PELLA — The Central College football game came up short in its final home game of the season at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium Saturday, falling 28-7 to Wartburg College.
Central (5-4, 3-3 American Rivers Conference) fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and despite its best efforts could not catch Wartburg (7-2, 6-0 conference.)
"We ask our players every week to win a play and play hard for six seconds with everything they have," coach
Jeff McMartin said. "I think today they gave us everything they had. We have to continue to improve but as long as there's a season and practice and games, we're going to continue to get better."
The Dutch held Wartburg's rushing attack to 113 total yards, it's lowest by nearly 100 yards against conference opponents. The Knights failed to score 30 points for the first time since losing to the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in September.
Brecken Ritzert (freshman, Pella, Pella Christian HS) and
Clay Saak (junior Grundy Center) finished atop the tackles list for Central. Ritzert had 11 and 0.5 tackles for loss while Saak had eight with a solo tackle for loss.
"Clay is a huge player and he's made us so much better on defense since coming back form injury," McMartin said. "
The Dutch had a pair of turnovers in the second half including
Owen Tomko's (senior, Costa Mesa, Calif., Fountain Valley HS) second interception of the season. Wartburg also fumbled a snap on a fourth quarter punt and then
Eddy Gangba (freshman, Iowa City, Regina Catholic HS) tackled the punter as he was attempting to run away to punt it.
Trevor Sosin (freshman, Addison, Ill., Addison Trail HS) fell on it at the Knights 34-yardline. Central couldn't turn either of those into points.
"We have to take advantage of those things," McMartin said. "Those are opportunities for us to continue to grow and improve as a team.
A Dutch offense that has been battered by injuries all season, lost starting running back
Jase Grunder (senior, Tampico, Ill., Prophetstown HS) on the first drive of the day.
Cody Klein (junior, Newton) took on his heaviest load of the season, carrying the ball 25 times for 143 yards and a score.
"Cody really showed out today," McMartin said. "(Offensive Coordinator) Chorowicz did a really good job getting him in places that he could be his best. And then his skill and talent took over."
The two-headed quarterback monster of
Brett Connolly (sophomore, Plainfield, Ill., Oswego HS) and Gentry Dumont (junior, Solon, Regina Catholic HS) were a combined 11 of 19 passing for 77 yards and an interception.
Elam Parises (sophomore, Elizabeth, Colo., Mountain Vista HS) had three catches for 20 yards.
Central wraps up the season next Saturday in Indianola against Simpson College at 1 p.m.
Get event recaps and other important updates about Central College athletics directly to your e-mail by subscribing
here!
