PELLA— The Central College football team will host Simpson College Saturday for the school's 95th homecoming contest.
           
It will be the Dutch (3-1, 1-1 American Rivers Conference) and the Storm (2-2, 1-1 American Rivers) on Central's homecoming Saturday for the first time since 2010. The Dutch won that game 38-10 and hold a 10-game winning streak in the series between the two teams.
           
"We're excited for Homecoming and we're excited to play Simpson," coach Jeff McMartin said. "We know they'll be a good team and playing in front of home fans is a great opportunity.
           
On the air and online—The Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, calls the action on KRLS-FM (92.1), with Dutch softball coach George Wares 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 live stream is available on the Central Dutch Network app or at https://www.centraldutchnetwork.com/centraldutchsports/
           
The Storm— Simpson enters the game coming off a 66-14 win over Loras College last weekend. They also won their home opener on September 14 against Crown College (Minn.) 45-7. Both losses for the Storm have come on the road: 30-13 at Augustana College (Ill.) in the season opener and 28-14 at the University of Dubuque on September 21.
           
While allowing 330.8 yards per game, Simpson's defense is fourth in the country in forcing turnovers (11) and interceptions made (eight).
           
"Preparing our quarterbacks this week is going to be really important," McMartin said. "They need to understand where we want the ball to go and that we value the football."
           
Offensively, quarterback J Jensen III is among the national leaders in passing touchdowns (11) and yards (894). Freshman wide receiver Noah Cracraft is third nationally with seven receiving touchdowns.
           
"Slowing that offense down is going to be a great challenge," McMartin said. "Their quarterback is not afraid to throw it. He's got a group of playmakers around him. Their passing game is complemented by a good running back."
           
Making stops – The Dutch defense continues to impress, holding its opponents to no offensive touchdowns for the second week in a row. Opposing offenses have only mounted drives over 10 plays and 55 yards just twice this season, and only one against Illinois Wesleyan University has resulted in a touchdown.
           
"To have a great defense, you have to get stops," McMartin said. "If you can do that early it helps to not face as many plays. That means being good on first and second downs and don't allow them to get into a third and short where the offense has an advantage."
           
Central is allowing 196.3 yard and 8.5 points per game, both marks are eighth best nationally.
           
Ground service – Central piled up 327 rushing yards last week against Buena Vista, its first 300-yard rushing game since the opening game of the 2023 season. The Dutch are averaging 159.25 yards per game with 13 different players getting at least one carry. Jase Grunder (sophomore, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) is leading the way with 274 yards on 49 carries with five touchdowns.
           
"We have a talented group of young running backs," McMartin said. "We've got some mobile quarterbacks and even some wide receivers that we have gotten involved in the running game. We want to be versatile, to be able to hit inside and outside."
           
JV team move to 2-0 — Trailing 18-6 at halftime, the Dutch scored four touchdowns in the second half to beat William Penn University 35-32 in Monday's JV contest. Andrew Mohan (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) started the scoring with three field goals from distances of 34, 29 and 35 yards. Quarterback Noah Keefer (freshman, Knoxville) and wide receiver Jackson Torbit (freshman, St. Louis, Mo., Webster Groves HS) connected on scoring strikes of 65 and 48 yards.  Another freshman quarterback Jeremiah Pfeiffer (Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) found sophomore Renner Bardsley (Glenwood) for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Lawsen Fuller (junior, Roseville, Calif., Rosemont HS) also added a one-yard scoring rush. Defensively, safety Andrew Cotty (junior, Geneseo, Ill.) had an interception and corner back Adam Cook (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) forced and recovered a fumble.
           
Notes— Central is 70-19-4 all-time in homecoming games…This is the 16th time Central has hosted Simpson on homecoming with the Dutch winning 11 times…Simpson has not beaten Central in Pella since 2012…Members of the 1984 Dutch team will be in attendance to recognize the 40th anniversary of their NCAA Division III runner-up finish…Craig Bohl, the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association and former head coach at North Dakota State University and the University of Wyoming will also be in attendance. McMartin is serving as the AFCA president for this year.
 
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.)      
HB       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    26        Logan Sunvold (5-10, 190, 5Y)             
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                             1 p.m.
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.