Zack Bandow Oct. 26, 2009

Central aims for title share

PELLA—A year after spoiling Buena Vista’s Iowa Conference title hopes, the Central College football team will attempt to prevent the Beavers from returning the favor Saturday in Pella.    

Central can clinch at least a share of the league crown with a victory in its regular-season home finale, which kicks off at 1 p.m. at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.

The Dutch, 8-0 overall, are 6-0 in the league after handing Loras College a 41-17 defeat Saturday. They’re ranked No. 6 by D3football.com and were rated No. 6 last week by the American Football Coaches Association. Central has a one-game lead in the conference standings over Coe College. The Dutch have just two league games remaining while Coe has three games left. Central has won or shared a record 29 conference titles, including 17 in the previous 25 years. The Dutch shared the 2005 crown and captured outright championships in 2006 and 2007 before tying for fifth last season.

A year ago Buena Vista entered a Nov. 8 contest with Central in a virtual tie for the league’s top spot but the Dutch pulled a 23-14 surprise at Storm Lake. This time Buena Vista is still in the conference title chase at 3-2 in the conference with a 4-3 overall mark, falling into a tie for third place after a 15-9 loss at Luther College Saturday.

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.

The series—Central holds a 50-11 advantage over Buena Vista in the all-time series. Coach Jeff McMartin is 5-0 against the Beavers and the Dutch have won 28 of the last 29 meetings.

The Beavers—Defense has been the Buena Vista calling card in recent years and it’s another hard-hitting unit this season. The Beavers are second in the league in rushing defense (106.7 yards), third in total defense (319.9 yards) and third in scoring defense (17.0 points). Strong safety Alan Bladt is fourth in the conference in tackles with 65, including 48 solos. Bladt is first in the league in forced fumbles with three. Linebacker Brian Bode is sixth in tackles with 63 tackles, including 47 solos with 3.5 sacks. Cornerback Jared Boysen is first in the conference in passes defended with eight breakups and three interceptions.

“Their defense has been very tough the last several years,” McMartin said. “The strong safety (Alan Bladt) is a very good player. They have a lot of big, physical kids and they’re very well coached.”

Quarterback Brandon Phelan has completed 95 of 202 passes for 1,357 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Bryce Meyer has 28 pass receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver/punter Eric Bertelsen earned all-America honors in the long jump and 100 meters last spring and was the league track and field MVP. He’s gained 351 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 receptions, an average of 27.0 yards a catch.

“Their quarterback is having an excellent year,” McMartin said. “They’ve got a lot of speed and have made a lot of good plays.

“It’s a very sophisticated pass offense. They spread you out one play, then pound it at you the next. They come at you from a lot of different angles.”

The Beavers caught the league’s attention with a 27-15 upset of preseason favorite Wartburg College at Waverly Oct. 10.

“They’ve won some big games on the road,” McMartin said. “They’re still in a position to win the Iowa Conference and will come at us with everything they have.”

Ben LechtenbergConference leaders—Central remains prominent in conference statistics. Central is first in scoring offense (39.2 points), total offense (419.8 yards), rushing offense (264.4 yards), rushing defense (74.2 yards), passing efficiency (150.7), kickoff returns (25.2 yards), kickoff coverage (41.1 net yards per kick), sacks (27), fewest sacks allowed (5), first downs (22.6) and red zone efficiency (90.0 percent).

Individually, running back David Zachary (senior, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) is tops in rushing (121.2 yards) with quarterback Nate Snead (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) third (79.0 yards). Quarterback Zack Bandow (junior, Manilla, IKM HS) leads in passing efficiency (153.0) while Jake Viggers (junior, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) is the leader in kick-scoring (6.6 points) and extra points (35-39, 89.7 percent). Receiver Mike Furlong (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS) is first in kickoff returns (27.2 yards) with receiver Brett Wilkin (sophomore, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) second (26.5 yards). Defensive lineman Shane Wong (junior, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) is first in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (12.5). Snead is second in scoring (9.2 points) and Zachary is third (8.2 points).

In the zone—Central has been effective in the red zone, scoring on 36 of its 40 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, with 31 touchdowns.

“To be good in the red zone, you have to avoid mistakes,” McMartin said. “We haven’t turned the ball over a lot and some (of the success) you can attribute to the kicking game and not missing field goals.

“Guys have made plays. We prepare very hard for those situations.”

Passing grade—Central’s has a dominant rushing attack this year but McMartin saw progress in the passing game as well Saturday. Snead and Bandow combined to complete 12-of-18 for 174 yards and four touchdowns.

