University of Dubuque

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team quieted yet another road homecoming crowd with a 56-27 point victory over the host Simpson College Storm. The Spartans improved to 3-0 in American Rivers Conference play and a 4-2 overall mark in 2026. UD is tied at the top of the league standings with Coe College (4-2 overall, 3-0 in A-R-C) and Wartburg College (4-2 overall, 3-0 in A-R-C).

UD used a balance attack with 276 yards passing and a season high 267 yards of rushing for 543 total yards in the lopsided victory. The Spartans gained an average of 7.5 yards per play after running 72 plays and gaining 34 first downs. UD made quick work on offense and trailed in possession time 25:18 to the Storm's 34:42. UD converted on 7 of 10 third downs and scored every chance in the red-zone, a perfect 4-4.

UD scored 14 points in the opening quarter, scored just seven in the second quarter and trailed at halftime 24-21. The second half was all Spartans, UD scored 21 points in the third quarter and 14 points in the final quarter of play and held the host Storm to just a field goal in the third quarter. 

Offensively the Spartans were led by quarterback Joey Rhomberg who completed 22-34 passing attempts for a game high 276 yards passing with his longest being from 51 yards. He passed for six touchdowns and rushed eight times for 44 yards including a touchdown. Noah Roling led the ground attack with 17 carries for 113 yards and never lost a yard in the game and averaged 6.6 yards a carry. Peter Lee Jr. rushed six times for 42 yards and Isaiah Martinez ran three times for 15 yards. Back-up quarterback Lawrence Wells rushed twice for 54 yards which included a 51 yard scamper for a touchdown in the second half. 

Kali Freeman caught 12 passes for 163 yards and four touchdowns with his longest catch being for 51 yards. Cameron Brown grabbed three passes for 45 yards and Elijah Peters had three catches for 33 yards. Brady Buchmann punted just twice for 74 yards and placed the ball inside the 20 once. Bennett Harp kicked off seven times for 324 yards (46.3 avg.), Nick Gattuso kicked twice for 97 yards, and Buchmann had one for 42 yards. Harp was a perfect 8-8 in extra points for the Spartans. Jeremiah Speer returned three punts for 16 yards, Isaac Behnke returned one kickoff for three yards, and Timothy Graddy had one kick return for 14 yards.

Ben Egan led the Spartans defense with 11 tackles. Giovanni Rivera finished with 10 tackles and a tackle for loss. Mike Westbrooks had nine tackles which included three tackles for losses of 17 yards and a pair of sacks for losses of 11 yards and two quarterback hurries.

UD will host #15 Wartburg College next week on Chalmers Field at 1:00 p.m. The Knights beat Loras College 68-7 in Dubuque this week. The Knights have scored 69 points in A-R-C opener at NWU (69-26), hosted BVU in a 72-14 final, and put another 60+ point game against the Duhawks. The Spartans have opened A-R-C play with a 35-13 road victory over the Central College Dutch, beat NWU 44-22, and went over the 50+ point mark against the Simpson College Storm.