PELLA—Kicking off the second half of the season, coach Jeff McMartin has his Central College football squad's focus squarely on what's ahead rather than the games in the rear-view mirror.
           
That starts with an American Rivers contest at Storm Lake with Buena Vista University (2-4 overall, 1-3 conference) Saturday at 1 p.m. at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium.
           
A down-to-the-wire 35-28 setback against then-No. 20 Wartburg College Saturday has put the Dutch (3-2 overall, 1-2 conference) in a difficult spot in the league title race but that's not where McMartin wants his team's attention.
           
"It stays the same," he said. "We've talked about it. We're going to go out to practice each day and make sure our players are locked in and ready to play their best. We've said for years, we're going to be a one-play-at-a-time, one-day-at-a-time, one-game-at-a-time team. And if we're going to say those things then we have to follow through, believe it and see where that takes us. We want to keep developing a great program here."
           
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, calls the action on KRLS-FM (92.1), with Pella mayor and retired defensive coordinator 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 coach Jeff McMartin each Monday at 6 p.m. on KRLS and is available on demand online.

The series—Central raced past Buena Vista at Storm Lake last year, 65-6 and leads the teams' series 61-13. The Beavers last prevailed in 2017 with a 39-38 overtime home-field victory.
           
The Beavers—Buena Vista absorbed a 65-0 rout at Loras College Saturday and was victimized by four turnovers. It's a young squad, with just seven seniors listed in the starting lineup, including only two on offense. There are five freshman starters.
           
Quarterback Zach Herrera, a transfer from the University of Mount Union (Ohio), has completed 104 of 217 passes for 1,310 yards with nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
           
"It's very much a spread offense," McMartin said. "They use four wide receivers on a majority of their downs. They've got good receivers that catch the ball well and run good routes and their running backs are fast."
           
The Beavers are starting two freshmen in the offensive line.
           
"They're young but they've got good size," McMartin said.
           
Sophomore linebacker Jeremy Woodward is the top tackler with 38, including 22 solos.
           
"They bring a lot of pressure," McMartin said. "They're going to create chaos, so we need to have a great week of working on pass protection and identifying where we want to go with the ball. And we're going to have to do a really good job of getting it out of our hands and to our receivers and also be effective in the running game. Continuing to improve in those areas is going to be really important this week."
           
Signs of improvement—While both were losses, the differences between Central's 38-35 defeat Sept. 17 against Loras and last Saturday's setback against Wartburg were stark, McMartin said, although effort was not an issue in either contest.
           
"We played very hard, we played at a high effort level and that's important," McMartin said. "We just have to continue to improve executing. We didn't quit, we found ways to give ourselves a chance to win the game and that's always an important step."
           
But there was much to learn from the video.
           
"There were a number of things that we didn't execute real well on both sides of the ball and on special teams that we'll have to shore up," McMartin said. "We plan to be better. Those are things we're really focusing on right now."
           
Logan Mont (junior, Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) continues to progress after missing last year due to injury and was Central's top receiver with nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. Junior Ryan Neu (West Des Moines, Valley HS) had five receptions for 49 yards and a TD. But some talented freshmen continue forcing their way into the picture as well. Camden Cash (The Woodlands, Texas) had seven catches for 67 yards and Carson Cummer (Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS) had two receptions for 58 yards, including a game-tying 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
           
"Those guys all did a good job," McMartin said. "And Jeff Herbers (senior, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS), even if he's not making catches, is blocking well and running good routes."
           
Linebacker Nathan Rahn (senior, Chadwick, Ill., Milledgeville HS) and free safety Reece Miller (junior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) both had 11 tackles, but McMartin also singled out linebacker Tate Hagen (junior, Britt, West Hancock HS). He had seven tackles including a tackle with 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and four quarterback hurries.
           
"Tate Hagen has played well all year and played well again Saturday," McMartin said. "(Strong safety) Cameron Bannister (senior, State Center, West Marshall HS) did a good job and (cornerback) Gavin Smith (freshman, Audubon), when he was in there, looked really good at corner."
           
Back-ups needed—Central is expected to be down at least three starters Saturday due to injury.
           
"We're five weeks into the season and we've played some physical games," McMartin said. "That's the unfortunate part of football. But there's where if you have good depth and you're developing your players, you have to have answers. We're going to be utilizing some different people this week, for a multitude of reasons, and we'll be ready."
           
One position with multiple players seeing action remains quarterback. Cooper Downs (sophomore, Ames) made his first Central start last Saturday, completing 23 of 40 passes for 222 yards with an interception and two touchdowns. Brady Ketchum (sophomore, Mount Vernon) started the first four games and came off the bench Saturday to deliver two fourth-quarter TD passes, completing 10-of-17 for 133 yards. And freshman Keegan Glover (Benton, Ill.) continues to see action as a dual threat. Downs is listed as the starter for Saturday.
           
National numbers—Central is No. 10 in the NCAA Division III in passing offense (328.8 yards per game) and 24th in total offense (460.6 yards) while 23rd in tackles for loss (8.4).
           
Logan Sunvold (junior, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) is 11th in field goal percentage (.833) and 17th in field goals per game (1.0). Bannister is seventh in interceptions with three (0.8 per game) while cornerback Stevie Maddox, Jr. (senior, Mesa, Ariz., Tempe HS) is eighth in fumble recoveries with three.
           
Offensively, wide receiver Ryan Neu (junior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) is seventh in touchdown catches (7) and 12th in receiving yards (558). Ketchum is 24th in touchdown passes (13).
           
Within the American Rivers, Maddox leads in fumble recoveries, while linebacker Reid Pakkebier (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) is the league tackles leader with 50, including 22 solos. Neu is tops in scoring (8.4) and receiving yards (111.6).
           
Notes—Despite leaving several freshmen at home due to seeing varsity action, Central's junior varsity improved to 3-0 Monday with a 26-22 victory at Wartburg…Saturday's defeat was Central's second consecutive home-field loss. The Dutch haven't dropped two home games in a season since 2017 and last lost consecutive home games in 2008…Central has scored 62 points in the first half, including 21 in the first quarter, but has racked up 134 in the second half. The Dutch are outscoring foes in the third quarter 76-16 and has scored at least 28 points in all five games…Central is still among the teams receiving votes for the D3football.com top 25 and the AFCA coaches' poll.