PELLA—The first NCAA Division III playoff game promises to be the season's stiffest challenge for the undefeated Central College football team.
           
After cruising through the regular season with a 10-0 mark, the Dutch must take on highly regarded Bethel University (Minn.) (8-2). Central is ranked No. 10 in the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll and No. 8 in the D3football.com Top 25 while Bethel is No. 17 in the AFCA poll and No. 14 according to D3football.com. Both Bethel losses were narrow decisions at the hands of No. 5-ranked Saint John's University, including last Saturday's 29-28 classic that came down to the final play.

Dutch coach Jeff McMartin said his team's first-round draw of the Royals is among the field's toughest.

"They're an extremely talented football team and I think they're one of the top teams in the country," he said.
           
Kickoff--Game time is noon at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium Saturday.
           
The bracket--The winner of Saturday's game advances to meet the winner of a contest at Wheaton, Illinois between Aurora University (Ill.) (8-2) and Wheaton College (Ill.) (9-1). The second-round game is set for noon, Nov. 27 with the host announced Sunday afternoon. The 32 playoff teams are playing for the right to compete in the championship contest, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, played Friday, Dec. 17 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at Canton, Ohio. That game will air on ESPNU.
           
Ticket information--Tickets are $10 for adults with seniors and students paying $5. Children age 2 and under are admitted free. Spectators viewing the action from beyond the fences surrounding the stadium must purchase a ticket. Advance tickets can be purchased in the athletics office in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and will be available at the gate starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. All tickets are general admission and all transactions are cash only.
           
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 and Central freshman Shaffer Landuyt (Norwalk) reporting from the sidelines. A special KRLS playoff pregame show will air at 11 a.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.

A video webcast of the action and live stats can be accessed via the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu. Twitter users can get updates through @CentralDutch.
Castle also hosts "Coaches' Corner" with coach Jeff McMartin each Monday at 6 p.m. on KRLS and is available on demand online.
           
Playoff experience— Central, which captured a record 32nd American Rivers Conference title, is making its 22nd NCAA Division III playoff appearance. The Dutch won the 1974 NCAA title and finished second in 1984 and 1988. Central also made the 2019 field, advancing to the second round, and carries a 22-20 playoff record.
           
Bethel has received 10 playoff berths, all in the past 20 seasons, and is 11-9 in playoff competition.
           
The series--This week's contest is a rematch of a Dec. 1, 2007 NCAA quarterfinal round game played following an ice storm in Pella, when Bethel came away with a 27-13 win. Bethel and Central first met in 1992. The Dutch hold a 4-1 lead in the teams' series.
           
The coaches—Veteran Bethel coach Steve Johnson is in his 32nd year and has piloted the Royals to all 10 of their playoff berths, posting a 226-102-1 overall record.
           
Dutch coach Jeff McMartin, a member of the AFCA Board of Trustees, is in his 18th year, posting a 138-42 mark. He's making his sixth playoff appearance as head coach with a 3-5 record.
           
The Royals-- In the Division III statistical rankings, Bethel is fourth in Division III in fewest sacks allowed (5), 20th in pass efficiency defense (97.06) and 24th in turnover margin (plus 1.7 per game).
           
Individually, quarterback Jaren Roste is 18th in completion percentage (.659), 13th in pass efficiency (173.0) and 13th in yards per completion (15.23). Joey Kidder is 22nd in receiving yards (994) and 29th in yards per reception (19.88).
           
Roste has completed 149 of 226 passes for 2,278 yards and 18 touchdowns with four interceptions. Kidder, a freshman, is his favorite target with 50 catches for 994 yards and eight touchdowns.
           
"Their quarterback is dynamic," McMartin said. "He runs the ball well and throws it extremely well. He extends plays with his legs and makes good decisions.
           
"Their wide receivers make a lot of plays and they can stretch it with the deep ball, but they also do a great job with the underneath concepts. They can hurt you in a lot of areas."
           
Roste is protected by an offensive line with three starters over 300 pounds.
           
"Their offensive line is one of the strengths of the team," McMartin said. "They do a nice job with their run-blocking concepts and their pass protections and they're extremely big. We haven't played a team that has the size they do."
           
Running back Bryce Kunkle has gained 830 yards on 146 carries with 11 touchdowns.
           
"Their tailback has been exceptional," McMartin said. "Once again, he's not like anyone else we've faced this year."
           
It's a youthful Royals lineup with six freshman starters listed and only three seniors.
           
Bethel is outscoring opponents 38.7-14.4 and outgaining them 429.5 yards to 287.0. The Royals are averaging 242.4 yards passing while allowing 175.5 and hold a 187.1-111.5 advantage in rushing yards.
           
Freshman free safety Nate Farm is the team's top tackler with 66 stops and six of the team's 17 interceptions along with five pass breakups. Strong safety Matt Feldick has 65 tackles.
           
"Up front they're very quick and physical," McMartin said. "Their linebackers move around, they use them in coverage and they use them in blitzes and pressures. And their secondary is outstanding. We haven't seen a secondary like this this season."
           
