PELLA — An energizing start has raised the enthusiasm level for Saturday's Iowa Conference and home season opener for the Central College football team.
Buena Vista University (0-2) visits Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Dutch turned some heads by scoring a couple of notable road wins, knocking off nationally ranked Whitworth University (Wash.) in overtime, 50-49 Sept. 3, before using a 42-point second half to bolt past Augustana College (Ill.) last Saturday, 45-17.
"It's exciting to finally get to play at home," coach Jeff McMartin said. "The players are looking forward to it. We'll be able to dress everybody. It will be a good feeling to have the whole team on the sideline."
On the air and on the Web—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, will call the action on KRLS-FM (92.1), along with Dutch softball coach George Wares and sideline reporter Cory Houser. The KRLS pregame show will air at 12:35 p.m. The broadcast can also be accessed through www.kniakrls.com or directly at rdo.to/krls. It's also accessible via mobile device with the KRLS app available through iTunes and other outlets.
Video webcasts with Castle's play-by-play and live stats for all Dutch football home games can also be accessed via the Central athletics website at www.central.edu/athletics or directly at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/central/ .
On Mondays, Castle also plays host to McMartin on the KRLS Coaches' Corner broadcast live from Fred's dining establishment inside Central's Maytag Student Center at 7 p.m. Those broadcasts are also available on demand through www.kniakrls.com. A live video stream of the show can be accessed via the Central athletics website at www.central.edu/athletics.
The series—Central defeated Buena Vista at Pella last year, 38-23, and leads the all-time series with the Beavers 56-12. Buena Vista last prevailed in 2012.
The Beavers—Buena Vista knows all about tough non-conference schedules. The Beavers trekked to North Dakota and battled NAIA Mayville State University before falling 42-33, then had to take on No. 8 St. John's University (Minn.) last Saturday and were outscored 40-17.
The squad has 14 starters back from last year's 1-9 club which was winless in the league.
But coach Jeff McMartin said this year's video tells a different story.
"They're definitely better than last year," he said. "They've looked good and really played hard."
McMartin notes the Beavers had strong second-half showings in the two contests. After the break they outscored Mayville State 23-14 and St. John's 17-10.
"They really closed the gap," he said. "They're a good second-half team. They're very physical and have good athletes who run well."
Buena Vista is averaging 385.0 yards of offense while giving up 515.5 yards a game.
Senior quarterback Trevor Trunck has completed 37 of 66 passes for 468 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. He's rushed for 32.5 yards a game on 10 carries. Trunck is fifth in the conference in total offense (266.5 yards).
"He's looked good," McMartin said. "He makes good throws and makes good decisions."
Junior running back Cody Mowery rushed for 132 yards against Mayville State and is averaging 85.5 yards on 42 carries. Senior Jalen Henningsen is the top receiver with 15 catches for 230 yards. He had nine receptions for 140 yards against St. John's.
"That receiver has got some big-play potential," McMartin said. "They're going to challenge you.
"They run a lot of one-back sets but they will use a two-back set with a tight end at times."
Junior strong safety Brady Illg is averaging a team-high 7.0 tackles per game while sophomore Tyler Prescott is making 6.5.
"They play mostly a four-man front," McMartin said. "But they move around a lot up front. Their linebackers fly to the ball well. That outside linebacker is a really good player. He fills hard. And their defensive backs challenge every throw."
Punter Tyler Stoelen is second in the league with a 42.1-yard average.
Better defensive numbers—Despite surrendering 49 points in the overtime victory at Whitworth, McMartin was encouraged by the play of the Dutch defense. That evaluation was affirmed by Saturday's effort at Augustana. The Vikings were limited to 10 points in the game's first 55 minutes, adding a late score after the issue was already settled. Augustana managed just 14 first downs and 290 yards of offense, including only 34 on the ground.
"Our guys gave a great effort and that's a big part of playing defense," McMartin said. "You need to get to the ball and fly around making plays. That's been good. But there are some things we need to continue to clean up. We need to have a sense of urgency about that."
