PELLA—It's bidding for its fastest start since 2009, but the Central College football team is retaining its laser-like focus on the game ahead, according to coach Jeff McMartin.
           
And that contest is Saturday's homecoming tilt against Buena Vista University (1-3 overall, 0-2 American Rivers Conference) at 1 p.m. at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
           
Central is 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the league after roaring past the University of Dubuque 35-13 on the road Saturday. Buena Vista saw Coe College break open a tight game in a 35-14 defeat at Storm Lake.
           
The Dutch haven't started 5-0 in nine years, but that's not a stat that interests McMartin.
           
"Just because you're playing at home or you're undefeated doesn't mean you're going to win a football game," he said. "You've got to continue to do things right. We're a team that plays one game at a time and this has to be the most important game of the season at this time.
           
"Our theme for the week is we have to keep getting better. When you watch the film, you see many things that we have to improve upon."
           
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, will call Saturday's action on KRLS-FM (92.1), with NFCA Hall of Fame softball coach George Wares providing the color. 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 plays host to McMartin on the KRLS Coaches' Corner at 7 p.m. Those broadcasts are also available on demand through www.kniakrls.com.
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/.

Twitter users can follow Saturday's action through @CentralDutch.
           
Moving up—Central's fast start is drawing notice. The Dutch are the top vote-getter outside the top 25 in the American Football Coaches Association poll and are receiving increasing support in the D3football.com top 25.
           
The series—Buena Vista knocked off the Dutch 39-38 in overtime at Storm Lake last year for the first time since 2012, but Central holds a 57-13 lead in the teams' all-time series, which began in 1928.
           
The Beavers—Buena Vista opened with a 39-27 victory over Hamline University (Minn.) but is winless since. The Beavers were trailing Coe 21-14 Saturday and driving for the tying score but an interception at the 3-yard line was returned 97 yards for the score.
           
But after last season's setback at Storm Lake, Buena Vista has Central's full attention.
           
"Buena Vista always plays us close," McMartin said. "They have some weapons and they're well-coached. In a lot of ways, they're a better football team this year than they were last year, and we know how that went."
           
Second-team all-conference senior quarterback Cole Miller returns from that squad and he passed for 358 yards and three touchdowns against the Dutch, completing 26 of 42 passes. He also rushed for 21 yards and a touchdown. Miller has completed 64 of 126 passes this season for 813 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He's also rushed for 105 yards.
           
"It starts with their quarterback," McMartin said. "He just makes plays. He throws the ball well but he's also mobile, so he's able to make things happen. You have to work to contain him and not let him get going because he got going on us last year."
           
Sophomore receiver Eric Pacheco is a difference-maker. He's tied for first in the league with 20 receptions and is also first in receiving yards with 500. He's second in scoring with five touchdowns. Pacheco also handles punt and kick returns and ranks first in all-purpose yardage with 200.2 yards per game.
           
"They've got some good backs and some good wide receivers," McMartin said. "They get open and make catches and you can tell there's some speed there. We have to be conscious of their big-play ability."
           
Sophomore linebacker Reed Kruse is the league's tackles leader with 47, including 22 solos. Senior defensive tackle Quamaree Harris is tied for first in sacks with four.
           
"What they do defensively is very similar," McMartin said. "They've got some very good defensive linemen up front who we've been impressed with. Their linebackers are very physical and they have good speed. Kruse is really fast. And their secondary is very solid. They make it tough."
           
Smith on all-time NCAA chart—Cornerback Trevor Smith (junior, Audubon) shattered Central's pass break-ups record Saturday with eight, including one on fourth down, as the Dutch shut out Dubuque for the first three quarters. That ranks second on the NCAA Division III all-time list for passes defended, which combines break-ups and interceptions. James Patrick of Stillman College (Ala.) set the record with 10 in 2002, with five break-ups and five interceptions in one game. Smith tied Johnny Kelley of Williams (Mass) (2001) and Chantz Singletary of Texas Lutheran (2013). Central's Eric Larson had seven against Dubuque in 2014 and is tied for fifth on the NCAA list.
           
Smith was named to the D3football.com team of the week. He has nine pass break-ups for the year and needs just three more to crack Central's all-time top 10.
           
"He played a whale of a game," said McMartin, who is enthused about his young defense's progress, particularly since the Dutch were playing shorthanded Saturday due to injuries.
           
"I was really pleased with how our secondary and linebackers did from the standpoint of coverage," he said. "Tre Wilridge played very well. (Strong safety) Jordy Borman (junior, Eagan, Minn.) continues to make big plays for us. (Free safety) Collin Erickson (senior, Gilbert, Ariz., Dobson HS) and (strong safety) Tate Jensen (senior, De Soto, ADM HS) also are doing a nice job."
           
McMartin also cited Central's outside linebackers.
           
"Josiah Soderstrum (senior, Story City, Roland-Story HS), Connor Lewin (junior, Stillman Valley, Ill.) and Tate O'Tool (junior, Fort Dodge, St. Edmond HS) cover well but they're also really physical. They're our top tacklers and they've got great speed. They really fly around and make plays."
           
Defensive coordinator Nick Mulder merits credit as well, McMartin said.
           
"Coach Mulder did a nice job of mixing up our looks Saturday, both up front and in the secondary," he said. "That helped keep things off balance."
           
The inside linebackers made an impact as well.
           
Inside linebacker Drew Kithcart (senior, Atkins, Benton HS) joined Lewin and O'Tool as each had 12 tackles. Inside linebacker Jake Poster (senior, Davenport, Assumption HS) had nine stops.
           
NCAA leader—With two more interceptions Saturday, Borman has six for the year and retains the top spot among the Division III leaders. With six games remaining, Borman is already tied for ninth on Central's all-time list for most interceptions in a season. Brian O'Donnell (1967) and Guy Dierikx (2007) share the record with eight. Current Dutch defensive backs coach Matt Paulsen had seven interceptions in 1995 and again in 1997.
           
Passing progress—McMartin said Central's receivers are gaining their footing. Running back Donny Groezinger (senior, Sulphur Springs, Texas, Eastland, Ill. HS) adds another dimension to the passing game. After being sidelined by injury in the first two games, Groezinger already has 10 catches for 71 yards, including six receptions Saturday. Erik Knaack (sophomore, Reinbeck, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) leads with 16 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Tylor Obermeyer (sophomore, Papillion, Neb., Papillion-La Vista HS) and Caleb Schlatter (sophomore, Story City, Roland-Story HS) each have nine catches, Tanner Schminke (sophomore, Boone) has eight, running back Pat Gray (senior, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) has four and tight end Ross Norem (junior, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) and Hunter Robinson (junior, Lisbon) have three.
           
"They're continuing to make good plays," McMartin said. "We're progressing well. Credit our players and also credit our assistant coaches (offensive coordinator Ryan Maiuri, receivers coach Logan Emendorfer and running backs coach Jeff Bollard) for putting these guys in a position to succeed.
           
"Also credit our offensive line for continuing to improve and giving our quarterback time to throw. That's one of those things that goes unnoticed, but you have to have it."
           
He also likes the improvement from Norem, in his first year as a starter.
           
"Ross is doing a great job for us at tight end," McMartin said. "He really blocks well and he's made some very good catches. That catch he made along the sidelines Saturday was exceptional."