WAVERLY - The road to an Iowa Conference football championship and the NCAA Division III playoffs was never easy for Wartburg's senior class.

In each of the past two seasons, the Knights saw their postseason hopes squelched in the final game of the regular season in their own stadium.

Wartburg nearly suffered similar heartbreak Saturday afternoon.

But thanks to a missed extra-point attempt late in the fourth quarter by the University of Dubuque, the running of freshman Lamar Harvey and an overtime defensive stand, Wartburg seized the opportunity this time with a 20-13 victory at a cold and blustery Walston-Hoover Stadium.

The win, coupled with Central's 23-14 victory at Buena Vista, gave Wartburg (8-2, 7-1 IIAC) its first conference title and trip to the postseason since 2004.

"For four years, this is what we bled for and fought for," linebacker Eric Lauterbach said. "The feelings I have right now are so unique and special."

Wartburg head coach and athletic director Rick Willis ordered his sports information department not to announce the Central-Buena Vista score during Saturday's game. Wartburg and Buena Vista came into the day tied in the loss column, but the Beavers held the tiebreaker with their win over the Knights earlier in the season.

"I thought it was better for our team especially, but better for the environment for the focus to be on this game and what we can control," Willis said.

After Wartburg stopped Dubuque a yard short on fourth down in overtime to seal the victory, the team rushed the field in celebration and accepted the conference championship trophy from school president William Hamm. Minutes later, the Central-Buena Vista score was announced, and the crowd erupted.

"When we won and huddled for the trophy, I was on cloud nine," tight end Ryan Horner said. "Then, when I heard that BV score, I was on cloud 10. It was unbelievable."

Yes, one of Wartburg's biggest rivals came to the rescue.

"Right now, they're our best friends," quarterback Nick Yordi said.

Two years ago, it was Dubuque that kept Wartburg out of the playoffs with a 17-14 overtime victory. It was Central that clipped Wartburg in last year's finale, 17-14, for the IIAC title.

"They owe us one," Wartburg cornerback Josh Faaborg said of Central. "They've taken it from us a couple times. It was sweet how that worked out."

Wartburg almost let this one slip through its fingers.

The Knights led 13-7 with less than three minutes left until Dubuque quarterback Colton Hansen floated a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jean Metezier on fourth-and-eight.

"I couldn't believe it," Faaborg said. "My mouth just dropped when he caught it."

But after the score, Dubuque (2-7, 1-6) was whistled for a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration, making the point-after try a 35-yard attempt.

Kicking into a stiff breeze, Andrew Fioramonti misfired to keep the game tied.

"That becomes a tough, tough kick into the wind from that far," Willis said. "No question about it, it was a huge penalty."

After Wartburg's final drive in regulation stalled in Dubuque territory, the game went to overtime.

The Knights got the ball first, and Harvey and the offensive line took over.

Harvey, who had a career-high 214 yards on 40 carries, spun past a Spartan defender near the 10 and went in for an 18-yard TD run.

"We practice that every day," said the 5-foot-7, 165-pound Harvey. "Hit and spin. I just had to keep my knees going."

On a day when conditions didn't allow Wartburg to crank up its passing game, the league's worst rushing offense delivered. The Knights had 250 yards on the ground, and Harvey's 200-plus yard performance was the first for a Wartburg back since Andy Parker went for 236 against Augsburg in 2004.

"You can see how special Lamar is when you watch him," Hoerner said. "He's a little guy, but he runs hard, and he can juke people. He's hard to tackle."

Dubuque had one last chance to even the score, but tailback Jamar Curry was dropped a yard shy of the first down on fourth-and-six from the 21.

"Looking back at our history the last four years, and for it to come down to one fourth-down play, it's amazing how the game works like that," Lauterbach said.

Wartburg, which will learn its postseason destination a week from today, was the preseason conference favorite, but a loss to Buena Vista in early October left the Knights with no margin for error. The team rebounded with five consecutive wins.

"I think some people thought winning this championship was going to be easier for us than it was, but they don't give championships away," Willis said. "You have to earn them, and we had to earn this one every week."

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

Dubuque 7 0 0 6 0 ? 13

Wartburg 0 3 7 3 7 ? 20

First quarter

Dub - Mike Goodman 2 run (Jordan Williams kick), 1:03

Second quarter

Wart - FG Spencer Herzberg 20, 0:43

Third quarter

Wart ? Lamar Harvey 3 run (Herzberg kick), 5:35

Fourth quarter

Wart ? FG Herzberg 28, 5:57

Dub ? Jean Metezier 30 pass from Colton Hansen (kick failed), 2:35

Overtime

Wart ? Harvey 18 run (Herzberg kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

Dub. Wart.

First downs 17 22

Rushes-yards 47-194 61-250

Passing yards 107 114

Comp-Att-Int. 8-25-0 11-27-1

Punts-avg. 5-32.8 9-30.7

Return yards (-1) 9

Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-0

Penalties-yards 2-25 5-66

Time of possession 26:05 33:55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

DUBUQUE - Colton Hansen 33-161, Derek DeVries 6-28, Jamar Curry 5-15, Mike Goodman 2-4, Scott Heiar 1-minus 14.

WARTBURG - Lamar Harvey 40-214, Nick Yordi 9-20, Alex Boom 12-16.

Passing

DUBUQUE - Hansen 8-25-0, 107 yards.

WARTBURG - Yordi 11-27-1, 114 yards.

Receiving

DUBUQUE - Adam Burken 4-42, Jean Metezier 1-30, Edward McIntosh 1-30, Brennan Relaford 1-4, DeVries 1-1.

WARTBURG - Ryan Hoerner 5-66, Justin Vetter 4-30, Dan Bauder 1-11, Boom 1-7.