PELLA—After an idle fall in 2020, Central College football returns to Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium Saturday with a first-ever meeting with Kalamazoo College (Mich.).
           
Game time is 1 p.m.
           
The Dutch did have one home game and a home scrimmage during their abbreviated spring season but this is the first fall-season home contest since Central's thrilling 38-37 overtime victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the NCAA Division III playoffs Nov. 23, 2019, nearly 22 months ago.
           
"We're excited to have the students and fans back," coach Jeff McMartin said. "We're looking forward to playing at home. This, potentially, could be a fun team to watch."
           
The Dutch are rated No. 16 in the D3football.com top 25 after a 46-27 victory at St. Olaf College (Minn.) last Saturday. Meanwhile Kalamazoo scored a 24-17 road win at Oberlin College (Ohio).
           
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, will call Saturday's action on KRLS-FM (92.1), with former Central 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.

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.

The Hornets—Kalamazoo was 2-8 in 2019 and 0-2 in the spring but opened with a victory last Saturday. Quarterback Josh Nichols completed 14 of 26 passes for 204 yards and a score while also rushing for 41 yards on eight carries. Running back Jon Brunette gained 44 yards and a TD on 11 carries and also had a 36-yard touchdown reception. Sophomore defensive back Jack Miller had two interceptions and 12 tackles while linebacker Payton Fleming had 11 tackles with two fumble recoveries.

"They had a good win on the road," McMartin said. "They're a very well coached team with a talented, athletic quarterback and a good running back. Offensively they've got good speed and spread the ball around.

"Defensively, their cornerback had two picks and a lot of tackles. Their secondary is very good. It's a talented football team. They get good play in the offensive and defensive lines and are sound in the kicking game.

"We've got to contain the quarterback. He's mobile and throws the ball well on the run. He will test us."

Durbala, Maddy back—Aiding Central in its quarterback pursuit is the return of D3football.com spring all-America defensive lineman Blade Durbala (fifth-year, Blairstown, Benton HS) and defensive end Hunter Maddy (fifth-year, Mystic, Centerville HS). Both missed last Saturday's game.
"It's good to have those guys back," McMartin said. "Hunter Maddy and Hunter Olson (junior, Peoria, Ariz., Sunrise Mountain HS) both sustained pretty serious injuries last spring and it looked like

Hunter Maddy might even miss the season. But through hard work, good doctors and good work from our athletic trainers Frank Neu and Jake Schubert, he's been able to come back. Frank and Jake did a great job."

The Dutch also regain the services of running back Noah Treimer (sophomore, Pella, Christian HS) Saturday.

Week two expectations—Teams typically see big improvement between weeks one and two of the season and McMartin saw much at St. Olaf that the Dutch can do better.

"There were some execution things," he said. "We've got to develop some consistency. At times our focus was good but at times in football, things can cause you to want to make a play and do too much instead of just doing your job. It's a year-long process. Fakes and trick plays are all designed to counteract what you're doing. And on offense you have to make adjustments to routes and protections. You can't do somebody else's job, you have to stay focused and stay disciplined."

McMartin said special teams are another area where the Dutch need more of that consistency.

Dutch numbers—Corrected statistics from Saturday show that sophomore receiver Logan Mont (Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) had 14 catches for 170 yards and two scores. That's the second-highest number of receptions in a game in school history, matching Sam Markham's 14 against Augustana College (Ill.) Sept. 10, 2016. Markham set a new school record two weeks later with 15 against Loras College. Quarterback Blaine Hawkins (fifth-year, Ankeny) completed 28 of 39 passes, tying him for fourth on the single-game completions list, two shy of Riley Gray's 2016 school record. Austin Burns (Williamsburg) took over the punting duties and had a strong start, averaging 39.7 yards on four kicks, with one inside the opponent's 20-yard-line.

Notes—Including last spring's shortened season, Central has won three straight home-season openers. Whitworth College (Wash.) overpowered the Dutch 56-13 to open the 2017 season…Central's last meeting with a team from Michigan was when Albion College (Mich.) visited Sept. 28, 2013. The Dutch were 31-6 winners…Former Dutch lineman, coach and administrator Jim Danks, a 1964 Central graduate, will receive the Spirit of Central Award at Saturday's game.