PELLA— In the first week of American Rivers Conference play, the Central College football team opens with the two-time defending champions and 2024 preseason favorites Wartburg College Saturday.
           
The Knights (1-1) are ranked No. 13 in the D3football.com poll and No. 15 by the American Football Coaches Association. Central is receiving votes in both.
           
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 Knights — Central faces Wartburg in a situation no team has experienced since 2021, that is the Knights coming off a loss. Wartburg had undefeated regular seasons in 2022 and 2023 before losing in the NCAA Division III playoffs. After starting non-conference play with a 38-24 win at Monmouth College (Ill.), they lost 35-13 at #12 Saint John's University (Minn.) in week two.
           
"When a team is really well coached, you are able to learn from a loss or a win and put it away to get ready for the next game," McMartin said. "We're not going to prepare any differently for them or feel like they're going to play us differently whether they had won or lost that game."
           
Wartburg has a veteran-laden starting lineup. Nine of 11 starters on offense and seven of 11 on defense are either seniors or fifth-year seniors.
           
"They are predominantly a senior-led team," McMartin said. "They've got a lot of players with experience, and they are well coached. They're very, very formidable."
           
State of the Dutch – Central put together a pair of sizable non-conference victories to start the season. After dismantling Illinois Wesleyan University 49-14 in week one, they secured a 35-10 win at California Lutheran University. Coach McMartin believes his team isn't going to be victimized by overconfidence.
           
"We try to look at winning and losing in a similar light: don't get too high and don't get too low," he said. "Our players have enjoyed both wins and are happy we are 2-0. But they are still hungry to get better and continue to improve."
           
Go the distance – Central had another week of big plays in the win over Cal Lutheran. The second touchdown of the game was a 61-yard catch and run by Keegan Glover (junior, Benton, Ill.) from quarterback Brady Ketchum (senior, Mount Vernon). Ketchum found a streaking Ryan Neu (fifth year, West Des Moines, Valley HS) for an 89-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Tight end Grant Nelson (senior, Pella) also had a diving 27-yard grab. Through two games, Central has 10 plays of over 15 rushing yards or 20 passing yards.
           
"I think we've created some big plays for ourselves on offense," McMartin said. "We'll need to a good job of blocking on the perimeter this week because Wartburg has done well defeating those blocks."
           
Ground control – Through two games, Central has limited opponents to 67 total rushing yards. The average of 33.5 yards allowed per game is the eighth lowest in Division III. The Dutch will be put to the test against a Wartburg offense that was among the nation's rushing leaders in 2023 and had 193 yards in its opener at Monmouth.
           
"We need to do a good job of stopping the run and finding ways to slow them down in that area," McMartin said. "We've done a good job of utilizing the speed we have on defense."
           
Veteran Specials – The phase of the game where Central boasts the most experience is on special teams. Fifth-year senior Logan Sunvold (Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) has been the team's kicker since the spring season of 2021. He's made 211 extra points, 27 field goals and kicked off 281 times. His holder for the last two seasons has been Hunter Wilkinson (fifth year, Jensen Beach, Fla.), who also returned a total of 43 kicks in his career. Nick Bandy (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) has snapped on field goals and extra points for three years while Josh Dennison (senior, Romeoville, Ill.) has been the long snapper on punts since his freshman season. Another fifth-year senior, Austin Burns (Williamsburg), has 126 punts to his name.
           
"We have a lot of veterans in those areas," McMartin said. "They have played a lot of football for us and we need to be able to count on them each week."
           
Celebrating 1974 — Members of Central's 1974 team will be on campus to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of that team's magical season. After a 9-0 regular season that featured five shutouts, Central qualified for the four-team playoffs. After a 17-16 road win at the University of Evansville (Ind.), the Dutch defeated Ithaca College (N.Y.) 10-8 in Phenix City, Alabama to become national champions. Central remains the only American Rivers Conference school with a football national title.
           
"To say you've won a national championship in football is a very special thing," McMartin said. "They set a great standard for our football program. It will be a fun event for that group. It's always great to have our alumni back."
           
Notes—Saturday marks the 73rd meeting between the two programs. Central leads the series 45-27, but the two teams have split the last four meetings…Wartburg's last loss to an American Rivers Conference opponent was October 30, 2021 in a 24-20 defeat at Buena Vista University…Ketchum's eight passing touchdowns are the third-highest total in Division III…Central is converting on third downs at a .588 percentage, No. 14 in the country.
 
Central College probable starters
 
OFFENSE
QB       18        Hunter Hoffman (6-1, 170, jr.)  
or         6          Brady Ketchum (6-0, 195, sr.)
RB       12        Keegan Glover (6-2, 180, jr.)                
TE        23        Grant Nelson (6-0, 220, sr.)      
WR      7          Jack Johnson (5-11, 185, sr.)    
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 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-P     25        Josh Dennison (5-11, 200, sr.)  
LS-K    2          Nick Bandy (6-2, 225, 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                             1 p.m.
Sept. 28            Buena Vista                 Storm Lake                  1 p.m.
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.