Wartburg football coach Chris Winter says he is proud of the senior class and what they were able to do for the program. The Knights lost at home to defending national champion North Central of Illinois 34-27 in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III playoff semifinals. It was their second straight heartbreaking loss in the semis.

Wartburg was looking for its first trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to play for the national title.

It capped a 13-1 season for the Knights.