WAVERLY - Snow covered the turf at Walston-Hoover Stadium early Monday.

Most seasons, that wouldn't be a concern. Wartburg's football equipment is usually in storage by now.

But after two Division III playoff road victories, school employees were clearing snow off the field Tuesday so the team could practice for Saturday's quarterfinal game at fifth-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater.

"I don't mind snow on the ground or how cold it is outside," senior receiver Justin Vetter said.

"I want to keep this going because this is the last chance I'll ever get."

Wartburg (10-2) is playing in December for the first time in school history.

"During one of our meetings recently, coach is like, 'Are you guys sick of this yet?'" tight end Ryan Hoerner said. "And we're like, 'Hell no.' We want to keep playing."

If the Knights have plans of making the final four - a destination they have never reached - they'll have to overcome a major hurdle in Whitewater.

The Warhawks (11-1) are the defending national champions and have advanced to the title game each of the past three seasons.

Even though it graduated 24 seniors from last year's squad, Whitewater has reloaded.

Offensively, the Warhawks are averaging nearly 35 points per game and rushing for more than 225 yards per contest. Defensively, only two opponents have tallied 20 or more points against them.

"This is the best team we've seen in the four years I've been here," Wartburg safety Jason Lansing said. "We're going to have to play our 'A' game and then some to have a chance to win."

Besides a potent running game with freshman Levell Coppage (1,375 yards) and sophomore Antwan Anderson (835 yards), Warhawks quarterback Jeff Donovan has thrown for 2,048 yards and 10 touchdowns.

That balance is a stark contrast to Wartburg's first two playoff opponents - Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Monmouth. Both of those programs were dependent on the pass.

"This team has a little more speed, is a little more physical and a little more complete than the other teams we've played," Wartburg head coach Rick Willis said. "It's certainly hard to find a weakness in their football team as you study them.

"This is by far the best-balanced team that we've faced in the playoffs and probably all year. It's going to be a tremendous challenge."

The Knights are confident and battle-tested. Whitewater's lone loss this season came at home to Stevens Point, 17-16 - a team Wartburg beat two weeks ago, 26-21. The Knights have won seven straight games, including five by 10 points or less.

Still, not many outsiders are expecting Wartburg to continue its storybook run.

"To win a game like this, that would really put us in the national spotlight," quarterback Nick Yordi said. "At the same time, we don't mind not getting much credit or notice right now. We're trying to stay under the radar and enjoy that underdog tag.

"We're going to come out and try and prove everybody wrong again. Just because it's Wisconsin-Whitewater, we're not going to roll over and play dead."

Contact Matt Coss at (319) 291-1468 or matt.coss@wcfcourier.com