CEDAR RAPIDS— It took a pair of overtime periods to decide the winner but the Central College football team was downed 16-13 at No. 24 Coe College Saturday afternoon.
           
After 60 minutes of play, neither the Kohawks (6-0, 4-0 American Rivers Conference) nor the Dutch (4-2, 2-2 conference) had found the end zone as they were locked in a 3-3 tie.
           
The Kohawks scored in the first overtime on a 17-yard scramble by quarterback Clay Krousie. Central answered when quarterback Brady Ketchum (senior, Mount Vernon) hit wide receiver Cam Schulte (sophomore, Pella) in the corner of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown.
           
Ketchum started the second overtime with an 18-yard pass to tight end Grant Nelson (senior, Pella) but the Dutch offense was stymied on the next three downs and settled for a 26-yard Andrew Mohan (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) field goal. Two plays later, Krousie connected on a 22-yard TD pass to Jeren Senters to give Coe the victory.
           
"I'm really proud of how hard we played today," coach Jeff McMartin said. "They poured it all out there on the field. It's a tough way to lose a football game."
           
Central's defense allowed a season-high 16 points but held Coe well below its scoring average of 46.2 points per game and yards per game average of 462.8. Thirteen of the 16 points came in overtime with a short field to work with.
           
Defensive lineman Tate Hagen (fifth year, Britt, West Hancock HS) and linebacker Cole Clark (junior, Lisbon) both had 10 tackles, and Clark intercepted a second quarter pass for Central's only turnover. Linebacker Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) had a pair of solo sacks and defensive lineman Nick Bandy (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) had 1.5 sacks.
           
"We had a great defensive game plan and our players executed well," McMartin said. "It all comes down to execution. You can draw as many ideas up as you want, but it comes down to the players executing well and our defense did that well today."
           
Offensively, Nelson led Central with seven catches and 64 yards. Schulte had 57 yards on four catches.
           
"Grant is having an outstanding season," McMartin said. "He's got sure hands, and he runs great routes. He's also blocking very well."                                                                                   
           
Starting quarterback Hunter Hoffman (junior, Pecatonica, Ill.) was 14 of 23 passing for 109 yards with an interception. Ketchum, who first played on the last drive of the fourth quarter and in overtime was 5-for-11 with 52 yards. Hoffman had 51 yards rushing but lost 28 yards after being sacked five times. Running back Jase Grunder (sophomore, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) had 32 yards rushing on 13 carries.
           
The Dutch will regroup at home next Saturday against Luther College (0-6, 0-4 conference) at 1 p.m.