Central College Athletics

Sweet Home Alabama–1974

Central makes a last-minute goal-line stand against a high-powered Ithaca (N.Y.) offense and wins the 1974 NCAA Division III Football Championship. Video is from the ABC network national telecast of Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Phenix City, Ala.

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Back to the Stagg Bowl–1988

After losing its top two quarterbacks to injury in the final week of the regular season, Central turned to lanky tight end Lance Kooiker to quarterback the Dutch on an amazing Stagg Bowl run. The Dutch finally defeated playoff nemesis Augustana (Ill.) in the 1988 NCAA Division III semifinals in Pella. Kooiker hit Rick Perry for a 25-yard TD on the first play of the second overtime, then the Central defense hangs on for a 23-17 victory and a berth in the Stagg Bowl.

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The Shot–1993

Emilie Hanson’s last-second rebound basket gave Central’s unheralded women’s basketball squad a stunning 60-59 upset over previously unbeaten St. Benedict (Minn.) in the 1993 NCAA Division III semifinal before a noisy P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium crowd. The Dutch captured the national title with a come-from-behind victory over Capital (Ohio) the following night.

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Jubilation at Juniata–1998

After losing in the NCAA Division III semifinals at UC San Diego in 1997, Central got another shot at the Tritons in the 1998 national championship match at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. A large contingent of Central fans drove nearly 900 miles to witness a dramatic 15-10, 12-15, 15-6, 8-15, 15-13 victory and the first of three straight NCAA titles.

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The Miracle in the Mud–2000

A botched overtime field goal turned into a memorable game-ending touchdown. Center Reid Evans alertly recovered the kick and handed the ball to fullback Joe Ritzert, who dodged Linfield fans streaming onto the field, giving Central an NCAA football playoff win at Linfield College (Ore.) in 2000. It was featured on ESPN and later became SI.com's Video of the Day.

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No Place Like Home–2000

After going to Pennsylvania to claim NCAA Division III volleyball championships in 1998 and 1999, Central achieved its dream by grabbing the 2000 NCAA title at home before a sell-out crowd at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. The final point of the title match against Wis.-Whitewater is shown.

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The Salem Slam–2003

Kris Hughes belts a fifth-inning grand slam to cap a come-from-behind 5-3 2003 NCAA Division III championship victory over Salisbury (Md.) at Salem, Va. It was Central’s fifth straight win in just over 24 hours as the Dutch rallied for their fourth national softball crown.

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Schreiber's Stunner–2006

Sophomore midfielder Clint Schreiber pulled off one of soccer’s rarest plays, a goal off a kickoff. Schreiber’s 57-yard goal in a 2-0 victory over Luther College gave Central a Sportscenter moment as ESPN featured it on a home video segment.

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The Kuyper Comeback – 2019

Trailing the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 31-7 at halftime in a first-round NCAA Division III football playoff game at Schipper Stadium in Central's A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex, the Dutch staged a record comeback. Still down 31-24 with 28 seconds left on the Titans' 34-yard line, quarterback Blaine Hawkins looked right, avoided a sack, scrambled to his left and, throwing against his body, dropped a pass over two defenders into the arms of wide receiver Erik Knaack who caught it in stride in the corner of the end zone with 15 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. The Dutch prevailed 38-37 as strong safety Jordy Borman deflected a two-point conversion pass in the end zone to end it.

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Game recap

The Wheaton Walk-off – 2021

Wheaton College (Ill.) bounced Central out of the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2019 with a lopsided 49-13 first-round victory in Illinois and in the 2021 rematch at Pella, the No. 9-ranked Thunder took a 28-24 lead on a touchdown pass with just 2:41 remaining. But it was still Hawktober on the Central calendar and that was enough time for All-American quarterback Blaine Hawkins and the record-breaking Dutch offense. After returning the kickoff to their own 35, with their season hanging in the balance, they raced down the field, twice converting on fourth down to set up a final play at the Wheaton 3-yard line. An injury stopped the clock temporarily with 6 seconds remaining, but when the game was whistled back into play, the clock started running as Hawkins began scanning the defense and calling signals, He calmly took the snap. All-American wide receiver Tanner Schminke faked to the inside and headed to the corner of the end zone with a Wheaton defender in hot pursuit. Hawkins lofted the ball as soon Schminke made his break. Schminke reached the corner just in time to cradle the ball as it fell into his arms for the 30-28 victory and the Schipper Stadium crowd erupted, as did KRLS Radio play-by-play announcer Trevor Castle. Hawkins later received the Gagliardi Trophy as Division III's outstanding player and Central reached the NCAA quarterfinals, finishing 12-1. 

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Game recap