Aside from Saint John's, the only team to come within three touchdowns of the Royals was Concordia -Moorhead (Minn.), a 21-16 home-field loser Oct. 16.

Nation-leading numbers--Central leads all NCAA divisions in total offense (620.1 yards per game), passing efficiency (207.87) and first downs (314) while also leading Division III in passing offense (407.7 yards) and completion percentage (.737). The Dutch are second in Division III in scoring offense (58.4), fourth in punt return defense (0.33 yards), 10th in Red Zone offense (.887) and tied for 12th in turnover margin (plus 1.40).

Individually, quarterback Blaine Hawkins (5th-year, Ankeny) leads all NCAA divisions in touchdown passes (50) and is just the eighth quarterback in Division III history to reach that milestone. He also leads Division III in passing efficiency (215.3), completion percentage (.742) and points responsible for (330). He's second in passing yards (3,424), yards per pass attempts (10.77) and total offense (363.4), and 15th in completions per game (23.6).

Receiver Tanner Schminke (5th-year, Boone) is second nationally in touchdown catches (15) while Jeff Herbers (junior, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS) and Erik Knaack (5th-year, Reinbeck, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) are tied for 17th with 11. Schminke is 12th in receiving yards per game (107.6). Running back Jason Hopp (senior, Earlham) is 11th in rushing yards per carry (6.96), cornerback Brayden Egli (senior, Saint Charles, I-35 HS) is 22nd in interceptions (5) and blocked kicks (2), defensive end Hunter Maddy (5th-year, Mystic, Centerville HS) is 24th in fumbles recovered (2) and kicker Logan Sunvold (sophomore, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) is 27th in points scored (93).
  More team records in jeopardy--The Dutch have broken team season marks for passing yards (4,077), pass completions (293), first downs (314), first downs passing (183), total offense (6,185 yards) and points (590). They're on pace to break the scoring margin record (339 points, 1994) and average scoring margin record (34.5 points, 1989). Currently the Dutch have a scoring margin of 437 points and an average scoring margin of 43.7 points.
           
Every month is Hawktober—Hawkins has broken nearly every Central passing and total offense record in the book as well the conference records for season touchdown passes in league games (44) and passing yards (2,827).
           
For the year, he's completed 236 of 318 passes for 3,424 yards with 50 TDs and two interceptions. He's also rushed 48 times for 210 yards and five scores.
           
Hawkins has posted the record numbers despite rarely playing a full game. He's only appeared in the fourth quarter in four of 10 games.
           
He's led a Central offense which has outscored opponents 59.0-15.3 and outgained them 618.5 yards to 304.5.
           
Hopp is the rushing leader with 835 yards on 120 carries with five touchdowns. Schminke tied a school season record with 15 touchdown catches and has 59 receptions for 1,030 yards. Knaack broke the school career touchdown receptions mark with 35 and this season has 53 catches for 683 yards and 11 TDs.
           
Defensive lineman Blade Durbala (5th-year, Blairstown, Benton HS) was a D3football.com All-America honoree last spring. He and Maddy have 9.5 tackles for loss while defensive lineman Matt Glockel (5th-year, Malvern, East Mills HS) leads with 11.5.
           
Egli is the top tackler with 54 followed by sophomore linebacker Josh Van Gysel (sophomore, Anthem, Ariz., Boulder Creek HS), who has 52 stops and two interceptions.
           
A four-quarter game—Scoring 49 or more points in seven of the season's 10 games, Central's record-setting offense hasn't had to play a full 60 minutes often, but McMartin said his team needs to be ready to do so.
           
"You have to go into the game with the mindset that it's going to be four quarters," he said. "You're going have to battle on every play and be focused. Hopefully our team will draw on its experience from the playoffs in 2019, keep working at it and keep believing.
           
"This is a new season and we have to have the right mindset going into this game. I'm confident that we will."
           
First-half fireworks--Central's starters have played throughout the first half of each game and have displayed remarkable efficiency. The Dutch have scored touchdowns on their opening possession in nine of 10 games and have reached the end zone on 55 of 74 first-half possessions, while booting field goals on two others. Central has scored six or more first-half touchdowns in seven of the 10 games and have only 10 first-half punts.
           
Fifth-year mission—While the 2019 season was a memorable one, a 49-13 playoff drubbing at Wheaton College (Ill.) left the Dutch determined to make a better showing. When a chance for that was denied in 2020 due to the pandemic, 15 of last year's seniors took advantage of the NCAA's offer for an additional year of eligibility for another shot.
           
"They've set big goals for themselves and for our team," McMartin said. "I'm excited that that's what they want. I know from a preparation standpoint and from a focus standpoint, this team will be in the best place that it can be and ready to play it's best football."
          
One more time at Schipper Stadium—A reward for Central's 17th unbeaten season is the first-round game at Schipper Stadium.
"It's special to be able to play at home, in front of your friends and families and fans," McMartin said. "They've earned this opportunity and they need to go out and appreciate it. Enjoy it, be in the moment and then let things kind of run their course. I know I'm going to enjoy being out there and feel very blessed that we have this opportunity to play an 11th game this season and see where that takes us."

