PELLA—With both teams coming off wins and eager to maintain contender status in the American Rivers, the Central College football team takes on the University of Dubuque Saturday.
           
It's Central's 93rd homecoming contest with a 1 p.m. kickoff set at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
           
Dubuque (1-2 overall, 1-0 conference) raced past Loras College 35-23 last Saturday while Central (3-1 overall, 1-1 conference) posted a 41-16 conference win at Luther College.
           
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, calls the action on KRLS-FM (92.1) and is going with a three-man booth Saturday with retired Central defensive coordinator Don De Waard joining NFCA Hall of Fame softball coach George Wares as analysts. De Waard and Wares are both being inducted into Central's Athletics Hall of Honor Friday evening and will be recognized at halftime of Saturday's game, along with a third inductee, former women's track and field and volleyball standout Alicia Whisner Fisher '07. 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. And it can be heard as part of the video webcast through the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu or via the Central Dutch Network at centraldutchnetwork.com.
           
The series—Central scored a 24-21 victory at Dubuque in last year's season finale and holds a 61-13 winner over Luther at Pella a year ago. The Dutch hold a 60-21-2 advantage in the series. Dubuque's last win over Central was in 2019. The teams first met in 1930.
           
The Spartans—Dubuque took on an ambitious non-conference schedule, dropping a 28-27 opener against Wittenberg University (Ohio) and a 35-19 decision to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville before rebounding in the conference opener.
           
"They played two really tough games in the non-conference (season)," McMartin said. "But you look at them on film and they're a very good team. They're really athletic and physical and they play their scheme really well."
           
The Spartans notched the win despite playing without injured quarterback Ben Gultig. Senior K.C. Moore started against Loras and put up 337 passing yards with three touchdowns, completing 24-of-39 passes with no interceptions.
           
"Both of them have looked really good," McMartin said.
           
Junior receiver Za'Cameron Brice had nine catches for 119 yards and is the league's leading receiver with 8.0 catches per game. Junior running back Kallion Buckner has gained 141 yards on 34 carries with one score.
           
Senior defensive back Brock Carter has 23 tackles, including 20 solos. Junior linebacker Parker Navitsky has three tackles for loss with four assists while senior defensive end Garrett Herzfeldt has four solo tackles for loss with two assists.
           
"Defensively, they have a number of guys that are back," McMartin said. "They give you some different looks up front. And in their coverages, they have the ability to play man or zone so it's going to be important that we identify things well both in our blocking schemes and also in where we want to go with the football in the passing game."
           
Dubuque is averaging 418.3 yards a game (334.0 yards passing, 84.3 yards rushing) while yielding 420.7. The Spartans have been outscored 28.7-27.0.
           
Offensive strides—With lineup decisions largely settled, the Central offense is developing its identity. The Dutch gained 410 yards of total offense at Luther, with 205 yards both running and passing.
           
"After watching the film, we think there are a number of things that we have the ability to improve on," McMartin said. "It's not a matter of us feeling we can't get there. We see areas to build on and that's going to be the goal this week, to improve those areas."
           
After two rushing performances with less than 75 yards, McMartin was encouraged by Central's numbers at Luther.
           
"Each week you strive to find ways to be balanced and I think we did some good things Saturday," he said. "In most of our games, we've had some effective runs so it's probably trying to eliminate some of the lost yardage plays and find a lot more consistency. We're continuing to work on that."
           
Central is outgaining opponents 388.3 yards to 313.5 and outscoring them 31.0-18.0.
Offensively, quarterback Hunter Hoffman (sophomore, Pecatonica, Ill.) has completed 53-of-90 passes (.588) for 488 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions. Quarterback Keegan Glover (sophomore, Benton, Ill.) is the team's top rusher with 185 yards on 42 carries with one touchdown. Central's three starting senior receivers each have 17 catches. Ryan Neu (senior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) has gained 234 yards with four touchdowns while Jeff Herbers (5th-year, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS) has gained 160 yards  with two TDs and Logan Mont (senior, Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS)  has 152 yards and one score.
           
For the Dutch defense, cornerback Gavin Smith (sophomore, Audubon) leads the conference with eight passes defended--six pass break-ups and two interceptions. That ranks eighth in the NCAA Division III. Linebacker Reid Pakkebier (junior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) has a team-high 34 tackles, including 16 solos. Linebacker Brody Klein (senior, Rainier, Wash.) has 25 tackles, with 12 solos, three breakups and an interception.
           
Among the reserves making an increasing impact is sophomore defensive end Bradley Warren (The Woodlands, Texas), who was in on three sacks Saturday.
           
"Bradley has looked better each week this season," McMartin said. "He's a year faster and more physical and he has a good nose for the football. He's got really good speed and good technique."
           
McMartin cited other defenders as well.
           
"We've gotten really good play from (defensive lineman) Hunter Olson (5th-year, Peoria, Ariz., Sunrise Mountain HS), who has been really consistent inside," he said. "Our defensive line has got good depth. And our two middle linebackers have both been really solid for us. We've been really happy with what we've seen from those guys."
           
Player of the week—For the seventh time, kicker Logan Sunvold (senior, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) was named the American Rivers Special Teams Player of the Week. Sunvold accounted for 11 points Saturday, connecting on field goals of 29 and 38 yards. He ranks eighth in the NCAA Division III in field goals per game with 1.5. He's 6-of-7 on field goals this year and 14-of-14 on extra points.
           
"We've come to expect him to make every kick," McMartin said. "And when he was called on Saturday, he did a good job. I also thought his kickoffs were very good. We asked him to directionally kick a lot. They aren't all going to the same place every time. He can put it where we want him to. That's a really good thing as well."
           
Notes - According to research from 2023 Central grad and former men's tennis player Michael Turnley, the Dutch are 69-19-4 in homecoming games. Central has met Dubuque 16 times at homecoming, posting a 12-3-1 record. The first homecoming game at Central was played in 1927…Cornerback Ben DeMuelenaere (sophomore, Belle Plaine) missed the game at Luther but is expected to return to the starting lineup this week…Central's nine interceptions rank second in Division III. The Dutch rank fourth in forcing turnovers with 12 and are 22nd in defensive 3rd down conversions (.258, 25-62).