PELLA — Rising to the occasion, the Central College football team upset No. 19 Randolph-Macon College (Va.) 10-0 on a sweltering day Saturday in Pella.
           
Since the start of the D3football.com rankings in 2003, it's just the third time an unranked Central (2-0 overall) team has defeated a ranked opponent. Randolph-Macon (1-1) was shut out for the first time since the 2008 playoffs and the first time it's been shutout in the regular season since 2005.
           
"I was really proud of our resilience," coach Jeff McMartin said. "Our mindset was good; we battled all day through the heat and against a great opponent. It wasn't always perfect, but we kept playing the next play. It's a big win for us."
           
Defensive lineman Trent Cakerice (sophomore, Grundy Center) came up with multiple big plays. In the third quarter, he had a sack on third and goal, costing the Yellow Jackets 18 yards and led to a missed field goal. He also batted down a pass on third down in the fourth quarter, leading to a punt. Defensive end Evan Schroeder (senior, Elkader, Central Elkader HS) also had five tackles and a sack.
           
"He's done a lot of really good things," McMartin said. "Our defensive line is one of the strengths on our team. He's been a great addition to what we do."                                                     "
           
On Randolph-Macon's first trip into the red zone at the end of the second quarter, cornerback Gavin Smith (senior, Audubon) made a terrific interception to end another scoring threat.
           
"That's a huge play," McMartin said. "They were thinking they were coming away with at least a field goal."
           
Linebacker Cole Clark (fifth year, Lisbon) led the team with 13 total tackles. Johnathan Weaver (senior, Lenox) contributed eight. The Yellow Jackets were held to 226 total offensive yards while finishing 0-3 in the red zone and 5-13 on third down conversions.
           
"A lot of guys really stepped up and they played well as a unit," McMartin said. "They never quit. They had their backs against the wall several times but never quit."
           
The game's only touchdown came at the end of a 13-play, 97-yard scoring drive as Cam Schulte (junior, Pella) took a screen pass and bounced off tacklers for a 14-yard score. Schulte finished the game with eight catches for 113 yards.
           
"Cam is a hard guy to bring down," McMartin said. "It was a good play call by (offensive coordinator) Chorowicz."
           
Quarterback Hunter Hoffman (senior, Pecatonica, Ill.) finished the game with 21 completions and 29 attempts for 228 yards with a pair of interceptions. Running back Jase Grunder (junior, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) netted 60 yards on 18 rush attempts.
           
The game was put on ice with 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Andrew Mohan (sophomore, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) connected on a 32-yard field goal.
           
The Dutch open American Rivers Conference action next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Decorah against Luther College