PELLA—A dramatic fourth-quarter return to action by injured Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) quarterback Tyler Teeple sparked the Lutes to a 27-21 overtime NCAA Div. III playoff victory Saturday, ending Central College's season.
           
Pacific Lutheran, which scored a 27-26 overtime first-round playoff win at Whitworth (Wash.) last week, heads back on the road to meet St. John's (Minn.) at Collegeville, Minn.  Next Saturday for the fourth consecutive year.  The Johnnies edged Wis.-Stevens Point, 9-7.
           
Central takes lead--In the matchup of tradition-rich programs, Central had grabbed a 21-7 lead behind a breakout performance by reserve freshman tailback Tyler Baethke (Williamsburg).  He rushed for a career-high 139 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
           
Westering turns to Teeple--But with a fierce wind at his team's back and trailing by 14 points with eight minutes remaining in the game, 73-year-old coach Frosty Westering rolled the dice and turned to his veteran quarterback.  Teeple had been sidelined since midway through the season with a shoulder separation.
           
"Central came out so well prepared," Westering said.  "They took it to us in the first half and for much of the second half as well.  We were struggling, so I had a call to make there.  I asked Tyler if he could play and he said he could.  He came in and gave us stability."
           
Teeple directed the Lutes on two late scoring drives.  They moved 63 yards on three plays, getting a 48-yard Aaron Binger touchdown run on a draw play, making it 21-14 with 6:57 left.  Then they marched 65 yards on seven plays, with Todd McDevitt catching a 10-yard Teeple found Kevin Giboney on an eight-yard TD pass for the victory.
           
"I felt we could do it," Teeple said.  "We just needed a chance and the good Lord gave us that. It was a crazy fourth quarter."
           
Staying poised--Westering said his club didn't panic when it fell behind.
           
"I've been behind in so many games in my career, that I've learned it doesn't do any good to worry," Westering said.  "We've got two sayings.  'The longer we play, the better we get', and 'somebody's going to find a way to win.'  These players really believe that."
           
Another banner year for the Dutch--Central coach Rich Kacmarynski, who piloted Central to its fourth straight playoff berth in his five seasons at the helm, told his players to hold their heads high.
           
"We made some mistakes, but you have to tip your hat to Pacific Lutheran," he said.  "It was an honor to play those guys.  Yet, it was a brutal loss.  But to lose to a quality football team like PLU, there's no shame in that.
           
"There weren't many people last July who thought we could be here," Kacmarynski added.  "We graduated 24 seniors last year.  I'm just so proud of this team and these players for all they've accomplished.  We graduate some great seniors once again, but I know they're going to leave here and go on to have great careers, and become great husbands and fathers."
           
Future star--It was a break-out day for Baethke, part of a strong freshman class that gives Kacmarynski high hopes for the future.  But Baethke wasn't thinking about next year after the game.
           
"We never gave up," he said.  "This game hurts.  It kind of rips your heart out.
           
"I haven't been here that long, but these seniors mean a lot to me.  It's hard to see these guys leave."
           
Turnovers costly--Four turnovers proved costly for the Dutch.  They moved to the Pacific Lutheran 39-yard line on the first drive, only to have Seth Berghoff come up with the first of three interceptions, giving him a team-best seven on the season.
           
A lost fumble at the Central 46 with 6:59 left in the first quarter set up a Lutes' touchdown on the very next play.  Freshman quarterback Dusty Macauley hit running back Aaron Binger on a 46-yard scoring pass down the sideline.
           
Momentum shifts with the wind--But the 20-25 mph south wind proved to play a huge factor in the game.  Central had the wind in the second quarter and rallied to take the lead. Quarterback Jeff Borgman (senior, Indianola) tied it on a six-yard TD run, then Baethke scored from 12 yards out with just 48 seconds left in the half.  That made it 14-7 Dutch at the break.
           
With the wind at their backs again in the third period, the Dutch missed two scoring opportunities with an interception in the end zone and a missed field goal.  Baethke finally broke through opporutinities with an interception in the end zone and a missed field goal.  Baethke finally broke through with a 25-yard TD run with 13 seconds left in the period, putting Central up 21-7.
           
But the fourth quarter proved to be all Pacific Lutheran.
           
"My personal opinion is the wind had a lot to do with (the comeback)," Kacmarynski said.  "And we were unable to move the ball enough to burn the clock.  They did a good job of shutting down our run."
           
Pacific Lutheran outgained Central, 429 yards to 315.  Central held a 192-176 yard advantage in rushing but the Lutes passed for 253 yards to 123 for the Dutch.  Binger had 153 yards rushing on 18 carries for Pacific Lutheran.  Macauley completed 11 of 27 passes for 125 yards while Teeple completed eight of 11 passes of 98 yards and two TDs in his brief appearance. Linebacker Joey Mertlich had 12 tackles for the Lutes, including three for loss.
           
Dutch numbers--Borgman closed his Central career by completing 12 of 26 passes for 123 yards. Stand-out receiver Chris McCullough (senior, Pleasantville) had four catches for 47 yards.  That gave him 53 receptions for 726 yards for the year.  Defensive tackle Shawn De Waard (senior, Pella) had 10 tackles, a fumble recovery and a sack, giving him a team-best 14 sacks on the year.  Defensive back Eric Beer (junior, Iowa Falls) had nine tackles while freshman linebacker Mark Sanger (Britt) saw him most extensive action of the year and had seven tackles.  Defensive back Bric Nelson (senior, De Soto) had six tackles and returned three punts for 64 yards.
           
It was a record 16^th Div. III playoff appearance for the Dutch, who won their 25^th Iowa Conference title and their third in four years.