Matt VerMeer Oct. 4, 2008

Defensive touchdown carries Luther past Central

DECORAH—A 97-yard Alex Mierau interception return proved to be a game-changer as Luther College surprised the Central College football team 26-7 Saturday.

That snapped Central’s 18-game regular-season road win streak. The Dutch, 2-2 overall, start the Iowa Conference season at 0-2 for just the second time since 1978 and the first time since 2003.

Central, ranked No. 24 by D3football.com and No. 25 in the AFCA coaches’ poll, appeared to be in good shape late in the first half, up 7-6 and driving for a score when quarterback Zack Bandow’s (sophomore, Manilla, IKM HS) pass was picked off at the 3-yard line. Suddenly Luther was up 12-7. Central quickly marched back to the Norse 20-yard line, only to come up short on fourth down.

“That (interception) was a critical play, there’s no question about it,” coach Jeff McMartin said. “That and the way we played in the third quarter.”

The Dutch had controlled the game statistically in the opening half. Central held a 272-101 yard total offense advantage, outgaining the Norse 194 yards to 23 in the second quarter.

“We were doing some good things,” McMartin said. “We were moving the ball and playing great defense. If we go in and get the touchdown, we go up eight points. I felt like we were playing our type of football game.”

But the second half was all Luther (2-2 overall, 2-1 Iowa Conference) as the Norse outgained Central 284 yards to 86. The Dutch mustered just 17 yards in the third quarter as Luther scored its first win over Central since 2004 and only its second since 1980.

“We didn’t come out and play in the third quarter,” McMartin said. “We just didn’t make the plays we needed on offense or on defense.”

It was Central’s largest margin of defeat since a 34-14 NCAA Division III playoff setback at Wis.-Whitewater Nov. 19, 2005. In regular-season play, the margin was the largest since Augustana (Ill.) outscored Central 38-7 Sept. 4, 2004.

Bandow passed for a career-high 306 yards, completing 23 of 51 passes, but was intercepted twice and sacked three times. Central rushed for only 37 yards, its lowest total the 2004 Augustana game.

Kurtis BrondykeLuther freshman quarterback Chris Reynolds rushed 12 times for 101 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown run, while completing 16 of 23 passes for 199 yards and a score.

Central’s Matt VerMeer (senior, Montezuma) hauled in a career-high eight receptions for 99 yards while Kurtis Brondyke (sophomore, Clinton) had five catches for 61 yards and Alex Dittmer (junior, Lowden, North Cedar HS) had four receptions for 91 yards.

Running back Dustin Veldhuizen (senior, Oskaloosa) was Central’s top rusher with 30 yards on eight carries. Central, which had been 11-of-11 in red zone scoring opportunities, was 1-of-3 Saturday.

Linebacker Justin VerSteeg (senior, Pella) made 10 tackles for the Dutch while linebacker Greg Best (sophomore, Clive, Valley HS) had eight stops.

Central gets its next shot at a league victory Saturday when the University of Dubuque comes to Pella for a 1 p.m. game at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.

“That’s an important game for us,” McMartin said. “We’ve got to get ready for that and find ways to improve.”