Photo by Dan Vander Beek for Central College

The #3 sports story of the 2020-2021 school year at Central is the first ever spring football game played by the Dutch – a 49-14 victory over Simpson heard live on April 3rd on 92.1 KRLS.

While record setting quarterback Blaine Hawkins threw four short touchdown passes, it was the running game that controlled things for Central. The Dutch racked up 307 yards on the ground, with three different backs running for 74 yards or more.
Central led 28-0 at the half, with Hawkins throwing a touchdown pass to Erik Knaack and two TDs to Billy Friis. The fourth score came on the longest run of the game, a 46-yard scamper by Carson Boyer.
Simpson dotted the scoreboard early in the third quarter, but Central answered with a Hawkins toss to Jeff Herbers, a one-yard run by Pella Christian alum Noah Treimer, and a pick six by Tate Hagen.
Blade Durbala’s three first half sacks led a dominating performance by the Central defensive line, as the Dutch held Simpson to negative rushing yards in the first half.
Durbala was tabbed as an All-American selection by d3football.com as Central finished the abbreviated spring season with a 2-0 record.