Cody Baethke Sept. 8, 2009

Ranked foe visits for home opener

PELLA—A first-ever meeting with Wis.-Stevens Point will be a battle of nationally ranked teams in the Central College football squad’s home opener Saturday.

Game time is 1 p.m. at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella. Central, 1-0 after a 40-17 non-conference victory at Lakeland College (Wis.) last Saturday, inched its way into the D3football.com rankings in 25th this week. Wis.-Stevens Point, which hasn’t played yet this season, is rated No. 7.

On the air, on the Web— A live video Webcast of the contest will be available through the Central athletics Web site at www.central.edu/athletics, with live stats also offered. Trevor Castle will call the 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— Not only have Wis.-Stevens Point and Central not previously met, they’re not scheduled to do so again anytime soon. It’s a one-year agreement. The last time Central took on a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference member was Nov. 19, 2005, when the Dutch fell at Wis.-Whitewater 34-14, in a first-round NCAA Division III playoff contest.

Powerful Pointers—Wis.-Stevens Point is coming off a 9-2 campaign in which the Pointers upset Wis.-Whitewater. It was the Warhawks’ first home-field loss in 28 games. Wis.-Stevens Point advanced to the NCAA Division III field.

The Pointers return 17 starters, including 10 on offense. Senior quarterback Jared Beckwith completed 243 of 405 passes for 2,461 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He threw for 470 yards against Wis.-Oshkosh Nov. 1. Junior wide receiver Jared Jenkins had a team-high 83 catches for 912 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior running back Mike Ferron gained 550 yards rushing on 148 carries with three scores. The Pointers outgained opponents by an average of 314.9 yards to 257.4.

“They’re good from top to bottom,” coach Jeff McMartin said. “They’ve got a great quarterback, a really talented wide receiver, the line is very good, the running back’s good—I can’t find anything on film, offensively or defensively, that they don’t do well.”

Senior free safety Bryan Blum made a team-high 64.5 tackles with six pass interceptions and four pass breakups. Junior defensive lineman Matt Lunder had 7.5 quarterback sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss.

Wis.-Stevens Point has eight returning all-conference players. Beckwith, Blum, Jenkins, Lunder and senior linebacker Brandon Stremkowski were each first-team selections.

“It’s a great challenge,” said McMartin, whose team is coming off a 6-4 2008 season. “We’ve got a lot to improve on this week but we’re excited about the opportunity to play a great team like this at our place. We just need to get better. Each week our goal is to find ways to get better.”

Since the Pointers haven’t played yet, the Dutch coaching staff hasn’t had an opportunity to scout this year’s squad, but McMartin doesn’t view that as a hindrance to preparations.

“For us to have a game under our belts is a good thing,” he said. “We don’t need them playing (last week) for us to know they’re good.”

The running game is back—Among the most welcome developments in Central’s season-opening win at Lakeland Saturday was a high-powered performance by the Dutch running game. Long a Central strength, the Dutch went through 2008 without a running back topping the 100-yard mark in a game, the first season that had happened since single-game records were first kept in 1975. But Saturday, Central had two 100-yard backs for the first time since Oct. 11, 2003 when Dustyn Baethke gained 135 yards and Tyler Baethke rushed for 100 against Upper Iowa. They’re the older brothers of Central defensive back Cody Baethke (junior, Williamsburg). Central averaged 111.4 yards rushing last year but gained 374 yards on the ground Saturday, while piling up 504 yards total offense. It was Central’s highest offensive output since gaining 571 yards against Cornell College Oct. 27, 2007.

Jarred Lackey (junior, Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS), in his first appearance at running back since being moved there during preseason camp, broke free for a 61-yard touchdown dash on his first carry. His 47-yard dash on Central’s next possession also set up a touchdown. He rushed for 143 yards on just seven carries while starter David Zachary (senior, Des Moines, Dowling HS) gained a career-high 101 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts, averaging 5.6 yards, and quarterback Nate Snead (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) rushed for 90 yards on 11 carries in his first start. Zachary’s previous best was 95 yards at Albion (Mich.) Sept. 27 last season.

As a quarterback in 2008, Lackey was effective in short-yardage situations and that continues to be a strength as he learns his new position.

“On the first touchdown he found a hole and just took off,” McMartin said. “The offensive line created some good holes for all of our runners. But Jarred’s also not afraid to run people over to get the hard yardage.”

The Dutch were productive through the air as well. Snead completed 10 of 19 passes for 86 yards and one touchdown while Zack Bandow (junior, Manilla, IKM HS) completed 5 of 8 throws for 44 yards and a score. Neither quarterback threw an interception as Central was plus-2 in turnovers.

“Nate did a nice job of mixing things up and Zack, in his first series in the first half, took us right down the field, which was good to see,” McMartin said. “Both quarterbacks had a couple of drops by receivers or their numbers could have been better.”

Wide receiver Jeremy Snead (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) had five catches for 54 yards and two touchdowns in the most extensive action of his young career.

Six sacks for Dutch D--The Central defense recorded six quarterback sacks, including two from last year’s Iowa Conference sacks leader, defensive lineman Shane Wong (junior, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS). He had five tackles overall, including three for loss. Linebacker Greg Best (junior, Clive, Valley HS) topped the tackle charts with eight. Baethke returned after missing most of 2008 with injury and had an interception on Lakeland’s opening drive.

Central outgained the Muskies 504-279 yards. The Dutch yielded 296 yards passing but held Lakeland to minus 17 yards rushing.

Promising prospects—Dutch coaches have been pleased with the past two recruiting classes and Saturday’s big lead allowed them to see many of the newer players to see action. McMartin expects several to help this season and mentioned a few that played extensively Saturday.

“We’ve got a good group of young players,” he said. “Jeremy Snead really stood out. (Defensive back) Jared Epley (freshman, Plainfield, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) did a nice job. Ben Lechtenberg (freshman, Manchester, West Delaware HS) got some quality minutes at wide receiver. Ross Doehrmann (freshman, Williamsburg) ran the ball really well. We’re excited about his potential as well.”

Notes—Defensive back Jake Petersen (sophomore, Gladbrook, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) missed last week’s game with injury and his status is still uncertain. Jackson Leuschen (sophomore, Story City, Roland-Story HS) is listed in his spot this week. Leuschen had five tackles at Lakeland. But the Dutch came back from Wisconsin largely healthy, a dramatic contrast from last season when tight end Jordan Leuschen (junior, Decorah)  was lost for the year in the preseason, Nate Snead was sidelined for the season on his second series of the opener and several other injuries to key players soon followed…Punter Kurtis Brondyke (junior, Clinton) had just three kicks Saturday but landed two inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, giving him. He’s done that 44 times in his career, one short of Brant VerMeer’s (2003-06) school career record…Jake Viggers (junior, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) connected on field goals of 30 and 23 yards. He’s hit 23 of 28 career field goals and needs one more to tie the school career record set by Matt Schulte (1983-84). . . While Central is fielding a more experienced club than a year ago, there are just eight seniors listed in the starting lineup.