Ian Kolste threw for 473 yards, and his backup, Leif Ericksen, threw for another 88. Whitworth athletics photo

Whitworth avenged last year's season-opening loss, while Wilmington and Sewanee each ended 19-game losing streaks under new coaches as the 2017 Division III football season opened in earnest. The Pirates handed Central a 43-point defeat, while Wilmington kept Earlham's losing streak alive and Sewanee defeated Kenyon.

Ian Kolste passed for 473 yards and six touchdowns, three to senior wide receiver Kevin Thomas, as Whitworth defeated Central 56-13 in Iowa. It was the second-worst loss in Central football history. The Pirates scored touchdowns on seven consecutive possessions to blow the game open and make it a lopsided affair after Central edged Whitworth 50-49 last season.

Wilmington jumped out to a 28-6 lead and was never challenged again as the battle of the Quakers went to the Ohio version, 49-20. The Earlham Quakers, from Indiana, lost for the 34th consecutive time. Eric Flynn ran for 120 yards on 10 carries, while Luke Creditt had 12 carries for 116 while also throwing for 167 yards in the win. It was Bryan Moore's first game as head coach. Wilmington's last win was in the 2015 season opener. 

The story was similar in Tennessee, where new coach Travis Rundle led Sewanee to a 45-20 win vs. Kenyon, giving the Tigers their first win since the 2015 opener as well. Sam Hearn and Alex Darras combined to complete 17 of 32 passes. Hearn finished 8-for-16 in his sophomore debut with 150 yards and a touchdown. Darras went 9-for-16 with 179 yards and a score in his Sewanee debut.

Berry had a key fumble and had a punt blocked in the first half, but recovered to shut out Maryville in the second half and rally to defeat the Scots 30-24. Trailing 24-13 at the half, Mamadou Soumahoro deflected a pass that Justin Akin picked off and returned to the Scots' 12. Berry scored to cut the lead to four, then got a three-and-out and Slade Dale found Trey Ciresi to cap a 64-yard drive and give Berry the lead. Dale finished 14-for-21 passing for 145 yards, while Jacob Collins had 112 yards on 22 carries.

Senior William Holscher connected on a 31-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining to lift Cortland past visiting Augustana 34-32. Augustana took a 32-31 lead on a Ryan Pitra 10-yard run with 1:50 remaining, followed by Jacob Stytz's PAT kick. Dakym Davis, however, returned the ensuing kickoff 43 yards to the Cortland 46-yard line. Steven Ferreira completed three straight passes, two to Nick Anderson, to advance the ball to the Augustana 24-yard line, then ran the ball down to the 17-yard line with about 40 seconds left. Ferreira finished 24-of-38 passing for 297 yards and four touchdowns. Mark DeLuise led Cortland's defense with 16 tackles, 12 solo, and an interception, while Isaac Hicks totaled eight tackles.

Lakeland opened a sparkling new stadium on its campus in Plymouth, Wis., in front of a standing-room only crowd, and Michael Whitley and the Muskies' offense gave them a show to remember. Whitley rolled up 539 yards of total offense, including a 99-yard touchdown pass, as Lakeland defeated Carroll 43-29. Whitley found Dezmen Morse for an 87-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to give the Muskies a 15-7 lead, then followed with a 99-yard TD to Jamal Hawkins-Sconiers after a misplayed punt return pinned Lakeland at its 1-yard line. Carroll scored twice in the final six minutes to cut into the lead.

In a game delayed by lightning, it took a little time for UW-Stevens Point to find a spark. But the Pointers did in defeating St. Norbert 34-33 in double overtime. Stevens Point scored on its first play to open the overtime on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Swigart to Nick Schroeder for a 27-20 lead. The Green Knights then needed four plays to tie the score on their series, with Elijah Fort scoring from 2 yards out. St. Norbert opened the second overtime and converted a third-and-goal from the 11 on a touchdown pass from Jack Becker to Samuel Staehling, but the point-after try was blocked to leave the score 33-27. Swigart then found Jonte Webb on the first play of the Pointers' possession, and Hayden Neidert's extra point was true to end a hard-fought contest. The Green Knights had a chance to win the game in regulation after forcing a Stevens Point fumble at the St. Norbert 32 with 2:49 to go. St. Norbert reached the Stevens Point 31 but had a play called back on an illegal formation penalty, and time expired after reaching the Pointers' 37.

Karsten Miller passed for 353 yards and four touchdowns in Guilford's 38-24 win at Huntingdon. Miller completed 16 passes to eight receivers, including five to sophomore Tyriek Russell, had 107 receiving yards and two scores. Russell's 50-yard catch and run on third down provided the game's final margin midway through the fourth quarter.

Nick Savant broke one school record and tied two others as Muhlenberg opened with a 62-19 win against Wilkes. Savant rushed 18 times for 271 yards and four touchdowns while catching two passes for 80 yards and another score. The 351 all-purpose yards broke the school record of 344 set by current assistant coach and D3football.com All-America selection Joshua Carter in 2000.

Buffalo State won a defensive battle from Bridgewater State, as the Bengals racked up 11 tackles for loss and broke up five passes in a 20-19 win. Kyle Hoppy threw two touchdown passes, including what proved to be the game-winner with 6:58 left in the game.

Grove City was not able to make its 10-point third-quarter lead stand up as Juniata scored 28 unanswered points to send the Wolverines to their 31st consecutive loss, 42-31. Austin Montgomery threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns, with Justin Helsel catching nine balls for 139 yards and three scores. The night belonged to Tyler Knighton in Glassboro, N.J., as he converted on two short field goals for the only points of the game in Rowan's 6-0 win vs. Widener.