PELLA— At the halfway mark of the football season, Central College faces another stiff test with a trip to Coe College Saturday.
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, calls the action on KRLS-FM (92.1), with Pella Mayor and former 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.
The Kohawks— Coe is 5-0 on the season and coming off a 43-10 road win at Loras College Saturday. Aside from a 43-41 double overtime win at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, the Kohawks have held their other four opponents to 10 points or less.
"They're an undefeated team for a reason," coach
Jeff McMartin said. "They've built their team around playing defense and running the football."
Trenton Barnes is a top-10 running back statistically in Division III with 604 total yards and 120.8 yards per game. He has scored seven rushing touchdowns. Their offense is averaging 462.8 yards per contest, the most in the American Rivers Conference.
A veteran-laden defense has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game in the country (34.0) while yielding just 273.2 total yards per game.
"They have nine starters back and most of them are seniors of fifth-years," McMartin said. "You can't shake things open or trick them. You must earn everything."
Rise of the Rhinos – Central running back
Jase Grunder (sophomore, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) has had back-to-back games of over 180 rushing yards and multiple touchdowns. Consistent, improved play by the offensive line has been a major factor in those performances. Central is No. 38 nationally at 190.6 rushing yards per game and No. 30 nationally with 454.2 total offensive yards per game. Central has started
Tyler Harms (junior, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) at left tackle,
Carson Zitlow (senior, De Soto, Kan.) at left guard,
Maximus Reitano (junior, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) at center,
Levi Janssen (senior, Sheffield, West Fork HS) at right guard and
Kade Tippett (senior, Eldridge, North Scott HS) at right tackle in all five games.
"We've done a great job up front," McMartin said. "We've not only blocked well, but we've made good adjustments. When you look at our running statistics, a lot of that really comes back on our offensive line."
Push 'em back – The Dutch defense is No. 8 nationally in allowing 200.6 yards per game with just 62 first downs. Central's front seven has piled up 40 tackles-for-loss and 14 sacks to not only push offenses backwards, but only also force obvious passing downs where Central has made six interceptions and 25 pass break-ups.
"We've done a good job of attacking and playing off blocks," McMartin said. "They've done a good job of reading keys and being where they need to be."
Linebacker
Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) paces the team with 4.5 TFLs and
Nick Bandy (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) leads the way with three sacks.
Here's the kicker – For the first time in 40 games, somebody other than
Logan Sunvold will be the starting kicker for Central as the fifth year is not available this week.
Andrew Mohan (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) has made all eight of his extra point attempts in varsity contests while also recording seven kickoffs with an average of 54.9 yards. Additionally, he's connected on four field goals during a pair of junior varsity games.
"Andrew's done a great job for us," McMartin said. "We've been intentionally preparing him for this week and he's going to do a great job."
Notes— Last year, Coe held Central to 11 points in a 19-11 Kohawk victory. It was the first time a Central team had scored exactly 11 points in a game. Central has now finished a game scoring every possible point combination below 70 besides 59 and 67…Coe is on the brink of a three-game winning streak in the series, which would be its first since 2003-05. Central won three straight from 2013-15…Central holds a 19-12-2 advantage in the series that dates to 1925…
Central College probable starters
OFFENSE
QB 18
Hunter Hoffman (6-1, 170, jr.)
RB 31
Jase Grunder (5-7, 170, so.)
TE 23
Grant Nelson (6-0, 220, sr.)
WR 12
Keegan Glover (6-2, 180, jr.)
WR 80
Cam Schulte (6-3, 215, so.)
WR 13
Ryan Neu (6-0, 180, 5Y)
LT 72
Tyler Harms (6-3, 270, jr.)
LG 71
Carson Zitlow (6-1, 275, sr.)
C 70
Maximus Reitano (6-2, 295, jr.)
RG 66
Levi Janssen (6-4, 290, sr.)
RT 51
Kade Tippet (6-2, 270, sr.)
DEFENSE
DL 42
Derek Mueller (6-2, 230, 5Y)
DL 34
Sebastian Duarte (5-11, 260, jr.)
DL 15
Tate Hagen (6-0, 235, 5Y)
DL 2
Nick Bandy (6-2, 225, sr.)
LB 30
Reid Pakkebier (6-2, 210, sr.)
LB 32
Cole Clark (5-11, 225, jr.)
LB 51 Cael Fiderlerin (5-11, 220, sr.)
CB 5
Ben DeMeulenaere (6-4, 205, jr.)
SS 4
Reece Miller (5-10, 190. 5Y)
FS 1
Gavin Hierseman (6-2, 200, sr.)
CB 21
Gavin Smith (6-0, 185, jr.)
SPECIALTY
K/PK 21
Andrew Mohan (5-9, 165, fr.)
P 3
Austin Burns (5-11, 200, 5Y)
Ret. 19
Hunter Wilkinson (5-9, 180, 5Y)
LS 25
Josh Dennison (5-11, 200, sr.)
H 19
Hunter Wilkinson (5-9, 180, 5Y)
2024 schedule
Sept. 7 Illinois Wesleyan Pella W, 49-14
Sept. 14 Cal Lutheran Thousand Oaks, Calif. W, 35-10
Sept. 21 Wartburg Pella L, 10-6
Sept. 28 Buena Vista Storm Lake W, 52-0
Oct. 5 Simpson Pella W, 59-14
Homecoming
Oct. 12 Coe Cedar Rapids 1 p.m.
Oct. 19 Luther Pella 1 p.m.
Oct. 26 Dubuque Dubuque 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 Loras Pella 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 Nebraska Wesleyan Lincoln, Neb. 1 p.m.
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