PELLA—Soaring numbers are anticipated both on the thermometer and the scoreboard Saturday as the Central College football team debuts against high-powered Whitworth University (Wash.).
           
Game time for the 2017 opener is 1 p.m. at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella. It's the first of six home games on the 10-game Dutch slate.

On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, will call Saturday's action on KRLS-FM (92.1), along with hall of fame Central softball coach George Wares and sideline reporter Libbie Randall, a Central senior. 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.

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.
Twitter users can follow Saturday's action through the Central football account @CUI_Football.

The sequel—Saturday's game will have difficulty matching the drama of last year's first-ever Whitworth-Central meeting in Spokane, Wash., a 50-49 overtime Dutch triumph. Central surprised the nationally ranked Pirates, converting a Kohle Helle (senior, Guttenberg, Clayton Ridge HS) two-point conversion on the game's final play.

The two teams combined for 1,197 yards of offense, including 880 through the air, and played at a breakneck pace, running 206 plays. Central's 406 passing yards set a new school record.

"They're well-coached," Dutch coach Jeff McMartin said.

The Pirates—Whitworth rebounded to finish 8-2 last year and returns 13 starters, including eight on offense. All-Northwest Conference quarterback Ian Kolste is back for his senior campaign. He riddled the Dutch for 467 yards and three touchdowns last year, completing 38 of 56 passes. Wide receivers Michael McKeown, Garrett McKay and Kevin Thomas also return, along with D3football.com third-team all-America tight end Nick Kiourkas. McKay, another all-conference pick, had 72 catches for 1,024 yards with eight touchdowns, Thomas had 51 receptions for 689 yards and six TDs while Kiourkas had 38 grabs for 537 yards and seven scores.

Senior linebacker Patch Kulp racked up 70 tackles last year and is the top defensive returnee.

Also back is all-conference kicker Rehn Reiley, who converted 7 of 14 field goals and 47 of 49 extra points.

McMartin is braced for another all-out Whitworth assault.

"They've got a lot of their offense back," he said. "They're a team with a lot of speed and physically, they're obviously one of the best teams we play. We're planning on them going on a fast track like last year.

"The hard thing about the first game is you never know, the other team could revamp everything and run something completely different. We just have to be ready for everything. We're practicing against a lot of different looks, which is what you have to do to get ready for the season."

Pressure will be on the Dutch to match Whitworth's offensive production.

"We've got to make plays," McMartin said. "We can't miss opportunities. If we get in the red zone, we need to score and it probably better be a touchdown.

"Defensively, we don't want to give up any big plays. We did at times in last year's game and it hurt us. That's something the defense has to manage."

Coach McMartin—McMartin enters his 14th season with a 101-35 (.743) record. He's piloted the Dutch to four conference titles and four NCAA Division III playoff berths and is one of two Division III coaches to serve on the American Football Coaches Association's board of trustees.

Veteran squad—Central has 42 letterwinners back from last year's 8-2 club, including six offensive starters and five defensive, with 32 seniors.

Lineup decisions—As anticipated, junior Nate Boland (Iowa City, West HS) will get the opening nod at quarterback. He completed 61 of 95 passes for 592 yards in a part-time role last year.

"Nate's picked up where he left off last year," McMartin said. "He's been a big part of our offense the last two years and he's capable of handling a lot more now.

"Nate knows what he wants to do with the football and is ready to make decisions."
Helle, who will start at wide receiver, also serves as Boland's backup, but McMartin has been impressed with some freshman signal-callers as well. They could see action as the season unfolds.

The quarterbacks can rely on the 2016 Division III receptions leader, Sam Markham (senior, Atlantic) back to polish his record-breaking resume after averaging a national-best 10.5 catches per game last fall. He set school season (1,215) and career (2,845) receiving yards records as well as marks for receptions in a game (15), season (2015) and career (226).

The early returns on another spirited comeback bid by running back Pat Gray (junior, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) are encouraging. Gray, who missed last season with his second major injury, is making steady progress and listed as sharing a starting spot with Donny Groezinger (junior, Sulphur Springs, Texas, Eastland, Ill. HS). Groezinger, who also missed time with injury, rushed for 406 yards on 99 carries last year. Junior Nathan Fitzgerald (junior, Elkader, Central HS) was last season's top rusher with 738 yards on 138 attempts and four TDs.

"We know we've got three good running backs with experience," McMartin said. "Pat Gray got through Saturday in good shape, and that's a good thing. Each time he plays, he looks more and more like the old Pat. He's a great competitor and a great athlete.

"Donny (Groezinger) also factors into the offense very prominently. He's good in the open field, has good vision and good hands."

Kicking questions—The open placekicking job will go to sophomore Jon Alberts (Huntley, Ill.).

"He's looked really good," McMartin said. "He's made the kicks we need him to make."

Punting wasn't a question until returning starter Cam Kiner (junior, Craig, Neb., Oakland HS) was injured in the preseason. But junior Tyler Bryant (Donnellson, Central Lee HS) has eased McMartin's mind by seizing the opportunity.

"Tyler has looked good," McMartin said. "He'll keep getting better. He's punted in JV games for us and took a big step from his freshman year to sophomore year. He's taking another big step this year."

McMartin is also comfortable with some new starters in the offensive line and at linebacker. The Dutch appear to have one of their better units up front. And they're filling a big hole at tight end with two big players. Senior P.J. Norem (Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) is 6-foot-4, 255 pounds while powerful 6-0, 275-pound sophomore transfer Zach Samson (Baxter) quickly climbed to the No. 2 spot. He's the younger brother of graduated Central defensive lineman Danny Samson, the 2013 conference defensive player of the year.