Offensive eruption—Mustering just three points until midway through the third quarter, the Dutch struck for six touchdowns in less than 15 minutes.
Central again displayed a diverse attack. Quarterback Riley Gray (senior, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) completed 17 of 26 passes for 193 yards with no interceptions and two touchdowns while also rushing for 79 yards and a score on just eight carries. Nate Boland (sophomore, Iowa City, West HS) played quarterback in the second quarter and part of the third, completing nine of 17 passes for 86 yards. Running back Donny Groezinger (sophomore, Sulphur Springs, Texas; Eastland, Ill. HS) ran for 88 yards and two TDs on nine carries. And wide receiver Sam Markham (senior, Atlantic) broke his own school record with 14 catches for 192 yards and two TDs.
McMartin loves having that kind of versatility available.
"We've been able to try to take advantage of areas that create good match-ups for us," he said. "We're not one-dimensional. When you have good quarterbacks in your system, that affords you that opportunity."
Poll watchers—After the Whitworth upset, Central was among those receiving votes in the D3football.com top 25 and this week received a few more but have not yet cracked the rankings. Iowa Conference rival Wartburg College is also receiving votes. Predictably, Mount Union (Ohio) and Wis.-Whitewater are ranked one-two.
Stat rankings—Season statistics based on just two games typically aren't too revealing but, nonetheless, Central is the early NCAA Division III leader in first downs, with an average of 32.0. That's a solid number given the school record for first downs in a game is 35. The Dutch are tied for 16th in Division III in total offense (551.0 yards), tied for 18th in scoring (47.5 points), 22nd in punt returns (19.1 yards) and 25th in passing (344.5 yards).
Individually, Markham is third in touchdown receptions (2.0), fifth in catches (11.5) and 18th in receiving yardage (139.5). Groezinger is 19th in rushing touchdowns (1.5). Receiver Zack Martinelli (senior, Elburn, Ill., Kaneland HS) is 12h in punt returns (19.2 yards).
Within the Iowa Conference, Central is first in total offense (551.0 yards), rushing defense (77.5 yards) and first downs (32). Martinellie is first in punt returns (19.1 yards).
He's Forever Dutch--Even 20 years after his retirement, Central fans have felt the intense gaze of coach Ron Schipper upon Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. That becomes more tangible with Saturday's unveiling of a seven-foot bronze statue of Schipper looking into the eyes of one of his players. Dedication of the statue, sculptured by nationally prominent artist Brian Hanlon of Toms River, N.J., is at 11 a.m. at Heritage Plaza inside Schipper Stadium. Schipper died in 2006 but his wife, Joyce, daughter Sara (Schipper) Russell '79 and son Tim '77 and their families are all making the trip from Holland, Mich. Tim isn't arriving until Saturday morning as he's an assistant football coach at Holland Christian High School, which plays Friday night.
No college dollars were used for the statue, which was funded by gifts from former Central players, coaches, staff members, cheerleaders and fans. The effort was led by John Edwards, a former Central player, coach and athletics administrator, and Al Dorenkamp, captain of Central's 1974 NCAA Division III championship team and former Dutch athletics director.
Notes— Buena Vista is traveling to Pella for the second straight year as league schedules were redrawn due to Nebraska Wesleyan's entrance into the league. Consequently, Central will be making the trip to Loras for the second year in a row next week…Saturday's game will also be Central's first of the season in Iowa…The first-ever Iowa Conference game to be played beyond the state's borders is set for Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska as Nebraska Wesleyan plays its first conference game, opening against preseason co-favorite Wartburg College…Markham needs seven catches to tie Chris Johnson's (1995-98) school-record 151 receptions. Markham stands fourth in career receiving yards with 1,909. Johnson holds that mark as well with 2,566. He's moved into a tie for seventh in career touchdown receptions with 14. Randy Busscher (1971-74), now in Central's Athletics Hall of Honor, holds that mark with 27.
Handicap parking available--For those with handicap parking tags or with any accessibility issues, parking for all home football games is available in the Central baseball field parking lot off of Fifield Road. Shuttles will be provided from the parking lot to the football ticket booth.
