Jake Viggers kick Oct. 11, 2008

Viggers kick wins it for Dutch

PELLA—A career-long 43-yard field goal by Jake Viggers (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) with 44 seconds remaining pushed the Central College football team to its first Iowa Conference win Saturday, 24-21 over the University of Dubuque. The Dutch (3-2 overall, 1-2 conference) had to withstand a late Dubuque surge as the Spartans scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in 6 minutes to tie it 21-21. But after a defensive stop, Central took over on its own 30-yard line with 3:28 left. New starting quarterback Jarred Lackey (sophomore, Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS), who moved back to quarterback after playing defensive stinger, led the Dutch on an eight-play 44-yard drive to the Dubuque 26. Facing fourth-and-1, Viggers lined up for the 43-yard field-goal try but Dubuque called timeout. Coach Jeff McMartin then sent Lackey on the field to go for the first down before calling a timeout of his own and sending Viggers back out. Viggers, whose previous collegiate best was from 38 yards, split the uprights with plenty of cushion.    

Viggers was on familiar ground. It was the third game-winning kick of his young Central career. His 30-yarder at Dubuque last year was the difference in a 37-34 triple-overtime victory. And his 25-yarder with just 3 seconds remaining delivered the 2007 conference championship and a 17-14 regular season-ending win at Wartburg College.

“Jake’s been a clutch kicker and there was no reason to think he couldn’t do it,” McMartin said. “After the (Dubuque) timeout, we thought we might run it but we didn’t get the look we wanted so we went with our first instinct and it turned out to be right.”

Lackey delivered some spark to the Dutch offense, fueling a 62-yard touchdown drive on Central’s first possession. He tossed a 14-yard scoring pass to Matt VerMeer (senior, Montezuma) with 10:18 left in the first quarter.

But Lackey, who moved to defense during the preseason, then had a swing pass picked off by Dubuque defensive end Albert Hightower, who lumbered 48 yards untouched for the tying touchdown.

Central responded with a nine-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Running back Dustin Veldhuizen (senior, Oskaloosa) went in from the 2. The Dutch stretched the lead to 21-7 late in the second quarter when tight end Steven Johnson (sophomore, Montezuma) grabbed a 6-yard Lackey toss for his first collegiate score.

Central controlled the ball for 19:55 of 30 minutes in the first half, but the offense stalled after the break with Dubuque holding the ball for 16:45. Jean Metezier had a 15-yard touchdown run for the Spartans and Ronnie Mirth hauled in a 37-yard tipped pass to complete a 90-yard scoring drive.

Dubuque outgained Central 358 yards to 343. Lackey completed 12 of 23 passes for 133 yards and was also Central’s leading rusher with 85 yards on 18 carries.

“Jarred made plays with his arm and his feet,” McMartin said. “He really gave us a different look offensively and that’s what we wanted.”

Zack Bandow (sophomore, Manilla, IKM HS) started Central’s first four games at quarterback and shows promise, McMartin said. But the Dutch were looking for a spark after a 0-2 conference start.

“Zack has worked very hard and I appreciate what he’s put in,” McMartin said. “It was a difficult decision but it was a decision we just felt we needed to make.”

The Dutch gained  210 yards on the ground. Running back David Zachary (junior, Des Moines, Dowling HS) rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries and Veldhuizen gained 43 yards on 11 tries.

VerMeer had five catches for 64 yards and Cam Waugh (senior, Fort Collins, Colo., Loveland HS) had four receptions for 47 yards.

Linebacker Greg Best (sophomore, Clive, Valley HS) made 12 tackles, including two sacks for the Dutch defense. Corben Schueler (junior, Granger, Woodward-Granger HS) made his first start, replacing Lackey at the stinger position, and made 11 tackles while intercepting a pass and breaking up another. Linebackers Justin Ver Steeg (senior, Pella) and Ryan Thompson (senior, Montezuma) each had seven stops. Defensive back Kevin Good (junior, Chandler, Ariz.) returned to the lineup after being sidelined by injury and contributed five tackles.

Injuries and the resulting position changes have challenged the young Dutch defense.

“We’ve had to overcome a lot this season on defense but they really battled out there today,” McMartin said. “Corben Schueler did a good job in taking Jarred Lackey’s place. (Defensive back) Ryan Schmidt (freshman, Keswick, Tri-County HS) had his first start today and I thought he played well. All of the young defensive backs are going to be very good for us and they battled today.”

Central is on the road for three of the season’s final five weeks. The Dutch journey to Cedar Rapids to tackle Coe College Saturday at 1 p.m. The Kohawks are 2-2 in the league and 2-4 overall after a 27-21 loss to Wartburg College Saturday.