David Zachary Sept. 22, 2009

Zachary, Paulson win league honors

PELLA—Central College senior running back David Zachary (Des Moines, Dowling HS) has been named the Iowa Conference male athlete of the week.

Dutch sophomore Sarah Paulson (Ottumwa) was named the women’s golfer of the week.

Zachary rushed for a career-high 161 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries in Central’s 41-27 Iowa Conference football victory at the Univ. of Dubuque Saturday. The Dutch racked up 275 yards rushing overall and 419 yards total offense.

After not rushing for 100 yards or more in a game prior to this season, Zachary has done so in two of the first three games in 2009. He scored on a career-long 50-yard run in the first quarter and also had touchdown runs of 1, 10 and 36 yards. His 161 yards were the most gained by a Central player since Vance Schuring rushed for 166 yards on 30 carries, also against Dubuque Oct. 14, 2006.

Zachary’s four scores were the most by a Central running back since Chris Button had four TDs in one half, against Dubuque as well, Sept. 28, 1996.

Zachary rushed for 407 yards last season. In three games this year, he’s already gained 326 yards on 50 carries. He ranks second in the league with 108.7 yards per game and is first in yards per carry (6.5).

It’s the second time this season that the league’s football player of the week has come from Central. Quarterback Nate Snead (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) was recognized Sept. 7.

The No. 15 Dutch (3-0 overall, 1-0 conference) play host to Coe College Saturday in Central’s homecoming/family weekend game at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium at 1 p.m.

Paulson cited again—Paulson finished fourth out of 112 golfers at the Illinois Wesleyan Univ. Fall Classic. She carded an 80-75—155 at the par-72 Ironwood Golf Course in Normal, Ill. in a tournament that included six nationally ranked teams. She led the Dutch to a seventh-place finish in a 20-team field.

It’s the sixth time that Paulson has received the league honor and the second time this season, also being recognized Sept. 7. She was cited four times during her freshman season when she went on to claim the Iowa Conference meet medalist crown and earned all-America distinction at the NCAA Division III tournament in May.

Paulson and the Dutch compete in the first two rounds of the 72-hole Iowa Conference tournament Friday and Saturday at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.