Successful scrimmage—The Dutch staged their Red-White scrimmage Saturday. McMartin said it went well, with a caveat.

"As a head coach, you never feel really good at a scrimmage. When you have a great score, then you wonder if it was bad defense. You have to step back and keep it in perspective."

But there was much he liked.

"We came out of it healthy," he said. "And we got a lot of (repetitions) for a lot of guys."

Great hospitality—Last year's game was Central's longest regular-season road trip and Whitworth's staff was gracious in helping ease the logistical obstacles, McMartin said.

"It was a good experience," he said. "We were able to get to places on time. Credit Whitworth for all the help we received. We ate at their cafeteria last year and now they're going to eat at ours. We want to do our best to be good hosts."

Notes—At least one Whitworth player has some additional familiarity with Central. Freshman wide receiver Andrew Meredith is the younger brother of William Meredith, who graduated from Central last spring and played wide receiver…The Dutch have traditionally thrived with an undersized offensive line. By Central standards, this year's unit is bulky. The starters average around 275 pounds and, of the six players listed as potentially filling the five spots, only one weighs less than that…Central fans have plenty of opportunities to see the Dutch this fall. Three of the first four games are at home and there are only four road games, one of which is just 45 minutes down the road as Central travels to Indianola to meet Simpson College Sept. 30…The 13-man Dutch coaching staff includes 12 Central grads. Highly regarded offensive coordinator Ryan Maiuri, the outsider, was a standout performer at Lakeland College (Wis.).

Central College two-deep roster
OFFENSE
QB       16        Nate Boland (6-1, 195, jr.)                   87        Kohle Helle (5-10, 185, sr.)
RB       8         Pat Gray (5-11, 205, jr.)
or         4         Donny Groezinger (5-9, 185, so.)
SB       28        Kyle Gritsch (6-1, 205, sr.)                  44        Daniel Coovert (5-10, 220, jr.)
TE       83        P.J. Norem (6-4, 255, sr.)                   13        Zach Samson (6-0, 275, so.)
WR      18        Kohle Helle (5-10, 185, sr.)                 2         P.J. Carey (6-0, 160, sr.)
WR        5        Sam Markham (6-2, 170, sr.)              20        Hunter Robinson (6-0, 170, so.)
LT        51        Steven Peterman (6-4, 245, sr.)          68        Cody Smith (6-4, 280, so.)
LG       65        Tylor Newhouse (6-0, 275, jr.) 58        Joshua Mayhew (6-0, 240, fr.)
C         57        Josh Brunk (6-2, 275, sr.)                   50        Edmond Henning (6-0, 260, sr.)
RG       53        Jake Suggett (5-10, 300, so.) 
or         59        Tyler Christensen (5-9, 310, sr.)
RT       76        Cal Smith (6-4, 275, sr.)                      74        Max Hytone (6-5, 305, sr.)
 
DEFENSE      
DE       95        Justin Dilks (602, 255, sr.)                  85        Jake Hasley (6-1, 250, jr.)
NG       91        Wesley Wheat (5-11, 260, sr.)            93        Martin Olson (6-1, 245, so.)
DE       60        Jared Keenan (6-1, 230, sr.)               97        Matt Seabold (6-0, 230, sr.)
OLB     48        Josh Scheible (5-9, 195, sr.)               36        Tate O'Tool (5-11, 185, so.)
ILB       2         Tyler Olson (5-11, 220, sr.)                 33        Carson Remick (5-11, 220, sr.)
ILB       42        Sam Norgaard (6-1, 215, sr.)              34        Andy Butts (6-0, 185, sr.)
OLB     5         Chris Neeld (5-10, 195, sr.)                 30        Scott Sievert (6-0, 205, jr.)
CB       14        Danny Anderson (6-0, 185, so.)          1         Nick Greteman (5-11, 200, sr.)
SS       22        Jordan Borman (5-9, 165, so.)            10        Josiah Soderstrum (5-10, 190, jr.)
FS       7          Collin Erickson (5-11, 190, jr.)             9         Tate Jensen (6-0, 180, sr.)
CB       25        Trevor Smith (5-9, 180, jr.)                  21        Ryan Sprain (5-9, 180, so.)
 
SPECIALTY
K          19        Jon Alberts (5-11, 175, so.)
P          45        Tyler Bryant (6-0, 185, jr.)
KR       12        Connor Lewin (6-1, 190, so.)                
            14        Danny Anderson (6-0, 185, so.)
PR       14        Danny Anderson (6-0, 185, so.)
LS        33        Carson Remick (5-11, 220, sr.)
H         2         P.J. Carey (6-0, 160, sr.)
 
2017 Central College football schedule
(0-0 overall, 0-0 conference)
Sept. 2             Whitworth (Wash.)      Pella                1 p.m.
Sept. 9             Augustana (Ill.)            Pella                1 p.m.
Sept. 16           Buena Vista                Storm Lake      1 p.m.
Sept. 23           Nebraska Wesleyan    Pella                1 p.m.
                        Homecoming
Sept. 30           Simpson                      Indianola         1 p.m.
Oct. 7              Wartburg                     Pella                1 p.m.
Oct. 14            Coe                             Cedar Rapids  1 p.m.
Oct. 28            Loras                           Pella                1 p.m.
Nov. 4              Luther                          Decorah          1 p.m.
Nov. 11            Dubuque                     Pella                1 p.m.