Brett Wilkin Nov. 3, 2008

Central takes on title contender

PELLA—The Central College football team will take on one of the surprise teams in the Iowa Conference race Saturday, traveling to Storm Lake to face Buena Vista University. Game time is noon at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium. Buena Vista, 6-2 overall, is 5-1 in league play, tied in the loss column with first-place Wartburg College. The Beavers were 19-10 victors at Coe College Saturday. Central (5-3 overall, 3-3 conference) was held off by Loras College at Pella Saturday, 31-28.  

On the air, on the Web—Trevor Castle will call Saturday’s play-by-play on KRLS-FM (92.1) and the broadcast can also be accessed through Central’s Web site or through www.kniakrls.com. A tape-delayed telecast will air in Pella on Mediacom cable channel 12 next Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m.

The series—Central subdued Buena Vista 31-14 at Pella last year and holds a 49-11 lead in the series which began in 1928. Buena Vista’s last win over the Dutch was in 2003 in a contest played at Southeast Polk High School near Altoona. That’s the only BV win in the series since 1979.

The Beavers—Buena Vista is bidding for its first Iowa Conference crown since 1978, when the Beavers were part of a four-way tie for the title with Central, Dubuque and Luther.

The Beavers were 5-5 a year ago and were picked eighth in a preseason poll of league coaches. But Central coach Jeff McMartin said there’s no secret to their success.

“Buena Vista is doing all the right things,” he said. “They’re playing good defense, they’re making plays on offense and making good decisions. They’re not shooting themselves in the foot. They’re doing all the things you want a team to do.”

Central football playerThe Beavers rank first in the league in scoring defense (13.6 points per game) and second in total offense (355.4 yards per game) while leading the league in possession time (32:57 avg.).

Cory Donscheski, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound sophomore, is emerging as one of the league’s top running backs. He ranks third with 89.9 yards per game, breaking out with 189 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in the win at Coe.  Meanwhile senior Alex Moss is averaging 54.2 yards a contest.

“(Donscheski) is a good running back,” McMartin said. “He’s very fast. Both of their running backs do a good job.”

Senior quarterback Matt Pearey is third in the league in passing yardage (1,608), completing 117 of 215 passes with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. Senior Trent Svendsen is eighth in receiving yardage with 34 catches for 415 yards and two scores.

“Their quarterback is very heady,” McMartin said. “He’s a good decision-maker and they’ve got a great receiver. They’ve got some playmakers.”

Sophomore defensive back Rahn Franklin, who is also listed as a wide receiver, is third in the conference in passes defended with eight pass breakups and four interceptions. Junior linebacker Ben Hansen has made 57 tackles, including 30 unassisted stops. The Beavers are limiting foes to 124.4 yards rushing and 165.1 yards passing.

“They’re very solid defensively,” McMartin said.

Second-half surge—Central staged spirited second-half comeback bids the past two weeks, but only one was successful. Trailing Cornell 22-6 in the third quarter Oct. 25, the Dutch pulled off a 29-22 overtime escape. Saturday Central was down 21-0 in the second quarter and 28-14 entering the fourth period before coming up three points short.

McMartin prefers the Dutch not rely on late fireworks. Central, which has faced first-half deficits in five of its eight games, yielded three Loras touchdowns Saturday before the Dutch had even gained a first down.

“We need to get off to a better start,” he said. “Some of it is we’ve got to get something going on offense. We need to get a few first downs and make some plays. It’s 11 guys out there and they all need to do better.”

While the defense surrendered 219 yards rushing by Loras running back Alex McGrew, McMartin took some consolation in limiting McGrew on return yardage. The Dutch held him to an average of 11.6 yards on three kick returns and 9.0 yards on two punt returns.

“Our special teams were a bright spot,” McMartin said.

Wong, Brondyke still leading—Sophomore Kurtis Brondyke (Clinton) continues leading the conference in punting with a 43.1-yard average. He was fifth in Division III in last week’s statistical rankings. Defensive stinger Shane Wong (sophomore, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) is the league sacks leader with nine and was sixth in Division III last week.

Kicker Jake Viggers (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) is third in the league in scoring (38 points) and third in field goals per game (0.75).

Matt VerMeerCommittee work—Six players have held or shared the team tackle lead in Central’s eight games, with Wong doing it three times. Running backs Dustin Veldhuizen (senior, Oskaloosa) and David Zachary (junior, Des Moines, Dowling HS) and quarterback Jarred Lackey (sophomore, Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS) have each topped the team rushing yardage chart in at least two games. Matt VerMeer (senior, Montezuma) has been Central’s top receiver or shared the receptions lead in six games.

Faithful tradition—There won’t be any chain-restaurant buffets for the Central postgame meal Saturday on the team’s return trip from Storm Lake.

Win or lose the Dutch are going to church. Since 1986, members of the Rippey United Methodist Church—about 10 miles north of Perry, Iowa—have served the Dutch whenever the squad plays in Storm Lake. The tradition was started by church members Velda De Moss, whose son Marc De Moss ‘86 was a defensive back for the conference champion Dutch, and Jean Borgeson, whose daughter Linda ‘88 was a team manager. De Moss continues to spearhead organizing the event.

McMartin, who took part in the tradition during his undergraduate career at Central, said the Dutch pay the church for the meal but that the cost is less than what the team typically pays in a restaurant. The food garners rave reviews from Central players, some of whom report that the pie alone is worth the trip.

The church typically designates the proceeds for its youth programs.

“It’s become a very special tradition,” McMartin said. “We’ve developed a neat relationship with the people in Rippey and at the church and they do a fantastic job. The food is tremendous. The players really look forward to it.”

Notes—Wong’s 12 tackles against Loras Saturday matched the team’s single-game high for the year. Linebacker Greg Best (sophomore, Clive, Valley HS) had 12 stops against Dubuque Oct. 11. Best is the team season tackles leader with 55….Central has made interceptions in seven of its eight games. Freshman defensive back Ryan Schmidt (Keswick, Tri-County HS) is the team leader with three…Two of Central’s three starting positions in the defensive backfield continue to be held by freshmen, with Schmidt and Jake Petersen (Gladbrook, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS). Starting defensive stinger Wong, a sophomore, is in his first year of competition with the Dutch as well and another freshman, linebacker Nate Doeden (Newton), had a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown Saturday…VerMeer has moved into a tie for the team scoring lead with Viggers at 38 points…Central remains effective in the Red Zone with 17 touchdowns and five field goals in 25 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line…Buena Vista is attempting to break a four-school stranglehold on the Iowa Conference crown. Since 1980 only Central, Wartburg, Simpson and Coe have captured league football titles. In that span Central has won or shared 18 championships, Wartburg has seven, Simpson has four and Coe has three…McMartin doesn’t anticipate any reinforcements. The Dutch injury list is expected to remain lengthy the remainder of the season.