their 30th straight game, which is the longest active streak in any division of the NCAA.
Whitewater will face Linfield, which crushed Widener 45-7. Mount Union will take on Wesley in the other semifinal.
Running back Dennis Moore started the fourth quarter comeback with a 57 yard touchdown play on the second play of the fourth quarter. Then, after a Wartburg fumble, Warhawks quarterback Matt Behrendt hit tight end Derric Junakin for a 16-yard scoring strike to cut the gap to 33-30.
Behrendt hit Justin Howard for a 23-yard scoring strike to complete the comeback. Behrendt finished 21 for 32 for 345 yards and four touchdowns.
It means coach Lance Leipold will be around for at least another week, before heading to Buffalo where he was named head coach at Buffalo University last week.