PELLA—Won-loss records are not on the minds of coach Jeff McMartin and the No. 10-ranked Central College football team Saturday.
           
The 7-0 Dutch, who are 5-0 in American Rivers games, travel to Decorah to meet Luther College in a 1 p.m. league game at Carlson Stadium. The Norse are 0-8 overall and 0-6 in the conference, but that doesn't alter Central's approach.
           
"We're going up there on a business trip," McMartin said. "We need to be focused and ready to play. Our goal is to continue to improve each week."
           
Central is rated No. 10 in the American Football Coaches Association Division III rankings and No. 9 in the D3football.com Top 25.
           
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, will call Saturday's action on KRLS-FM (92.1), with former long-time defensive coordinator and current Pella mayor Don De Waard providing the color. The KRLS pregame show will air at 12:35 p.m. The broadcast can 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.
Castle also hosts "Coaches' Corner" with McMartin each Monday at 6 p.m. on KRLS and its available on demand online.
           
The series—Central defeated Luther 45-14 at Decorah in 2019. The Dutch hold a 58-21-1 lead in the series, which launched in 1928, and have won the teams' last 11 meetings.
           
The Norse—Injuries have tested Luther's depth this year but the Norse are not void of talent. Freshman Vershon Brooks, a 5-foot-7 running back, ranks third in the league in rushing (88.1 yards per game) while senior wide receiver Andre Atkins is third in receiving yards (99.0). Sophomore Samuel Zegler-Evans is third in kick returns (22.2 yards). Junior safety Sam Bundy is eighth in tackles with 56, including 34 solos.
           
"You watch their film and you see that they've got some very exciting players," McMartin said. "They know how to attack a team. Their running backs are doing a really nice job and they have a wide receiver that's very dynamic. They've had to play some different quarterbacks due to injuries, but they're all very capable and they're big up front..
           
"Defensively they play multiple fronts and we're going to have to be clear on that from a protection standpoint and know where we want to go with the football."
           
Central's focus remains internal.
           
"One of the great things about this team is I think that they're really focused on us and us getting better," McMartin said. "You want that regardless of who you're playing. If you're really a competitive person, records, the score of the game—none of those things really matter because you're going to compete and you need to play and prepare the same way each week. That gives you the best chance to not play outside of yourself or to be overly nervous or anxious. It allows you to win the mental game and to play your best football."
           
Another honor for Egli—Cornerback Brayden Egli (senior, Saint Charles, I-35 HS) was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after intercepting three passes in last week's 53-19 victory over Loras College. He also had seven tackles. Egli earlier was tabbed the conference defensive player of the week while quarterback Blaine Hawkins (fifth-year, Ankeny) was tabbed as the offensive player of the week for the 10th time in his Central career and kicker Logan Sunvold (sophomore, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) was named the league's special teams performer of the week.
           
McMartin is encouraged by Sunvold's progress. He's 5-of-6 on field goal attempts with a long of 40 yards and has converted 45 of 48 field goal tries. Sunvold is averaging 55.8 yards on kickoffs with eight touchbacks.
           
"He continues to improve each week," McMartin said. "The first game and maybe one game outside of that are the only times I can think of a miss that was really his miss. Some of it has been protection issues and I think we've shored up a lot of that.
           
"We're not satisfied with just being OK, we want to be great on special teams and so we're going to keep pushing. Logan came in with a ton of talent and he works extremely hard. He's also done a lot with kickoffs. He's got a great leg but he's also been really good at squibs and push kicks. When there are certain opponents we don't want to kick to, he's been really good at placing balls where they can't get them."
           
Central is first in total offense (619.3 yards), pass completion percentage (.752), passing offense (404.1 yards), passing efficiency (219.09) and tied for first in fewest turnovers (2), second in scoring offense (56.1), 20th in Red Zone offense (.889), first downs (212). Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) is the only other Division III team yet to throw an interception this season. The Dutch are third in 4th down conversions (.786) and 16th in 3rd down conversions (.511), seventh in punt return defense (0.33 yards per return)
           
NCAA spotlight—Central continues to shine in the Division III statistical rankings. Hawkins is first in the nation in touchdown passes (33), passing efficiency (227.3) and points responsible for (30.0), second in completion percentage (.751), fourth in passing yards (2,418), fourth in total offense (353.6 yards) and 12th in yards per completion (15.7). Running back Jason Hopp (senior, Earlham) is sixth in rushing yards per carry (7.38). Receiver Tanner Schminke (senior, Boone) is seventh in receiving yards (842), linebacker/end Hunter Maddy (fifth-year, Mystic, Centerville HS) is 13th in fumbles recovered (2) and Egli is tied for 18th in interceptions (4).
           
With three conference games remaining, Hawkins needs eight TD passes to tie the league record of 35 set by Wyatt Hanus of the University of Dubuque in 2011. League records include conference games only. Hawkins has 1,821 conference passing yards, still well short of the league record of 2,775 set by Tim Vinyard of Coe College in 2000. No other league season passing records are maintained.