“One of the things we did a good job of was our receivers made some plays,” McMartin said. “They made some fantastic catches. So I was happy with that.

“Also our quarterbacks didn’t make a lot of bad decisions. Where they chose to go with the football were the right choices.”

Rookie leader—Freshman linebacker Keith Rush (Griswold) was Central’s leading tackler Saturday with eight. He’s moved into a tie for second on the team overall with 38 for the season, including 24 unassisted stops. He also had an interception Saturday, returning it 23 yards to set up a score.

“He still has some things he can improve on, just like the rest of the team,” McMartin said. “But he’s a fast, physical young man with a nose for the ball.”

Brett WilkinClosing in on 1,000—Zachary gained 73 yards on 15 carries Saturday at Loras, only the second time this season he’s failed to top the 100-yard mark. But he’s gained 970 yards and needs 30 yards to become the ninth Central player to gain 1,000 yards in a season. It’s happened 12 times overall--Mark Kacmarynski did it three times (1993, 1994, 1996) while Don Taylor (1976, 1977) and Vance Schuring (2005, 2006) did it twice.

Nice catches—Receivers Alex Dittmer (senior, Lowden, North Cedar HS) and Michael O’Rourke (junior, Williamsburg) each had their first career touchdown receptions Saturday.

“Alex has played a lot of football for us,” McMartin said. “He’s a great blocker who has also made some very good receptions. He’s one of our better receivers in getting yards after catches.

“Michael made a really good catch. He had an opportunity earlier and we kind of challenged him. He really responded well.”

Senior Day—Saturday’s game will be the final regular-season home appearance in a Central uniform for 13 Dutch seniors. They’ve helped Central compile a 35-6 record over the past four seasons.

McMartin milestone—McMartin has eclipsed the 50-win mark for his career in just his sixth season. His career mark is up to 51-12, an .809 winning percentage. Entering the season he ranked No. 7 in winning percentage among active NCAA Division III coaches with a.782 mark. McMartin’s teams won or shared three league championships in his first five seasons, with three NCAA Division III playoff berths.

Notes—With 41 points Saturday, the Dutch have scored 35 or more six times in eight games. The Dutch are outscoring opponents 39.2-16.1…Snead, who rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more, has 12 rushing TDs for the year with nine passing scores…Snead’s younger brother, Jeremy Snead (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS), had six catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns. He has 37 receptions for the year and needs eight more to crack the school’s top 10 for a season.

Probable starters
Oct. 31, 2009
OFFENSE
QB       6         Nate Snead (so., 6-2, 225)      

RB       23        David Zachary (sr., 5-9, 195)

SB        41        Preston West (so., 5-8, 230)                

TE        18        Jordan Leuschen (jr., 6-5, 230)           

WR      3         Jeremy Snead (so., 6-2, 215)              

WR      82        Alex Dittmer (sr., 6-2, 220)                

LT        75        Lee Schroeder (jr., 6-6, 300)               

LG       52        A.J. Santon (jr., 6-1, 285)

C          68        Casey Tanner (so., 6-0, 270)  

RG       51        Andrew Kneib (sr., 5-11, 275)

RT       74        Joey Shoemaker (jr., 6-4, 280)           

DEFENSE
DE       34        Drew Bower (fr., 6-3, 225)

NG       94        Brady Hill (so., 6-3, 235)                    

DT       78        Jon McWilliams (sr., 6-2, 230)           

DE       53        Shane Wong (jr., 6-0, 230)

LB       8         Greg Best (jr., 6-2, 235)                      

LB       43        Zach Van Arkel (sr., 6-0, 215)

LB       42        Ryan Steinkamp (so., 5-11, 215)        

CB       12        Cody Baethke (jr., 5-10, 180) 

CB       1         Adam Petz (so., 6-0, 180)

SS        20        Kevin Good (sr., 5-9, 175)     

FS        28        Jake Petersen (so., 5-10, 195)

Kickoff: 87 Kurtis Brondyke (jr., 6-4, 195)
PAT/FG: 2 Jake Viggers (jr., 5-10, 150)
Holder: 5 Brett Wilkin (so., 5-9, 170)
Punter: 87 Kurtis Brondyke (jr., 6-4, 195)
Punt return: 5 Brett Wilkin (so., 5-9, 170)/11 Mike Furlong (so., 6-0, 180)
Kickoff return: 5 Brett Wilkin (so., 5-9, 170)/11 Mike Furlong (so., 6-0, 180)
Long snapper: 82 Alex Dittmer (sr., 6-2, 220)