PELLA — After a week off with a late-season bye week, the Central College football team is set to wrap up the regular season with a road trip to Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday.
Central (7-2, 5-2 American Rivers Conference) can secure a third-place league finish with a win at Nebraska Wesleyan (3-6, 2-5 conference).
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 Prairie Wolves — In its game at Loras College last Saturday, Nebraska Wesleyan suffered a 32-22 loss. The offense had its fifth game of over 300 yards behind 227 yards through the air. It averages 212.2 passing yards per game.
"They have an experienced quarterback," coach
Jeff McMartin said. "They've had some good wins this season and progress through the year. Their passing game is a strength of their team offensively and something you have to keep an eye on."
The Prairie Wolves are one of the stingiest third-down defenses in the league, allowing opponents to convert just 35% of the time. They are limiting opponents to under 215 passing yards per game.
"They play mostly a four-man front with active linebackers," McMartin said. "Their secondary works to eliminate big plays and make you earn things. You can't expect to get a big play against them. You're going to have to work it down the field and be smart."
Wining the bye week – Central was victorious 45-7 in its last time out against Loras College on November 2. McMartin said that there are different ways to use a bye week depending on when it falls in the season.
"We used it to get our legs rested up," he said. "We should feel fresh and as good as we can possibly feel in the 11th week of the season. We've stacked a lot of good practices together and were able to really work with our young guys."
Playoff odds – The NCAA revealed the Division III playoffs is expanding to a field of 40 teams this season with a new selection process based on the NCAA Power Index. The index is calculated using a series of five categories focused primarily on winning percentage and strength of schedule. With one week remaining, Central is No. 56 and needs a lot of help to get into the field as an at-large team.
"We don't have any control over the playoffs or what we are ranked," McMartin said. "All we can control is this moment, this game and our effort, attitude and focus."
The Dutch are staying focused on the task at hand and ending the last game on its schedule with a win.
"You want to make each week as good as you can make it," McMartin said. "You want all 10 weeks to be something special our players will never forget. We're focused on playing our best football and finishing strong."
Unbeaten season for Dutch JV team — For the fifth time this fall, the Central College JV football team came out of a one-score game victoriously by beating Monmouth College (Ill.) 34-27 Monday night.
Four different combinations for quarterback and wide receiver connected on first-half touchdown passes.
Nolan Meyer (junior, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) started the scoring with a 24-yard scoring grab from
Ricardo Portillo (junior, El Paso, Texas, El Dorado HS). Cole Duty (freshman, Gonzales, Texas) also found
Zeke Nelson (sophomore, Clear Lake) for a 46-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.
Brayden Ruskey (sophomore, Solon) hit
Blake Roberts (freshman, Pocahontas, Pocahontas Area HS) for a 24-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter.
Owen Brase (sophomore, Mount Vernon) snared a 22-yard pass from
Noah Keefer (freshman, Knoxville) on the final offensive play of the second quarter.
Andrew Mohan (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) kicked field goals from 20 and 29 yards in the third quarter and Central withstood a late rally by the Scots for the win.
Notes— Central is 12-0 in all contests against Nebraska Wesleyan…The Dutch have held the Prairie Wolves scoreless for 10 consecutive quarters. A second quarter touchdown in 2021's contest was the last score for Nebraska Wesleyan in the annual series…Central has outscored them 130-0 in the last two meetings…Nebraska Wesleyan has two players from Iowa on its roster and Central has no one from Nebraska on its roster.
Central College probable starters
OFFENSE
QB 6
Brady Ketchum (6-0, 195, sr.)
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 33
Ethan Thomas (6-3, 250, 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 Fiderlein (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 W, 59-14
Homecoming
Oct. 12 Coe Cedar Rapids L, 16-13 (2OT)
Oct. 19 Luther Pella W, 56-3
Oct. 26 Dubuque Dubuque W, 38-21
Nov. 2 Loras Pella W, 45-7
Nov. 16 Nebraska Wesleyan Lincoln, Neb. 1 p.m.
