Grunder, Ground Game Explode in Second Half of Central Football Victory
Another massive second half by the Central football team’s offense led to a 45-27 win over Loras College heard live on 92.1 KRLS on Saturday.
Central (5-0, 3-0 American Rivers Conference) had 13 rushing attempts for 102 yards in the first half and 96 of those yards came on 63 and 33-yard runs from running back Jase Grunder. In the second half, 33 of Central’s 36 offensive plays were on the ground for 242 yards. Grunder finished the day with 241 yards on 28 carries with three touchdowns. As a team, Central had 46 rushes for 344 yards and five scores. Grunder’s rushing total was the sixth most by an individual in program history.
After the Dutch committed four first-half turnovers and found themselves trailing Loras 20-14 at halftime, the Duhawk kickoff went just 22 yards to open the second half, and allowed Central to go 57 yards in six plays and take the lead on a nine-yard Grunder rushing score. On the next possession for Loras, linebacker Brody Morrison made a diving interception off a tipped pass on the Loras 30-yard line. Freshman quarterback Colin Kerndt kept the ball on an option play for a three-yard rushing score five plays later for a 28-20 Central lead.
Defensively, Central yielded 20 points in the first half but twice limited the Duhawks to field goals after turnovers gave them starting field position inside the red zone. Central had three total interceptions as cornerback Gavin Smith got his third and safety Ty Joss got his first of the season. Central had a season-high six sacks, including a pair of third-down sacks that led to punts in the third quarter. Sebastian Duarte was credited with a pair of solo sacks, while linebacker Cole Clark led the team with 11 tackles and a pair of tackles for loss.
Central’s passing attack had just 113 yards after completing nine passes on 18 attempts with two interceptions. Senior Hunter Hoffman was injured late in the first half and the freshman Kerndt was pressed into duty. Hoffman had Central’s only passing touchdown of the game, finding running back Cody Klein on an eight-yard swing pass early in the second quarter. Klein added a 20-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Central has a bye week before hosting Nebraska Wesleyan University at 1 pm on Saturday, October 18th.
Fourth Straight Team Title for Dutch Women’s Cross Country Team
A dominant run to the start of its season continued for the Central women’s cross country team Saturday, as they won their fourth straight team title at the Dan Huston Invitational hosted by Wartburg College.
Central totaled 61 points, while Grinnell College had 89 in a runner-up finish. In just her second race of the season, senior Peyton Steffen finished second overall in 21 minutes, 55.3 seconds to lead the Dutch. Freshman Maddy Stevens was fifth in 22:37.7, while Teah Miller was eighth (22:54.0) and Kyra Cordes was ninth (23:01.5) to give Central four top-10 finishers. Leah Bontrager was 41st (24:34.8), Reeve Ristau was 46th (24:43.4) and Bekah Steinbron was 49th (24:48.5) to complete the Central lineup.
Central heads to Peoria, Illinois on Friday, October 17th for the Bradley Pink Classic starting at 3:45 pm.
Central Men Take Third at Wartburg Cross Country Invitational
A career-best time by junior William Wadsley paced the Central men’s cross country team to a third place finish at the Dan Huston Invitational hosted by Wartburg College on Saturday morning.
Wadsley finished the race in 25 minutes, 8.6 seconds to place 11th. Jack Brown was the next Dutch runner across the line in 21st place (25:38.6). Donovan Card was 47th (26:32.6), Austin Vander Werf was 49th (26:48.1) and Dillon Starlin was 70th (27:03.8) to complete the scoring portion of Central’s lineup. James Brant placed 74th (27:09.9) and Nathan Vander Waal finished 80th (27:18.5) as the Dutch varsity seven.
Central heads to Peoria, Illinois on Friday, October 17th for the Bradley Pink Classic starting at 3 pm.
Dutch Women Pile Up the Goals in Soccer Triumph over Coe
The Central women’s soccer team had an offensive awakening Saturday with a 7-0 victory at Coe College.
Central (6-2-1, 1-1-0 American Rivers Conference) had a halftime lead of just 1-0 against Coe courtesy of a goal by Kelly Duffy in the 14th minute. The Dutch broke the game open in the second half with six goals. Piper Eighmy, Rylee Rustad, and Addie Shields all recorded a goal and an assist on the night. Josie Newton had her second goal of the season while Grace Wolford and Rachel Mendlik had their firsts of the season. Olivia DeVos and Emma Kramer added assists. Central had possession of the ball for 67% of the match. Zoey Sizemore made three saves in goal playing the first 87 minutes of the match.
Central plays at Simpson College Wednesday in a 5 p.m. match.
Dutch Earn Key Men’s Soccer Road Win
The Central men’s soccer team secured three points in the American Rivers Conference standings with a 2-1 victory at Coe College Saturday night.
The Dutch (5-2-3, 1-0-1 American Rivers Conference) struck first with Ethan Rodriguez’s first goal of the season shortly after Central took one of its seven corner kicks on the night in the 42nd minute. Zach Holtan made it a 2-0 lead over Coe in the 71st minute, when he scored off a double assist from Ian Gredell and Nate Lampe. Coe scored a goal in the 84th minute but the Dutch held on for a 2-1 win. Morgan Finkenbinder made five saves in goal for the win.
Central travels to Indianola for a 7:30 p.m. match against Simpson College Wednesday.
Dubuque Squeaks Past Central Women’s Tennis Team
After winning the doubles point, the Central College women’s tennis team mustered just two singles wins in a 4-3 loss against the University of Dubuque on Saturday.
Central (5-4, 4-4 American Rivers Conference) got wins at #2 and #3 doubles to start with a 1-0 lead. Lauren Gano and Sidney Peterson won 6-0 at #2 and Emily Blom and Rebekah Christensen won 6-4 at #3. In singles play, Gano won 6-3, 6-0 at #3 singles and Peterson won 6-2, 6-2 at #5 singles. The Spartans took the other four singles matches to secure the victory.
The Dutch take on Morningside University Monday at 4 pm at the Poortinga Family Tennis Courts.