Notes—This will be the 27th NCAA playoff game played at Schipper Stadium, which was known as A.N. Kuyper Stadium prior to 2006. But it's the 28th time Central has hosted a playoff contest. Due to a Thanksgiving blizzard, a 1992 quarterfinal with Wisconsin-La Crosse was moved to Iowa State University's Cyclone Stadium, now known as Jack Trice Stadium…With the 2021 league title in hand, Central has now won at least one conference championship in each of 10 consecutive decades, dating to the program's first crown in 1939. The Dutch have claimed their 32 titles in the past 82 years, 39.0% of the championships contested in that span…Central is also involved in NCAA Division III Championship action Saturday in men's and women's cross country in Louisville, Kentucky. Caleb Silver (junior, Conrad, BCLUW HS) and Will DeHaan (senior, DeWitt, Central DeWitt HS) are competing in the national finals for the men while Caroline McMartin (sophomore, Pella) is a national women's race qualifier. McMartin's father, Jeff, will miss the race due to work obligations in Pella.

2021 NCAA DIVISION III FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST ROUND, SATURDAY, NOV. 20
Lake Forest (Ill.) (10-0) at Saint John's (Minn.) (10-0)
Redlands (Calif.) (8-1) at Linfield (Ore.) (9-0)
Trinity (Texas) (9-0) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) (10-0)
Huntingdon (Ala.) (8-2) at Birmingham-So. (Ala.) (9-1)
 
Greenville (Ill. (8-2) at Wis.-Whitewater (10-0)
Rose-Hulman (Ind.) (8-2) at DePauw (Ind.) (8-2)
Bethel (Minn.) (8-2) at Central (10-0)
Aurora (Ill.) (8-2) at Wheaton (Ill.) (9-1)
 
Carneige-Mellon (Pa.) (8-2) at North Central (Ill.) (10-0)
Wis.-La Crosse (Wis.) (8-2) at Albion (Mich.) (9-1)
Springfield (Mass.) (7-3) at SUNY Cortland (10-0)
Rensselaer (N.Y.) (9-1) at Endicott (Mass.) (8-2)
 
Wash. & Lee (Va.) (8-2) at Mount Union (Ohio) (10-0)
Johns Hopkins (Md.) (9-1) at Salisbury (Md.) (8-1)
Anna Maria (Mass.) (7-2) at Delaware Valley (Pa.) (10-0)
Framingham St. (Mass.) (8-2) at Muhlenberg (Pa.) (9-1)
 
SECOND ROUND, SATURDAY, NOV. 27
 
QUARTERFINALS, SATURDAY, DEC. 4
 
SEMIFINALS, SATURDAY, DEC. 11
 
AMOS ALONZO STAGG BOWL, FRIDAY, DEC. 17
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
Canton, Ohio
7 p.m. (ET) (ESPNU)
 
Probable starters
OFFENSE
QB       3         Blaine Hawkins (5-11, 210, 5Y)                      
RB        8         Jason Hopp (6-0, 230, sr.)                                          
TE/SB   87        Billy Friis (6-4, 240, sr.)                                  
WR      5         Jeff Herbers (6-1, 180, jr.)                  
WR      10        Tanner Schminke (6-0, 195, 5Y)                                             
WR      11        Erik Knaack (6-0, 185, 5Y)                                          
LT        69        Que Baker-McCaulay (6-3, 285, jr.)   
LG        61        Colton Anderson (6-0, 265, sr.)                     
C          72        Ian Den Herder (6-1, 280. jr.)            
RG       58        Joshua Mayhew (6-2, 260, 5Y)                      
RT        70        Travis Wagner (6-5, 275, 5Y)                                     
 
DEFENSE        
DE        54        Hunter Maddy (6-4, 215, 5Y) 
DT        52        Tom Adolph (5-11, 260, sr.)               
DT        92        Blade Durbala (6-1, 280, 5Y)              
DE        97        Matt Glockel (6-1, 255, 5Y)                
OLB     6         Cade Humphries (5-9, 220, 5Y)                      
MLB     10        Josh Van Gysel (6-1, 235, so.)            
OLB     47        Reid Taylor (6-1, 205, sr.)                                          
CB        2         Benjamin Crist (5-10, 195, jr.)           
SS         7         Cameron Bannister (6-0, 195, jr.)      
FS        17        Brody Klein (6-1, 195, so.)                  
CB        4          Brayden Egli (6-2, 190, sr.)                
 
SPECIALTY
K/PK     26        Logan Sunvold (5-9, 175, fr.)              
P           3        Austin Burns (5-11, 185, so.)             
KR        13        Ryan Neu (6-1, 165, so.)                                                                    
             7         Cameron Bannister (6-0, 195, jr.)
PR        4         Brayden Egli (6-1, 180, sr.)
             7         Cameron Bannister (6-0, 195, jr.)
LS         25        Josh Dennison (5-11, 175, fr.)
SS         70        Travis Wagner (6-5, 275, 5Y) 
H          10        Tanner Schminke (6-0, 195, 5Y)