PELLA—Central College's record-setting football team captured nine NCAA Division III football statistical titles according to final numbers released following the completion of the season with the Dec. 17 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
           
Not surprisingly, it was Gagliardi Trophy-winning quarterback Blaine Hawkins (5th-year, Ankeny) and the high-octane Dutch offense setting the pace. Central topped Division III in total offense (570.1 yards per game), passing offense (394.5 yards), scoring offense (53.5 points per game) and first downs (382).
           
Individually, Hawkins led the nation in touchdown passes with an all-divisions NCAA record 63, in points responsible for (410) and points responsible for per game (31.5) while receiver Tanner Schminke (5th-year, Boone) was the champion in receiving yards (1,536) and in touchdown receptions (19).
           
Central is prominent in numerous other categories as well. The Dutch were second in pass completion percentage (.709) and fourth-down conversion percentage (.788), third in team passing efficiency (189.9), fifth in punt return defense (1.6 yards per return), tied for sixth in winning percentage (.923), ninth in red zone offense (.885), 12th in blocked kicks (7), 13th in blocked punts (3), 16th in interceptions (18) and 17th in third-down conversion percentage (.494),
           
Individually, Hawkins was second in total offense (361.9 yards per game), passing efficiency (192.1), passing yards (4,475) and passing yards per game (344.2), fourth in completion percentage (.707), fifth in yards per pass attempt (9.56) and 10th in completions per game (25.46). Jeff Herbers (junior, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS) was sixth in touchdown receptions (16) and 12th in receiving yards (1,151), Schminke was fifth in receiving yards per game (118.2), 11th in total touchdowns (19) and points scored (114) and 16th in receptions per game (7.2). Defensive back Brody Klein (sophomore, Rainier, Wash.) was tied for 10th in punt return touchdowns (1). Kicker Logan Sunvold (sophomore, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) was 19th in total points scored (113).
           
Hawkins and the Dutch also did a rewrite of the school's offensive records. Central broke or tied 61 school marks in 2021. The Dutch established 23 team records and 38 individual records in 2021, including 31 by Hawkins. Herbers, Knaack, Schminke and Sunvold also broke or tied records. Hawkins completed a record 888 of 1314 passes for 11,802 yards with 32 interceptions in his career. His 148 career touchdown passes are tied for the second-most in Division III history.
           
Central posted a 10-0 regular-season mark and finished at 12-1 overall, advancing to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. The Dutch claimed a record 32nd conference championship and gained the program's 22nd NCAA playoff berth.
 
KRLS Radio Gagliardi Trophy feature with Trevor Castle: https://athletics.central.edu/documents/2021/12/28/Hawkins_Gagliardi_Feature_12_21.mp3

School records broken or tied in 2021
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

Passing yards
Half - 428, Blaine Hawkins (29-39-0, 6 TD) at Coe, Oct. 9, 2021
Game - 503, Blaine Hawkins (32-43-0, 6 TD) at  Coe, Oct. 9, 2021
Season - 4,475, Blaine Hawkins (331-468-8, 63 TD), 2021
Career - 11,802, Blaine Hawkins (888-1,314-32, 148 TD), 2017-21
 

Pass completions
Game - 41, Blaine Hawkins (65 att.) vs. Wheaton (Ill.), Nov. 27, 2021
Season - 331, Blaine Hawkins (468 att.), 2021
Career - 888, Blaine Hawkins (1,314 att.), 2017-21
 

Pass attempts
Game - 65, Blaine Hawkins vs. Wheaton (Ill.), Nov. 27, 2021
Season - 424, Blaine Hawkins, 2021
Career - 1,207, Blaine Hawkins, 2017-21
 

Pass completion percentage
Season (100 att. minimum)  - 70.7, Blaine Hawkins (331-468-8), 2021
Career (1000 att. minimum) -  67.6, Blaine Hawkins (888-1,314-32), 2017-21

Passing touchdowns
Half - 7, Blaine Hawkins at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Game - 7, Blaine Hawkins at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021; vs. Bethel (Minn.), Nov. 20, 2021
Season - 63. Blaine Hawkins, 2021
Career - 148, Blaine Hawkins, 2017-21

Highest pass efficiency rating
Season (100 att. minimum) - 192.3 Blaine Hawkins (331-468-8, 4,475 yards, 63 TD), 2021
Career (300 att. minimum) - 175.32, Blaine Hawkins (888-1,314-32, 11,802 yards, 148 TD), 2017-21

Highest total offense
Game - 514 yards, Blaine Hawkins ( 503 passing, 11 rushing), at Coe, Oct. 9, 2021
Season - 4,457 yards, Blaine Hawkins (4,189 passing, 268 rushing), 2021
Career - 13,254 yards, Blaine Hawkins, (11,516 passing, 1,738 rushing), 2017-21

Fewest interceptions
Regular season (not including playoffs, 300 att. minimum) - 2, Blaine Hawkins, 2021
Most consecutive passes attempted without an interception - 251, Blaine Hawkins (in 10 games, April 3-Oct. 30, 2021)

Yards per pass attempt

Season (300 att. minimum) - 9.56, Blaine Hawkins (331-468-8, 4,475 yards), 2021
Career (500 att. minimum) - 8.9, Blaine Hawkins (888-1,314-32, 11,802 yards), 2017-21

Points responsible for (passing/rushing/kicking)
Game - 42, Blaine Hawkins at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Season - 410, Blaine Hawkins, 2021
Career - 1,072, Blaine Hawkins, 2017-21

Touchdowns responsible for (passing/rushing)
Game - 7, tie, Blaine Hawkins at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021; at Luther, Oct. 30, 2021
Season - 68, Blaine Hawkins, 2021
Career - 178, Blaine Hawkins, 2017-21

Point after touchdown conversions
Game - 12, Logan Sunvold (12 att.) at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Season - 79, Logan Sunvold (82 att.), 2021
 

Receiving yards
Season - 1,536, Tanner Schminke, 2021
 

Receptions
Game - 16, Jeff Herbers vs. Wheaton (Ill.), Nov. 27, 2021
 

Most touchdown receptions
Game - 4, tie, Sam Markham, vs. Loras, Oct. 28, 2017; Hunter Robinson, vs. Loras, Sept. 29, 2018; Erik Knaack at Simpson, Sept. 28, 2021
Season - 19, Tanner Schminke, 2021
Career - 36, Erik Knaack, 2021

TEAM RECORDS
Passing yards
Game - 556, (36-40-0, 7 TDs), at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Season - 5,128 (387-546-9, 72 TD), 2021
Season avg. - 394.4, 2021

Pass completions
Game - 41, vs. Wheaton (Ill.), Nov. 27, 2021
Season - 387, 2021

Pass attempts
Game - 65, vs. Wheaton (Ill.), Nov. 27, 2021
Season - 499, 2021

Touchdown passes
Game - 9, at Luther, Oct. 30, 2021
Season - 72, 2021

First downs
Game - 35, tie, vs. Occidental (Calif.), Nov. 23, 1985; at Whitworth (Wash.), Sept. 3, 2016; at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Season - 383, 2021

First downs, passing
Game - 26, at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Season - 231, 2021

Total offense
Half - 513 yards (89 rush, 424 pass), at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Game - 789 yards (233 run, 556 pass), at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Season - 7,411 yards, 2021
Season avg. - 570.1 yards., 2021

Points
Half - 56, tie, vs. Dubuque, Sept. 28, 1996; at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Game - 84, at Simpson, Sept. 25, 2021
Season - 702. 2021
Season avg. - 54.0, 2021
Scoring margin
Season - 435 (702-267), 2021

Most PAT kicks made
Season - 88, 2021