GAME 7
at Upper Iowa University (4-3, 3-1 GLVC)
Saturday, October 24
1 p.m. • Harms-Eischeid Stadium (Fayette, Iowa)

The Cardinals will be put to the test this week in their quest for a GLVC crown as they face off with Upper Iowa, who enters the week tied for the top spot in the league standings at 3-1 (4-3 overall). The Peacocks are coming off a 43-23 rout of Southwest Baptist and are led by sixth year head coach Jason Hoskins. 

Upper Iowa boasts one of the top defenses in the GLVC, leading the conference in fumble recoveries, passing yards allowed, and turnover margin and are second in total defense, allowing just 322.1 yards per outing. Offensively, everything runs through quarterback Zamar Wise. The senior has thrown every pass this season and is sixth in the GLVC with 1,156 yards also leads the team on the ground with a team high 534 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He has taken a beating this season though as the Peacocks have allowed 18 sacks to the tune of 2.57 per game. Evan Dorn paces the defense with 65 tackles while Jalen Hodo has three picks. 

CARDINALS vs. PEACOCKS
Despite having played football for 136 seasons, Jewell has played Upper Iowa only three times with the first coming in 2023. After the Cardinals won handedly in the initial meeting the Peacocks have taken the last two, including a 28-10 win last fall in Liberty.    

A DEMANDING FINISH
Jewell enters week eight at 4-2 overall, having already surpassed their win total from a year ago, but are looking for more. Currently, the GLVC sits out of range of an at-large bid to the NCAA playoff as the Cardinals are in front of the league currently ranked 19th, but one team will receive the GLVC's automatic bid with a regular season championship. The Cardinals are tied with Upper Iowa and Truman State at the top of the conference standings, all sitting at 3-1. The title will be decided on the field as the Peacocks and Bulldogs represent two of Jewell's final four opponents.  

SPECIAL TEAMS IMPACT
Jewell struggled offensively last weekend at Northeastern State with just 172 total yards but the bright spot was the special teams effort in setting up the offense. The Cardinals posted a season high 159 return yards, the most since having 201 against Southwest Baptist in November 2023. Davin Thomas picked up majority of those yards last Saturday, running for 117, including a 59 yard kick off return in the first half. 

BATTLE OF THE JASONS
For the second time this season, it will be a battle of the Jasons as William Jewell head coach Jason Ambroson faces off with Upper Iowa's Jason Hoskins. The Cardinals got the 28-21 win over McKendree and head coach Jason Rejfek earlier in the year. In his three seasons, Ambroson is 2-2 against coaches who share his name. 

ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY
The William Jewell football program currently sits at 596 wins all-time, with the first team fielded in 1888. With four more wins, the Cardinals will become the tenth Division II programs to reach the 600-win mark. Among the other nine are Pittsburg State, Tuskegee, Hillsdale, Carson-Newman, Central Oklahoma, West Chester, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Northwest Missouri State, and GLVC member, Truman State.